Subtitled ‘A record of the War activities of the Pioneer Night Bombing Squadron in France, March 1917 to November 1918’, and praised by Air-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard in his Foreword, the author commanded the Squadron from 13 June 1918 to the end of hostilities. Originally published in February 1919, with a limited edition reprint in 1975, this is another reissue in association with the Imperial War Museum. 

There are a number of contributors, including one Corporal Bird who, on arriving at Farnborough in February 1917, found that he and the equipment officer were the only members of the squadron. He goes on to record his thoughts and memories of its birth and mobilization to France. Other contributors’ experiences cover night flying and bombing, an inadvertent forced landing behind German lines, and being taken prisoner. There is also an article by a Mr Irvin S. Cobb, an official American War Correspondent, which first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post on 15 June 1918 and records the impression the squadron made on him during his visit in the Nancy area of France.

A good third of the book is taken up with detailed Operation Reports, which a researcher should find invaluable. These give the objective, the pilots and observers taking part, bombs dropped, results seen and the names of any casualties. There are numerous illustrations, all of which are of good quality, and the book concludes with details of the Officers and men who received awards, a full Roll of Honour giving details of how each person lost their life (including some photographs) and finally lists the names and addresses of all those who served on the Squadron. An excellent history, thoroughly recommended.