Just over a decade after the first powered aeroplane flight, fearless pioneers were flying over the battlefields of France in flimsy biplanes. As more military aircraft took to the skies, they were equipped with weapons and their pilots began to develop tactics to take down enemy aviators. In 1915 the term 'ace' was coined to denote a pilot adept at downing enemy aircraft, and top aces like Albert Ball and the Red Baron became household names. Flying more advanced fighters, top aces would accrue scores of over 100 in the swirling dogfights of WWII. This book covers the history of the fighter ace from the first developments in 1915 to the jet aces of the later 20th century. AUTHORS: John Sadler BA (Hons) M.Phil, FRHistS, FSA (Scotl.) is an author, lecturer, battlefield tour guide and historical interpreter. He has been a visiting lecturer at the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning teaching war studies for fifteen years and has some thirty published titles in print or preparation. He is an experienced battlefield tour guide for both world wars in Europe and for a range of earlier conflicts. As a historical interpreter and partner in Time Bandits, he has appeared in a wide variety of guises in museums, galleries, schools, the community and heritage sites from Ramses II of Egypt to WWII Home Guard and Auxiliaries. He is married with two daughters and lives in mid-Northumberland. Rosie Serdiville is a writer and educator with a particular interest in radical history. She works together with John Sadler in schools and for heritage sites, often using our very different viewpoints to provide an alternative commentary on historical events. She is Vice President of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, and co-author with John Sadler of 7 military history titles.