As the First World War ground into its third year in 1916, America still remained uncommitted to intervention in what some in that nation regarded as a purely European affair. This was not the course pursued by many American men, having enlisted in the British, Canadian, and French ranks since the start of the war. The Lafayette Escadrille, or American Squadron, was formed in 1916 from French and American aviators and would grow in fame and victories throughout its two year existence. Victor Chapman enlisted in the French Foreign legion in 1914, as soon as he possibly could; however, he would transfer after much rough soldiering to the French air arm. As a founding member of the famous squadron, one of the Valiant 38, Victor Chapman flew some of the most dangerous missions of all the French pilots as they sought to establish their reputation. The toll of danger never affected his unflappably high spirits, but his luck ran out in June 1916 over the skies of Verdun. His letters are filled with his and his fellow pilots exploits, written in fine style and with great detail. Highly recommended. Author — Chapman, Victor Emmanuel, 1890-1916. Editor — Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933. Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in New York, The Macmillan company, 1917. Original Page Count – 198 pages. Illustrations – 8 Illustrations.

This work is a collection of letters by the French-American pilot Victor Chapman. Chapman earned many medals during his service and was one of the founding members of the Lafayette Escadrille. He was the first American pilot to die in the First World War after being shot down by German ace Kurt Wintgens. This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

In this collection of his essays and a sampling of his letters, John Jay Chapman (1862-1933) embraces the world at large. Predicting the depersonalization of twentieth-century society, Chapman argues that a civilization based upon a commerce which is in all its parts corruptly managed will present a social life which is unintelligent and mediocre, made up of people afraid of each other, whose ideas are shopworn, whose manners are self-conscious. Chapman should be studied more carefully and at full length, Edmund Wilson wrote in 1929, but in the meantime, what is most important is to have his essays made accessible.... If his books were reprinted and read, we should recognize that we possess in John Jay Chapman -- by reason of the intensity of the spirit, the brilliance of the literary gift and the continuity of the thought which they embody -- an American classic. Jacques Barzun has observed, We have produced very few great critics, but John Jay Chapman equals any of his foreign contemporaries. An American original, Chapman is a tonic to cynicism and an antidote to a society gone flaccid and complacent.

“A fresh look at the 38 Americans in the Escadrille Américaine . . . a finely-researched, well-written and well-illustrated book. It is recommended highly” (Over the Front). The Lafayette Escadrille was an all-volunteer squadron of Americans who flew for France during World War I, arguably the best-known fighter squadron ever to take to the skies. In this work, the entire history of these gallant volunteers—who named themselves after the Marquis de Lafayette, who came to America’s aid during its revolution—is laid out in both text and pictorial form. Along with archival photographs and documents, current snapshots of existing markers and memorials honoring the Lafayette Escadrille were taken by the author in France. In several cases, he was able to match his present-day color photos with older images of the same scene, thus creating a jaw-dropping then-and-now comparison. To add even more color, the author included artwork and aircraft profiles by recognized illustrators, along with numerous full-color photographs of artifacts relating to the squadron’s men and airplanes, as they are displayed today in various museums in the United States and France. The result is undoubtedly the finest photographic collection of the Lafayette Escadrille to appear in print. Along with expert text revealing air-combat experiences, as well as life at the front during the Great War, it is a never-before-seen visual history that both World War I aviation aficionados and those with a passing interest in history will appreciate. “This magnificent book probably provides everything needed by someone wishing to learn about this famous fighting unit.” —Cross and Cockade “When it comes to describing aerial combat in all its bloody fury, [Ruffin] excels.” —Air and Space Magazine