Flight That Went Wrong in the Sky War Patrol
A pilot recalls a perilous late night combat above the lines. Five airplanes from our squadron battle nine German craft as distant foes join the fight from above. Tracer bullets threaten fatal damage to fuel, instrument panels blow, and a miraculous Immelman turn helps him survive. He wakes in a German hospital the next morning a prisoner of war.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raney
Fie
Hvis
Mun
Immelman
Neustase
Clipped Wings in a Belgian Prisoner of War Hospital
A wounded American flier recalls his capture after a crash near the front. He describes a rough emergency hospital in a brick house, German doctors, and fellow pilots, including a chummy enemy who admired American sport but criticized the war. He reflects on camaraderie, loss, and the brutal arithmetic of air combat.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Germin Offeers
Red Cross
Fife
Vers
Q. K
America
England
Germany
California
San Francisco
Courtrai
Agiator
Photograph of Official Memorandum Belongings of Lieutenant O'Brien
A prisoner recounts two days in the German flying corps intelligence section after the hospital, where interrogations followed and personal items, including a cap, were cataloged. He mentions a coded “pug Hoo” and asks for the return of a written message. the narrative notes an August 17 1917 missing item and hints at a continuation next week.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
O’brien
Raney
O'Brien
Intelligence Department
German Flying Corps
Litte Repord
Prison Camp at Courtrai Described by Escaped Officer
From the intelligence service I was sent to the Courtrai officers’ prison camp. The facility sat in Courtrai’s center, with barred windows and guards at a heavy archway. I was photographed in a British uniform with a red Bavarian cap, which drew curiosity from both Belgian and German soldiers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Courtrai
Belgium
Intelligence Department
Also Mentioned on This Page
Pat Orien
Machine O'Brien
Doglish
BR. B.C
London
Flying Corps
Oflicer
South América
New York
Holland
Strait of Gibraltar
Italy
Austria
Gibraltar
Nessport
Momence, Jr
War Office
Hans
Comrad
Slx
Paul Raney
Toronto
France
Indy
Wanders
Paul
Keith
Australia
Aidrome
Pat O'Brien
Atkinson
Taventoy
Ao'brien, Rf,g
Wight
Rane
Sam Browne
Lisut
RFS
Ariasor
Royal Flying Corps
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!