Flying for France: With the American Escadrille at Verdun

"Flying for France: With the American Escadrille at Verdun" by James R. McConnell is a gripping narrative that tells the story of American volunteers who took to the skies for France during World War I. The book centers on the American Escadrille, a group of brave pilots who found themselves in the thick of the action at the Battle of Verdun; the story shares their courage, brotherhood, and reasons for supporting the cause of freedom in a faraway country. The narrative begins with Sergeant James R. McConnell, who changes his path from driving an ambulance to becoming a fighter pilot in the French Flying Corps, and includes the early days at an airbase where the trials of war are both far away and very close as he and his group get ready for their missions above the battle lines. Through strong images and interesting stories, McConnell shows the friendship and danger that the American pilots faced as they flew into battle during a terrible war.