In 1917, Knight volunteered for the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

He was most interest

ed in becoming an aviator. Along with 150 other American pilots, Knight was ship
ped off to England for training during 1917. In total, 2,500 pilots-in-training
were transported to France and England. This was done to accelerate the pace of
training.[1] He started his training with the No.44 Squadron of the Royal Flying
Corps, which was formed in Essex on July 24, 1917. This particular squadron ach
ieved its first triumph on January 28, 1918.[1] Knight also flew with the 206 sq
uadron of the Royal Flying Corps, and subsequently, the Royal Air Force.[3] He s
erved with the British Second Army in France.[4]
On October 5, 1918, Oberleutnant Harald Auffarth fired at Knight's plane causing
it to crash. Knight was flying a British Havilland 9 at the time and, although
hurt, he survived the crash landing on German territory. By the time the war end
ed, Knight was a prisoner of war at a German clinic. He was able to recuperate i
n a British ward.[1]
After his recovery, Knight continued his career as an aviation artist. He exhibi
ted his artwork at Associated American Artists. It is possible that his acquisit
ion of airplane art, which he started acquiring in 1928, may be the most extensi
ve collection of airplane art. Knight became known for his illustrations in avia
tion books.[1] He also illustrated for The New Yorker.[5]
Knight and his wife were also illustrators of children's books, and often collab
orated. He wrote and illustrated a few We Were There books, which were historica
l novels for children. This particular series was written as a fictional retelli
ng of a historical event, featuring kids as the primary characters. He wrote and
illustrated, We Were There...at the Normandy Invasion, We Were There...with the
Lafayette Escadrille, and We Were There...at the Battle of Britain, the latter
written with his wife.[6] Both Knight and his wife were illustrators for the P.F
. Volland Company, most known for publishing children's books. Knight's children
's book, The Non-Stop Stowaway: The Story of a Long Distance Flight (1928) was p
ublished under the Buzza Company imprint.