Grim Reapers: French Escadrille 94 in World War I

Grim Reapers: French Escadrille 94 in World War IGrim Reapers: French Escadrille 94 in World War I by Jon Guttman
ISBN: 193588140X
Published by Aeronaut Books on March 15, 2016
Genres: Aviation
Pages: 94

This is an exceptional squadron history. It is based on interviews with several pilots that were conducted as far back as the 1970s. Guttman provides insightful, well-written context on the pilots, their aircraft, markings, their adversaries, and daily squadron life.

Escadrille N.94 was created in May 1917, started by flying Nieuport 24s and later transitioned to Spad 7s and 13s as Spa.94. In early 1918, N.94 was split to form a new escadrille, N.156. The latter was one of the few units to fly the Morane-Saulnier AI, a beautiful but fatally flawed high-wing monoplane. The author’s discussion of the short combat history of this little-known fighter is one of many gems in this account.

A number of Americans flew in Escadrilles 94 and 156, including the ace David Putnam and the little-known Austen Crehore. Sergent Crehore was one of the few Americans to be inducted as a Chevalier of the French Légion d’Honneur. (His story is one that deserves to be remembered.) Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Steve Suddaby, past president of WW1HA

The Great War’s Finest: An Operational History of the German Air Service, Volume I: Western Front 1914

The Great War’s Finest: An Operational History of the German Air Service, Volume I: Western Front 1914The Great War's Finest: An Operational History of the German Air Service (Operational History of the Imperial German Air Service) (Volume 1) by Matt Bowden
ISBN: 1935881582
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2017
Genres: Aviation
Pages: 378

The Over the Front review of this extraordinary new study described it as a “large-format volume with personal accounts and large-size color and black & white photos, as well as many clear charts [also in color] and multi-color maps. The latter are important to understanding the scope and sweep of the ground war, which aviators strived to support.”

Bowden’s well-footnoted, well-organized tome utilizes primary sources, official publications, squadron histories, after-action reports, and memoirs, many never before published in English. It is much more than a summary of German aviation activities at the start of the war. The effective relationship between Feldflieger Abteilungen (Field Flying Sections) and the advancing armies is explained in the narrative and delineated in several orders-of-battle at key points during the 1914 campaign in the West.

The importance of the Fliegertruppe was not only in reconnaissance, but also in working closely with artillery batteries that contributed to the successes of the German armies during the Battle of The Frontiers. This book is highly recommended and future volumes are eagerly awaited.

Reviewed by Dana Lombardy, publisher of World War One Illustrated

Tumult in the Clouds – The Aviation Art of Russell Smith

Tumult in the Clouds – The Aviation Art of Russell SmithTumult in the Clouds – The Aviation Art of Russell Smith by Jim Wilberg, Jack Herris
ISBN: 1935881027
Published by Aeronaut Books on December 31st 2011
Pages: 172

Len's Summary: Forty four of award-winning aviation artist Russell Smith WWI paintings and 20 drawings including Eddie Rickenbacker’s SPAD XIII.

Knights in Canvas: The Aviation Art of James Dietz

Knights in Canvas: The Aviation Art of James DietzKnights in Canvas by Jim WilbergJack Herris
ISBN: 9781935881049
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2012
Pages: 174

Len's Summary: Chapters by several contributors including Jon Guttman and Greg Van Wyngarden.

German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes (Volume 2)

German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes (Volume 2)German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes: 2 by Jack Herris, Aaron Weaver, Steve Anderson, Bob Pearson, Martin Digmayer, Colin Owers
ISBN: 9781935881094
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2012
Pages: 150

Len's Summary: The origin and evolution of each class of fighter, including flying boats, of the German fleet.

Development of German Warplanes in WWI – A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes and Seaplanes

Development of German Warplanes in WWI – A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes and SeaplanesDevelopment of German Warplanes in WWI by Jack Herris
ISBN: 9781935881087
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2012
Pages: 148

Len's Summary: Profuse information on German airframes and aero engines; destined to become a standard reference and research tool.

The Blue Max Airmen: German Airmen Awarded the Pour le Mérite

The Blue Max Airmen: German Airmen Awarded the Pour le MériteThe Blue Max Airmen by Lance Joseph Bronnenkant
ISBN: 9781935881063
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2012
Genres: History, Military, World War I, Aviation, Transportation
Pages: 112

Len's Summary: Volume one covers Boelcke and Immelmann; volume two covers Buddeke, Wintgens and von Mulzer with biographies of each. The author also published Imperial German Eagles in World War I (Schiffer) in two volumes.

Carl Menckhoff: Reminiscenses of War and Captivity

Carl Menckhoff: Reminiscenses of War and CaptivityReminiscenses of war and captivity by Carl Menckhoff
ISBN: 9781935881179
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2013
Pages: 304

Len's Summary: Memoir of a 39 victory German ace.

German Armored Warplanes: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes

German Armored Warplanes: A Centennial Perspective on Great War AirplanesGerman Armored Warplanes of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes: 4 (Great War Aviation Series) by Jack Herris, Jerry Boucher, Bob Pearson
ISBN: 1935881116
on January 1st 1970

Len's Summary: Wood and canvas gave way to aluminum and steel airframe construction as aircraft were increasingly employed in a ground-support role.

German’s Triplane Craze: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes

German’s Triplane Craze: A Centennial Perspective on Great War AirplanesGermany's Triplane Craze by Jack Herris
ISBN: 9781935881155
Published by Aeronaut Books on 2013
Pages: 102

Len's Summary: The Red Baron flew the iconic Fokker Dr.1 triplane.

Germany’s Fighter Competitions of 1918: A Centennial Perspective on the Great War Airplanes

Germany’s Fighter Competitions of 1918: A Centennial Perspective on the Great War AirplanesGermany's Fighter Competitions of 1918 by Jack Herris
ISBN: 1935881167
Published by Aeronaut Books on June 20th 2013
Genres: World War I, History, Aviation
Pages: 166

Len's Summary: Seeking the air-supremacy weapon.