From breaking wild horses in Colorado to fighting the Red Baron’s squadrons in the skies over France, here in his own words is the true story of a forgotten American hero: the cowboy who became our first ace and the first pilot to fly the American colors over enemy lines. Growing up on a ranch in Sterling, Colorado, Frederick Libby mastered the cowboy arts of roping, punching cattle, and … cattle, and taming horses. As a young man he exercised his skills in the mountains and on the ranges of Arizona and New Mexico as well as the Colorado prairie. When World War I broke out, he found himself in Calgary, Alberta, and joined the Canadian army. In France, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an “observer,” the gunner in a two-person biplane. Libby shot down an enemy plane on his first day in battle over the Somme, which was also the first day he flew in a plane or fired a machine gun. He went on to become a pilot. He fought against the legendary German aces Oswald Boelcke and Manfred von Richthofen, and became the first American to down five enemy planes. He won the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action.
Libby’s memoir of his cowboy days in the last years of the Old West evokes a real-life Cormac McCarthy novel. His description of World War I combines a rattling good account of the air war over France with captivating and sometimes poignant depictions of wartime London, the sorrow for friends lost in combat, and the courage and camaraderie of the Royal Flying Corps. Told in charming, straightforward vernacular, Horses Don’t Fly is an unforgettable piece of Americana.
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This is a remarkable book, a true memoir written by a WW1 flying ace, who began life as a cowboy. Wasn’t sure I’d like it but, once I started, had me interested till the last page.
Astounding memoir by a man who was a cowboy and then a WWI fighter pilot. Highly recommended. One of the very best memoirs I have ever read.
A historical glimpse of a by gone time, from cowboy to biplane fighter pilot who fought and survived the dog fights of world war one. An interesting read for anyone interested in history of that period. I couldn’t put the book down.
I laughed, cried, and read whole sections out loud to my husband. This was one of the most wonderful memoirs I have ever read and I would recommend it highly to everyone. The author grew up in a horse ranch; the story of how he got from there into WW1 in Europe is facinating and amazing. He becomes an ace pilot. I had no idea how open the planes were then!! Well worth reading!
Great description of WWI air operations. The courage of the combatants was incredible. Also excellent description of aircraft and strategy.
Great book on WW-I flying history.
Excellent character study!
I have read books and seen movies about our first World War. But nothing like this author Frederick Libby’s experiences during his early life and his roles during WWII.
The primitive planes and the devoted pilots, crews, and observers were like nothing else I have read. And the author’s descriptions of the soldiers stuck in the horrid trenches were so realistic. I had two great uncles in that war in France with ambulance duties. My elder great uncle was able to get on with his life, but his younger brother
struggled with what he saw as a very young soldier. I will never understand why the USA didn’t come to the aid of the British, French, Canadiens, and India soldiers.
slow to excite; yet once the action takes-off, an intriguing WWI journey
I don’t usually go for historical war stories, but this was thoroughly engaging and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good, entertaining read.
Well written and an honest view of America arournd WW1
This book is a great page turner
Great book about WWI flying
necessary read for anyone with deep interest in WWI military aviation. Also, Libby was an interesting minor figure.
The way it really was!
This a great book you anyone interested in history both of the West and of aspects of World War I pilots.
Good portrayal of ww1 flying.
the part of the book about his life on the ranch and being a cowboy was very funny and entertaining. the war years sometimes got a lttle dry but overall it was a good book. he achieved a lot in his lifetime.
I read one to two books per week and this was the most purely, pleasurable, entertaining book I’ve read all this year. Such an enjoyable autobiography! Relaxing. Moving. Without obvious braggadocio.
I was concerned this might be a dud of a self-published vanity book but it is not. I question some of the formality of language quoted in late 1800’s Colorado, and be jad dome difficulty staying on present or past tense, but enjoyed his story
Very much.