Valiant Volunteers

This book tells the story of the Lafayette Escadrille, a flying squadron composed primarily of American volunteers before the US formally entered WWI. It follows a group of main characters from the time they leave their homes in late 1914 through April 1917, and details their various paths across the Atlantic and into aviation. The writing here is exceptional. It's obvious the author had invested many hours in researching the era, the machines, and the men who flew. That investment pays off big time as he transports you back into a richly detailed and very realistic environment. Characters are fully fleshed out, dialogue flows naturally, and the technology of the era is fully explained. Moreover, you identify with and get invested into the characters, and find yourself cheering on the good guys and jeering at the bad guys. What keeps this good book from being an excellent book is that it's bloated. Its nearly 700 pages could easily been cut to 400, resulting in a tighter story and a far more compelling read. The listing of "Principal Characters" has over 200 entries. Some of them are regulars, some weave in and out of the story, and most appear only briefly. The author refers to the characters sometimes by first name, sometimes by last, and sometimes by a nickname, even within the same paragraph. Needless to say, things get confusing. And after over 550 pages of dealing with the Americans and French, suddenly - and jarringly - we are introduced to a German squadron. The only purpose for this is to throw in an unnecessary and contrived relationship between a German pilot and an American pilot. Another problem is that the testosterone outweighs the adrenaline, with steamy romance filling pages and pages while the action scenes are comparatively rare. Yes, it says "Based on the Passion and the Glory of the Lafayette Escadrille" right there on the cover, but you expect a lot more glory and a bit less passion. Overall, I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who had their appetite for WWI aviation whetted by the 2006 movie "Flyboys".

With a rich historical background and complex cast of characters, this book was very enjoyable to read. The extent to which Johnson portrayed society, aviation and war details is fascinating. I especially enjoyed the development of characters. A good read and highly recommended.

This is a great book that interweaves the lives of actual historical characters with 2 fictional heroes. The author really ties together the lives of Americans helping fight WWI before the US entered the war. It is well researched.

Being a retired USAF Fighter Aviator I enjoy reading about the early years,(Rickenbacker, Luke, Lufberry,etc). This authors style reminds me of the Sharra civil war series books where it is as if I were a fly on the wall, just listening in. Krrp up the good work Terry and I look foreward to the next one, OOFDAH. Richard LaBarre

Filled with real characters both honest and treacherous, the confusion of trench fighting, realistic flying episodes, war-time politics and even a bit of romance. Couldn't put it down. I can't wait for Johnson's next volume. What happens to Charlie?