How did the rapid evolution of aerial combat during the First World War impact the survival rates and psychological state of early fighter pilots? Arthur Gould Lee, a veteran of the Royal Flying Corps, utilizes his personal wartime diaries and correspondence to reconstruct the harrowing reality of life in the cockpit during 1917. He presents a chronological account of the transition from reconnaissance to aggressive dogfighting, documenting the technical limitations of early aircraft and the high attrition rates faced by young aviators.

Military historians and aviation enthusiasts frequently cite this work as a primary source for understanding the visceral, day-to-day conditions of early twentieth-century air combat. Experts highlight the text for its candid, unvarnished portrayal of the dangers inherent in early flight.