Battling the clouds : $b or, For a comrade's honor

"Battling the Clouds: or, For a Comrade's Honor" by Frank Cobb is a story that drops readers into the whirlwind of early aviation at Fort Sill, where cousins Bill and Frank tackle childhood escapades within a military setting. The likely central themes consist of friendship, courage, and family ties which surface as the boys face challenges while growing up. The story starts on a sweltering summer day at an air field, where they are playfully bantering amidst the buzz of aviation, all while a captive tarantula adds its own odd charm. Bill is portrayed as the grounded one, keeping his mother's health in consideration, while Frank, driven by military life, dreams of flying high. The opening paves the way for adventures as Frank and Bill are immersed in a unique life of youth and the allure of military aviation, all of which molds their experiences and ambitions.