Luck on the Wing: Thirteen Stories of a Sky Spy

"Luck on the Wing: Thirteen Stories of a Sky Spy" by Elmer Haslett is a set of true short stories from after World War I that follows Haslett's time as a sky spy for the U.S. Air Service. The stories capture the dangers and surprising achievements of a job that people often forget about. At the heart of these stories is Haslett, who deals with challenges, fear of flying, and the bond he has with his fellow soldiers, all while trying to do his job over enemy land. The first story explains why Major Elmer Haslett wanted to become a sky spy even though he was afraid of flying. He tells of going from an army officer to taking on the job of observing, because he wanted to be in the middle of the action in France. As he prepares for his first flight, Haslett shares the nervous waiting before his mission, and funny and scary moments as he tries to talk with his French partners. The story shows his fight between being brave and afraid, as well as the friendship and crazy reality of air combat, setting the scene for exciting adventures about the life of a sky spy during the war.