What’s Flying into the Dark about?
Wait, you want me to climb into this machine that only sort of works, and fly it into a war zone? With no parachute? Ok, let's go.
These are true stories about RAF pilots and other airmen of the First World War.
What happens to people when nothing about their existence is certain, not even for a moment? When the unimaginable is normal?
Many of the stories presented here are fragments of a larger narrative. It usually isn’t necessary to read them in a particular order. They all go together, but each stands on its own.
Who are you?
My name is David Michael Lamb and I’m a professional news journalist. For 25 years, I’ve worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). I still work there, but Flying into the Dark is not a CBC production. This is entirely a personal project.
Why are you doing this?
It began with a family story that my great-grandfather was a pilot in the First World War.
Although it was true, the family had hardly any details about his experience. I figured there must be some thrilling stories in there about him and other pilots. Stories of adventure, possibly heroism, but also survival, death, and tragedy. A nightmare, probably.
I discovered far more than I expected to.
The result is a documentary in print. The people in this story really existed. The events really happened.
This project enters the world of those men.
What do I get if I subscribe?
New instalments are still being posted regularly, but the project will wrap up around the end of 2023. At that point, I will have said pretty much all I’m going to say on this topic.
The full archive of stories will remain here though for all to read.
I felt I had no choice but to tell these stories, because I can’t live with the idea that they would just disappear.
