New Book - Diary of Howard Rath - 96th Squadron

[CaptainJohnSmith]

For military historians and enthusiasts, “First to Bomb - The World War I Diary of Lt. Howard G. Rath, Bombardier, 96th Aero Squadron” is fascinating reading. Author/historian Hugh T. Harrington has transcribed the previously unpublished diary of Lt. Howard G. Rath into a captivating chronological scenario telling the story of Rath and his 96th Aero Squadron stationed on French soil at Amanty. Most notably history records Rath, as lead observer and bombardier, with the distinction of making the first WWI bombing missions against “Bosche” or “Hun” targets on June 12, 1918.

The book also describes Rath’s future bombing missions and targets until war’s end on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918.

Rath’s diary was meant only for himself, so many of the incidents and facts laid out in its pages are fascinating and were totally unsanitized. The diary also opened many day-to-day incidents to me that one never hears of from other published early aviation sources. The book offers insights into Rath’s crossing of the Atlantic Ocean dodging German submarines and quirky fellow soldiers. It also describes the wide presence of the American Red Cross and YMCA personnel in France which I had not aware of. Learning that labeling a cloudy and rainy day as a “dud day” was a colorful phrase used 100 years ago. A completely intriguing fact I learned was that while flying their Breguet 14 B2 biplanes, the observer/bombardier sitting behind the pilot saw the approaching target through a “slot in the floor” and steered the pilot by using “reins attached to the pilot’s shoulders”. The observer/bombardier would then fire a pistol to signal the rest of the squadron to ready their bomb drop; far from the precision digital accuracy of bombing today. Breaking propellers in the deep mud at takeoff was a constant danger, as was frostbite on Rath’s “nose, chin, and cheeks” which had already turned black.

However as in any war, Rath’s diary also documents the horrible side of fighting, grieving and death. Scenes as Rath standing watch on the flight field for returning “machines” (aeroplanes) piloted by fellow aviators, only to realize none were coming back. “Spent all day packing up Joe Mellen’s effects”, Rath sadly wrote.

In a day when aviators had no parachutes, Rath recorded such scenes as “Gundy was seen to jump from the plane but Penn stayed in and was burned”. Major Thomas Dewitt Milling reflected the feeling of Rath’s squadron as “during the Battle of St. Mihiel we had terrific losses in our day bombardment… the morale of the group itself was very low.”
A specifically helpful aspect of the book are author Hugh Harrington’s brief interjections at certain spots in the narrative. In identifiable italics Harrington goes into background depth on certain subjects like the Vickers and Lewis guns, and the 7th A.I.C. Bomb Sight

There are many other absorbing stories which appear in this first-time published book. I found the entire diary-book very enticing reading.

[Gregvan]

I would second all of CaptainJohnSmith's recommendations. This is a very important book! The author, Hugh Harrington, is a member of this forum, and announced its publication here.

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=74403

[historyguy]

Thank you Greg. I put a whole lot of time and effort into this project and it means a great deal to me to read your comments. Thank you.

[ONEALM]

This book is a perfect follow-on the Hughs previously published Destiny’s Wings: Four Months in Day Bombardment: The Story of Lt. Hugh S. Thompson, 96th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service in World War *and* his excellent article in OTF Vol 26 #1, Spring 2021 "We Were Told What to Write".

The transcription is important because it is from a career civilian - not a military professional - who was pressed/volunteered into service and as such it is unfiltered. There is no quarter given to the larger military machinery - no excuses offered simply because "that's the way the military works" - just Rath speaking his mind, pointing out the foolishness of decisions and the subsequent cost in lives.

What Hugh as not pointed out here is that this diary was extraordinarily difficult to read - Rath's handwriting was almost as indecipherable as the Rosetta Stone, but he was able to transcribe it all and for that effort alone he should be lauded.

It will never be a best seller, but it is, in my opinion, an extraordinarily important piece of work that provides an unsanitized view into the operations of the US 1st Day Bombardment Group and in some context, the USAS in general.

Available on Amazon.