Age of Aces » Syl MacDowell

“The Sky Salt” by Syl MacDowell

David — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:46 +0000

THIS week we have a story by Syl MacDowell! MacDowell was an inveterate traveler—traveling across and all over the country many times—even living for a time in a trailer. Born June 16,1892, in Denver, Colorado, MacDowell found transitory homes on both coasts when not on the road. He worked as a foreign correspondent for the UPI and a free lance writer and rewrite man on various newspapers in New York and on the West Coast. He had a large following as a magazine columnist and general adviser on matters concerning Western travel, traditions, attractions, and opportunities. Somehow he found the time to also write numerous pulp stories. Although he’s best known for his westerns—the Painted Post series is probably his most well known—he was a regular in the pages of Navy Stories, War Birds, Sky Riders, War Aces, The Lone Eagle, Sky Fighters, and Flying Aces from the late twenties through the mid thirties.

This week we have Sly MacDonald’s “The Sky Salt” from the March 1933 Flying Ace!

“Sky skimmers”—that was what 1st Class Gunner Weaver of the U.S. Navy called the seaplanes that patrolled the English Channel. But that was before a certain morning when an old freighter met up with a U-boat in the choppy seas off the coast of France.

Download “The Sky Salt” (March 1933, Flying Aces)

“The Black Bat” by Syl MacDowell

David — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 10:00:15 +0000

THIS week we have a story by Syl MacDowell! MacDowell is probably best known for his westerns. This time, MacDowell gives us brief tale of the mysterious Black Batâ€”is he man or beast? From the November 1931 issue of Aces, it’s “The Black Bat.”

Behind the curtain of night Weird wings hovered over the Yank tarmac. A ship crashed with no hand at the stick. . . . And the priceless eye of the army was missing.

Download “The Black Bat” (November 1931, Aces)

“Night Bird” by Syl MacDowell

David — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:00:45 +0000

THIS week we have a story by Syl MacDowell! MacDowell is probably best known for his westerns. Here, MacDowell gives us a aviation yarn with a western twistâ€”the title character is an albino Navajo who is able to see clearly in the dark! From the December 1930 issue of War Aces, it’s “Night Bird.”

He was an Indian and proud of the red blood than ran in his veins. When other wings failed to smash the force of that attacking horde, he tried in his own way and showed them that the redman knew the meaning of courage.

Download “Night Bird” (December 1930, War Aces)