First Patrol

A Tale of Bloody April, 1917

By: Hissy Cat

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

First Flight: A Tale of Bloody April, 1917

In the skies over Arras during the brutal spring of 1917, a young RFC pilot faces his first test of combat. Second Lieutenant Thomas Ashworth has only nineteen hours of flight time when he's thrust into one of the deadliest periods of aerial warfare in history - the month that would become known as "Bloody April."

Under the mentorship of Flight Lieutenant Michael Harrison, an experienced ace with six victories, Thomas struggles to master his Sopwith Pup fighter in time to survive his first patrol. But when they encounter the superior German Albatros fighters, including one of Richthofen's dreaded "Flying Circus," a moment's hesitation could mean the difference between life and death.

This meticulously researched historical short story captures the harsh realities faced by Royal Flying Corps pilots during WWI: their abbreviated training, the inferior aircraft they flew, and the devastating losses they endured. Through Thomas's eyes, readers experience the terror and exhilaration of early air combat, the camaraderie of the squadron mess, and the heavy burden of watching friends vanish into the morning mist, never to return.

A gripping tale of courage, guilt, and survival that brings to life one of the most devastating months in aviation history, when the average life expectancy of a new pilot could be measured in mere weeks.

Perfect for fans of W.E.B. Griffin's "The Aviators," Derek Robinson's "Goshawk Squadron," and anyone interested in World War I aviation history.