McCudden, James: - McCudden joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in 1913 and at the outbreak of war in 1914 flew as an observer before training as a fighter pilot in 1916.During his time in France with the RFC he rose from mechanic to pilot and flight commander. Following his first kill in September 1916, McCudden shot down a total of fifty-seven enemy planes, including a remarkable three in a single minute in January 1918. A dashing patrol leader, he combined courage, loyalty, and judgment, studying the habits and psychology of enemy pilots and stalking them with patience and tenacity.'Flying Fury' is both a valuable insight into the world of early aviation and a powerful account of courage and survival above the mud and trenches of Flanders. On 9 July 1918, McCudden was killed in a flying accident when his aircraft crashed on takeoff due to engine failure.