In the late thirties Flying Aces ran Alden McWilliams’ monthly illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation which was called “They Had What it Takes”. In the January 1938 issue they featured Dick Merrill. Considered the greatest airline pilot of his time, Merrill accomplished the first trans-Atlantic round trip when he flew to London to retrieve photographs of the Coronation.

Next week McWilliams looks at the career of Bernt Balchen, the Norwegian known as the “Viking of the Skies”.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 12: Dick Merrill” January 1938, Flying Aces

This week we bring you Part 11 of Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation. He called it “They Had What it Takes” and this installment appeared in the December 1937 Flying Aces. It features Richard E. Byrd, the conqueror of the North and South Poles.

We won’t have a new one for you next week as we will be in Columbus, Ohio for PulpFest. If you plan to be there stop by the Age of Aces table and say hello.

Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 11: Richard E. Byrd” December 1937, Flying Aces

In the late thirties Flying Aces ran Alden McWilliams’ monthly illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation which was called “They Had What it Takes”. In the November 1937 issue they featured the aerobatic genius, Major Al Williams.

Next week McWilliams looks at Richard E. Byrd, the conqueror of the poles.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 10: Major Al Williams” November 1937, Flying Aces

Secret Service agent and flying reporter Buzz Benson approached Sunkist Airport in his slick speedy Corsair for the worst assignment he ever had. Ten days before, three gigantic Boeing transports had vanished from the sky—never to appear again. Was it another Jap plot or something more mysterious?

• Download “T.N.T. Transport” December 1933, Sky Birds

Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation was called “They Had What it Takes”, and this week we bring you the 9th installment, which appeared in the October 1937 Flying Aces. It features the German zeppelin ace Captain Ernst Lehmann, whose last command was the ill-fated Hindenburg.

Next week, in Part 10, we will feature Major Al Williams who was considered the greatest aerobatic flier of his time.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 9: Ernst Lehmann” October 1937, Flying Aces

This week we bring you Part 8 of Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation. He called it “They Had What it Takes” and this installment appeared in the September 1937 Flying Aces. It features aircraft developer Igor Sikorsky. Among Sikorsky’s many innovations was the first multi-motored plane.

Next week look for McWilliams’ feature on zeppelin ace Captain Ernst Lehmann, whose last command was the ill-fated Hindenburg.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 8: Igor Sikorsky” September 1937, Flying Aces

This week we bring you the seventh installment of Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation. He called it “They Had What it Takes” and this one appeared in the August 1937 Flying Aces. It features Amelia Earhart, “The First Lady of the Air”.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 7: Amelia Earhart” August 1937, Flying Aces

In the late thirties Flying Aces ran Alden McWilliams’ monthly illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation which was called “They Had What it Takes”. In the July 1937 issue they featured Jimmy Doolittle who, between WWI and WWII, was considered to be America’s greatest airman.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 6: Jimmy Doolittle” July 1937, Flying Aces

Major Garrity had an idea. It involved sending Phineas Pinkham back to training school in his stolen Fokker to teach rookies to fight. Phineas had an idea, too. It involved taking that stolen Fokker across the lines to teach the Mad Butcher not to fight. Lay your bets, gentlemen!

• Download “String ‘Em Back Alive” February 1934, Flying Aces

This week we bring you the fifth installment of Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation which he called “They Had What it Takes”. Appearing in the June 1937 Flying Aces, it features Howard Hughes, who McWilliams called “The Scientist of Speed”. Next week we bring you Part Six, which tells the story of Jimmy Doolittle, who between WWI and WWII was generally considered to be America’s best pilot.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 5: Howard Hughes” June 1937, Flying Aces

Lieutenant Dan Marsh was a flying hellion, but he had a problem to solve that demanded more than flaming victories over master pilots of the Hun. He was the son of the Sky Devil, the famous Hellcat from number 10 Squadron, and the old man had made it clear that the Sky Devil’s son was not welcome there. While this is a Sky Devil story by Harold F. Cruickshank, it has no connection to Cruickshank’s stories featured in our Age of Aces book “The Sky Devil: Hell’s Skipper”.

• Download “The Sky Devil’s Son” July 1931, Battle Stories

Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation was called “They Had What it Takes”, and this week we bring you the fourth installment, which appeared in the May 1937 Flying Aces. It features the record smashing exploits of Captain Frank Hawks. Next week’s part five is McWilliams’ piece on Howard Hughes, who he called “The Scientist of Speed”.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 4: Captain Frank Hawks” May 1937, Flying Aces

This week we bring you the third installment of Alden McWilliams’ illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation. He called it “They Had What it Takes” and this one appeared in the April 1937 Flying Aces. It features Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, the Australian pilot renowned for his trans-Pacific exploits. Look for part 4 next week which chronicles the record smashing speed flying of Captain Frank Hawks.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 3: Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith” April 1937, Flying Aces

Starting with the February 1937 issue of Flying Aces, Alden McWilliams began his illustrated tribute to the pioneer aviators of that era. He called it “They Had What it Takes”. It appeared in each issue of Flying Aces until June 1940. Each week we will make a new installment available for download.

From March ‘37,  part 2 features Wiley Post, who flew around the world solo.

• Download “They Had What It Takes – Part 2: Wiley Post” March 1937, Flying Aces

 The six adventures of Arch Whitehouse’s “Coffin Kirk” appeared in Flying Aces from October 1937 to June 1941. They featured Brian “Coffin” Kirk’s battles against the evil Circle of Death. Kirk is ably assisted by his simian sidekick Tank. All of these stories have been available for dowload on our site, but we have decided to put them together in one PDF so that our loyal readers can access them more easily.

• Download “The Complete Adventures of Coffin Kirk” by Arch Whitehouse