History

The League is committed to preserving and advancing the study of aviation’s earliest era of combat. Founded by dedicated individuals determined to safeguard this vital field of history, it functions both as a rigorous scholarly community and a welcoming circle for all who wish to explore the daring and innovation of flight during the Great War. Through its flagship journal Over the Front, as well as lectures, seminars, and outreach programs, the League blends academic excellence with an invitation to new generations to share in this passionate pursuit of history.

From its humble beginnings in April 1985—when researcher George Williams, a former Cross & Cockade Journal staff member, gathered colleagues in Dallas, Texas, to ensure the field’s survival after that pioneering publication was set to close—the League has grown into a global network of researchers, readers, and enthusiasts. Out of that meeting emerged a vision: to sustain high-quality, scholarly study of World War I aviation, broaden its reach, and elevate the field to true academic rigor. Thus, the League and its journal Over the Front were born, bridging memory and scholarship to ensure that the stories of courage, innovation, and sacrifice that defined early military aviation remain alive.

In pursuit of this mission, the League collects, preserves, and publishes historical material on aerial activities during World War I, fosters the study of aviation history through seminars, panels, forums, and lectures, and provides a vibrant community where research, education, and shared passion thrive together. By championing both scholarship and fellowship, the League ensures that the lessons, traditions, and legacy of the aviators of 1914–1918 remain vibrant, accessible, and deeply valued—and warmly invites all who share that passion to become part of the ongoing story.