
- 360 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Dancing in the Sky is the first complete telling of the First World War fighter pilot training initiative established by the British in response to the terrible losses occurring in the skies over Europe in 1916. This program, up and running in under six months despite enormous obstacles, launched Canada into the age of flight ahead of the United States. The results enabled the Allies to regain control of the skies and eventually win the war, but at a terrible price. Flying was in its infancy and pilot training primitive. This is the story of the talented and courageous men and women who made the training program a success, complete with the romance, tragedy, humour, and pathos that accompany an account of such heroic proportions. A valuable addition to Canada's military history, this book will appeal to all who enjoy an exceptional adventure story embedded in Canada's past.
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1. Canada’s First Air Force
- 2. The Novelty of Flight
- 3. Commander Above the Law
- 4. Keeping Flyers in the Air
- 5. Training Pilots Dangerously
- 6. Canada’s First Airplane Factory
- 7. Finding Flyers
- 8. The Making of a Fighter Pilot
- 9. Social Life in Belle Époque Canada
- 10. The Sine Qua None of Athletics
- 11. Hijinks on the Ground and in the Air
- 12. The Dancers: Vernon and Irene Castle
- 13. How to Succeed by Breaking the Rules
- 14. Forging an Historic Alliance
- 15. Friction Between the Allies
- 16. Frostbite Flying: Beating the Canadian Winter
- 17. Surviving Training
- 18. Pummelled by Typewriters
- 19. Towards a Canadian Air Force
- 20. Perfecting the Training Program
- 21. A Pandemic Engulfs Canada
- 22. Canada’s First Airmail
- 23. Winding Up the RAF in Canada
- 24. The Legacy of the RAF in Canada
- 25. The Lost Generation: An RAF Tragedy
- 26. Epilogue
- Appendix A: Training Fatalities
- Appendix B: Meals and Pay in the RAF
- Notes
- Bibliography
- List of Abbreviations
- Index
- About the Author