Evening star., 1943-05-23
War Eagles
By James SaIon ChilderS.
(AppletOn-Centuru.)

Col. Jim Chi1ders here tells the
story of the Eagle Squadron, Amer
lean boys who went to England to
set up their own fighting unit in
the Royal Air Force before our en-
try into the war. He writes with
authenticity, having lived with the
Eagles for almost two and one-half
years. At first, the young pilots
were restrained because they knew
he was taking notes and studying
their habits and hobbies for his
book. Soon, however, he was like
one of the boys, having learned to
speak their language and to share
their glorious fighting experiences.
Pilots returning from battle are
met as they step from the cockpit
by the intelligence officer of the
airdrome, who records just what has
happened. Perhaps the young
Eagle has swept down on a Messer-
schmitt 100 and shot it out of the
sky. This is recorded as "de-
stroyed,' and the flyer is met with
cheers from the ground crew If
he runs out of petrol, however, he is
greeted, instead, by "the drink
the English Channel A simple
ceremony takes place after an Eagle,
calling "Mayday, Mayday" british
Interpretation of the French
IN 'aidez," meaning help me- over
his radio, balls out. He removes
his flying boots. throws out his he'll
met, shoots the six bullets in his
pistol, drops it overheard and has
little time left to pray.
All pilots flying over water are
required to wear bulky flying
jacket, affectionately called Mae
West which, after being inflated.
will float. Almost always they are
picked up by English rescue boats.
War Eagles" is full of heroes,
but it does not lead the reader to
believe that only the Germans die.
The Germans are good bombers be-
cause they are taught to stick to-
gether and not exercise initiative,
Col. Childers says, but the Ameri-
cans and British are good fighters
because they crave excitement and
cannot stand monotonous convoy
duties or coast patrol.
In their early fighting days, the
Eagles were of little value. OF
night flying, they knew nothing.
Their first attempts at it were
thwarted by English anti-aircraft
guns manned by crews who had not
been notified of these night ma
neuvers. Several Spitfres returned
to base looking like sieves How
ever, intensive training, with daily
pre-daWn flights, taught the Eagles
the rudiments of night flying.
In the Eagles favorite night spot,
where initial plans for all their
bombardments were laid, final de-
tails for the famous Dieppe raid
were formulated. During this bitter
dawn-to-dusk battle, Squadron II
returned to base three times for re-
fueling and small mechanical re-
pairs. The Spitflres, supported by
regular Raj bombers and fighters,
knocked off more than 90 German
planes, probably destroyed" q,
damaged" lit and started count
less fires while suffering but one
casualty.
An accurate account of a World
War II Allied flying unit, War
Eagles" is mans book, written in
a mans language. It's illustrations
include diagrams of aerial dog
fights, photographs of British and
German anti-aircraft units and
searchlights in action, charts of
Raj insignia and planes, pictures
OF German aircraft and reproduc-
tions Of official British Air Ministry
films. Intimate slants on Eagle
lives and ambitions, stories OF their
wives and sweethearts, and snap
shots Of Eagles at the airdrome lend
human interest to the book.
ERWIN BROWN.