“HAW-W-W-W-W!” That sound can only mean one thing—that Bachelor of Artifice, Knight of Calamity and an alumnus of Doctor Merlin’s Camelot College for Conjurors is back to vex not only the Germans, but the Americans—the Ninth Pursuit Squadron in particular—as well. Yes it’s the marvel from Boonetown, Iowa himself—Lieutenant Phineas Pinkham!

Phineas Pinkham is already grounded and in the doghouse when he almost kills a colonel. Old Man Garrity’s had his fill, so when von Bessinger sends a challenge to the Ninth Pursuit’s thorn in their side, Garrity lets Phineas goto challenge the Von under on condition—he doesn’t come back! It’s Joe Archibald’s “Spy a’la Mode” from the August 1932Flying Aces.

For the first time in his life Phineas “Carbuncle” Pinkham wondered if a sense of humor wasn’t a handicap to a man who aspired to grow a long white beard and play with his grandchildren. It had taken a lot to make him feel that way—just a little matter of assaulting a Colonel!

• Download “Spy a’la Mode” (August 1932, Flying Aces)

FREDERICK BLAKESLEE is probably best known for his many aviation covers he painted for Popular Publication’s line of air pulps—Dare-Devil Aces, Battle Birds, Battle Aces, Fighting Aces and, of course, G-8 and his Battle Aces. But Blakeslee occasionally did covers for many other magazines, including three for Flying Aces in the summer of 1930!

Flying Aces didn’t always have a story behind their covers in the early years. Only one of the three Blakeslee covers had a bit of a write-up on it—the August issue—which he have previously posted here. It’s just great to see all three covers together!

June 1930

July 1930

August 1930

TODAY we have a story by the inimitable William E. Barrett! Before he became renown for such classics as The Left Hand of God and Lilies of The Field, Barrett honed his craft across the pages of the pulp magazines—especially in the air war titles like War Birds, War Aces, Air Stories, Air Trails, Wings, Sky Riders, War Novels, Sky Fighters, Flying Aces and, of course, Sky Birds—in whose pages this story appeared

He would fight as never before, and death to the Allied plane that crossed his guns! Yet the sight of those British cockades made a bell ring in his clouded mind, and his hands fumbled on the trips. He could not shoot!

From the October 1930 Sky Birds, it’s William E. Barrett’s “Crossed Controls!”

• Download “Crossed Controls” (October 1930, Sky Birds)

If you enjoyed this story, check out William E. Barrett’s other features and stories on this site or pick up a copy of his Iron Ace stories which collects all nine of his tales of Hugh McQuillen, The Iron Ace, also from the pages of Sky Birds.

THIS week we have a short story by renowned pulp author Frederick C. Davis. Davis is probably best remembered for his work on Operator 5 where he penned the first 20 stories, as well as the Moon Man series for Ten Detective Aces and several other continuing series for various Popular Publications. He also wrote a number of aviation stories that appeared in Aces, Wings and Air Stories.

This week’s story features that crack pilot for World News Reel, the greatest gelatine newspaper that ever flashed on a silver screen—Nick Royce! Davis wrote twenty stories with Nick for Wings magazine from 1928-1931.

World News Reels and Compass are once again racing against time and each other to get footage of a dam bursting. World News Reels’ Nick Royce has a fire under him—if they get the pictures back first, there’s a raise in it for everyone—one that would allow Nick to marry his sweetheart, but Compass is up to their usual underhanded tricks! From the May 1928 Wings, it’s Frederick C. Davis’ “Half-Way to Heaven!”

“The shots are there. Get ‘em!”—That was all he said—but it sent Nick Royce, kid flyer of the news-reel, lumbering into the mile-high clouds to face the rage of the elements and the treachery of a rival.

• Download “Half-Way to Heaven” (May 1928, Wings)