LION OF THE SKIES Hardcover

"LION OF THE SKIES: Hardit Singh Malik, the Royal Air Force and the First World War" by Stephen Barker tells the remarkable and unique story of the only Sikh airman to serve with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Air Force during the First World War. This deeply researched biography chronicles Hardit Singh Malik's arduous journey to enlist, overcoming significant discrimination to become a pioneering fighter pilot over the battlefields of Flanders, famously wearing a specially designed flying helmet over his turban. Beyond his wartime heroics, which included claiming two kills before being shot down, the book also highlights his later distinguished career as India's first High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to France, offering a vital account of Indian contributions to the war and the challenges faced by Indians in colonial Britain.