Age of Aces » The Squadron of The Dead

“Tarmac of Treason” by Frederick C. Painton

Bill — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:20:26 +0000

The dread skull emblem on their planes was the only flag the men of the Squadron of the Dead would follow, and to them fell the deadly tasks which no other squadron dared attempt. Yet powerful as they had become in the service of the Allies, a more terrible force had organized against them. For the German chief of Imperial Intelligence had proclaimed the grim order: “Every man in the Squadron of the Dead must be destroyed!”

Download “Tarmac of Treason” (June 1935, Skybirds)

“The Glory Gambler” by Frederick C. Painton

Bill — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:52:50 +0000

The Squadron of the Dead return for another mission, but this one is unlike any they have taken on before.

Death lay behind those men in the somber, black uniforms, for every man in that squadron had been sentenced to die. Death lay ahead of them, for to them were assigned the grim missions no other squadron dared to take. Then at last came a task which even those ghosts of the war skies dreaded to face—yet it was a task in which death played no part.

Download “The Glory Gambler” (April 1935, Sky Birds)

“Today We Die” by Frederick C. Painton

Bill — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:37:23 +0000

The names of the men in that strange, ill-assorted squadron were listed only in the most secret annals of Allied Intelligence. To everyone else they were known merely as the Squadron of the Dead. Americans, British, Russians—even Germans—made up their ranks, and only one bond held them together. They had all been condemned to die! An unusual story of an unusual squadron.

Download “Today We Die” (February 1935, Sky Birds)

“Duel of Dishonor” by Frederick C. Painton

Bill — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:41:27 +0000

Meet “The Squadron of The Dead.” Reminiscent of the Dirty Dozen, condemned airmen from different nations are banded together in one squadron to battle the Germans in WWI. Their only hope is to die in combat rather than be returned to their countries to face the gallows. Author Frederick C. Painton was a WWII correspondent and died of a heart attack on a Guam airfield while covering the Pacific war.

Download Duel of Dishonor” (September 1935, Sky Birds)