The RAF interlude was notable because Faulkner added the "u" to his name on his enlistment papers, apparently in an effort to sound more English.įaulkner did become a civilian pilot, as did all three of his brothers. Most sources state that World War I ended before Faulkner could earn his wings, much less solo, but he showed up home in Oxford, Mississippi, in a sky-blue RAF uniform, carrying a cane, affecting a visible limp and dropping remarks about the silver plate supposedly in his skull. In early 1918, he enlisted in the newly formed British Royal Air Force and actually trained as a cadet in Canada. More: Wilmington author Kevin Maurer spins compelling WWII tale in true account 'Damn Lucky'Įvery other chapter fictionalizes the young Faulkner but hews closely to the facts.įaulkner loved airplanes and was mad for flying. More: Carolina, Kure beaches go 'Along for the Ride' as Netflix film prepares to debut This snippet from Joseph Blotner's massive biography of Faulkner, provided the spark for T aylor Brown's new novel "Wingwalkers," a drama of seat-of-the-pants aviation during the Great Depression. He showed up again, days later, considerably worse for wear. In 1934, William Faulkner - author of "The Sound and the Fury," future winner of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes and high-functioning alcoholic - hitched a motorcycle ride with two barnstormers, a man and a woman.
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