Age of Aces » 1931

“The Sky Devil’s Son” by Harold F. Cruickshank

Bill — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:16:28 +0000

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

“The Squadron in Scarlet” by Donald E. Keyhoe

Bill — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:22:14 +0000

Here is another high flying adventure of “Cyclone” Bill Garrity and The Devildog Squadron. For months the grim spectre of that German staffel had stalked up and down the Front, dropping its sinister messages of death upon British and French squadrons. And now at last it struck at the flying Marines. For out of the cloud mists over that Devildog drome a white-winged German plane swooped low, and from it came the threat of doom—a black coffin holding the body of a Devildog pilot.

Download “The Squadron in Scarlet” (November 1931, Sky Birds)

“Don’t Shoot” by Robert J. Hogan

Bill — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:16:04 +0000

Sammy Stein joined the grease-monkey squad to be safe; but after the first bombing raid, he struck a bargain with the C.O. and hocked his safety for his life, collecting a net profit of Spandau lead and glory.

Download “Don’t Shoot” (November 1931, War Aces)

“The Squadron Without a Name” by Donald E. Keyhoe

Bill — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:54:33 +0000

Once again the Devildog Squadron is roaring into action!

Under guard in his hut—on a double charge of treason and murder! He had led two men out on a secret mission and they had not returned—but he had brought straight to his hidden drome a flock of Boche. And that night he was found beside the body of the man who had called him a spy—and the man was dead, shot through the heart! Yet for Larry Brent, one of those twenty loyal hellions the Boche had named Devildogs, there was always a way out—even though it led to the Squadron Without a Name.

Download “The Squadron Without a Name” (September 1931, Sky Birds)

“No Survivors” by Ralph Oppenheim

Bill — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:20:20 +0000

That intrepid trio of aces known as “The Three Mosquitoes” made the scar of their Vickers hated by every flying Hun. But even the skill of their wings was child’s play when they went to sea against that dread Channel menace that was leaving no survivors to tell it’s tale of dread. Then came the day when the red courage of madness swept the Mosquitoes leader into the maelstrom.

Download “No Survivors” (June 1931, War Birds)

“Blind Aces” by Ralph Oppenheim

Bill — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:03:49 +0000

Without each other they were helpless, together the Three Mosquitoes were the greatest destructive force in the air. When Kirby is accidentally blinded, Travis and Shorty fly him to meet the man who is the Allies’ greatest enemy—and in whose hands lay not only the fate of the German army, but also of Kirby’s eyes.

Download “Blind Aces” (May 1931, War Birds)

“Framed Wings” by Robert J. Hogan

Bill — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:57:36 +0000

This is the last Smoke Wade story that appeared in a Street and Smith pulp. In the August 1932 Battle Aces, Smoke Wade began his long run in the Popular Publication air pulps. Smoke Wade was a rough and tumble Arizona cowpoke, who left the range and became the skipper of the American 66th Pursuit Squadron in WWI France. Flying a Pinto colored Spad he called Jake, after his favorite Pinto ranch horse, Smoke always wore a six-shooter strapped to his leg and made frequent use of it during his aerial battles. He would often get in trouble with his superiors because of his penchant for placing bets on just about anything that seemed like a long-shot. But Smoke would most always win these bets, and everyone from generals to mechanics would be left owing him money.

Download “Framed Wings” (October 1931, Popular Complete Stories)

“Aces in Dutch” by Robert J. Hogan

Bill — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:29:31 +0000

This is the third and last Smoke Wade story that appeared in Street and Smith’s “Air Trails”. Smoke Wade was a rough and tumble Arizona cowpoke, who left the range and became the skipper of the American 66th Pursuit Squadron in WWI France.
Flying a Pinto colored Spad he called Jake, after his favorite Pinto ranch horse, Smoke always wore a six-shooter strapped to his leg and made frequent use of it during his aerial battles. He would often get in trouble with his superiors because of his penchant for placing bets on just about anything that seemed like a long-shot. But Smoke would most always win these bets, and everyone from generals to mechanics would be left owing him money.

Download Aces In Dutch” (October 1931, Air Trails)

“Wager Flight” by Robert J. Hogan

Bill — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:33:20 +0000

In the August 1931 issue of Street and Smith’s “Air Trails”, Robert J. Hogan introduced us to a rough and tumble Arizona cowpoke named Smoke Wade, who left the range and became the skipper of the American 66th Pursuit Squadron in WWI France. Flying a Pinto colored Spad he called Jake, after his favorite Pinto ranch horse, Smoke always wore a six-shooter strapped to his leg and made frequent use of it during his aerial battles. He would often get in trouble with his superiors because of his penchant for placing bets on just about anything that seemed like a long-shot. But Smoke would most always win these bets, and everyone from generals to mechanics would be left owing him money.

Download “Wager Flight” (August 1931, Air Trails)

“The Lost Aviator Contest” by William E. Barrett

Bill — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:54:50 +0000

This mail-in contest offered some great prizes to readers who could solve the two parts of the puzzle. The first part had the readers trying to find the flight path of a lost aviator. The second part featured a story by William E. Barrett in which the readers had to identify all the errors in the story.

Download “The Lost Aviator Contest” (June 1931, War Birds)