Luftstreitkräfte - Allemagne (14-18) : livres - chasseurs

Deutsche Jagdflugzeuge des Ersten Weltkriegs - 1914-1918 (Typenkompass)

In der Zeit von 1914 bis 1918 verzeichnete die Flugzeugentwicklung enorme Fortschritte und rund 100 Jahre nach Ausbruch des Ersten Weltkriegs wird dieser spannenden Ära mit diesem Band in bewährter und kompakter Form Rechnung getragen.
Sämtliche Flugzeuge und Entwicklungen von deutscher Seite werden in diesem Typenkompass vorgestellt und beschrieben - wie immer mit Leistungstabellen und zeitgenössischen Aufnahmen.

German Fighter Aircraft in World War I : Design, Construction and Innovation

Fighter aircraft were developed by during World War I at an unprecedented rate, as nascent air forces sought to achieve and maintain air supremacy. German manufacturers innovated at top speed, while constantly scrutinizing the development of new enemy aircraft. The Germans also utilized the concept of systematic production or modular engineering during the war-Fokker capitalized on this aspect with all his aircraft built in a similar fashion-wooden wings with welded steel fuselages.
This meant that they could be disassembled or reassembled quickly in the field-unlike many Allied aircraft.

Pfalz and Albatros were the first to realize the importance of a streamlined fuselage-the precursor to all that would follow. Both of these companies built semi-monocoque fuselages using plywood to develop semi-stressed skin-the Allies had nothing like this.
The Germans also perfect powerful inline engines, as exemplified by the Albatros fighters. These engines did not have the gyroscopic effect of the rotary engines and as such were easier and more stable to fly.
Fokker was slow to give up his rotary engines but once he did, the result was the iconic Fokker D VII-years ahead of its time and the only aircraft specifically mentioned in the Treaty of Versailles that Germany could not build after the war.

This book explores how German fighter aircraft were developed during the war, the innovations and trials that made the Fokker D VII possible, and the different makes and types of aircraft. Using unpublished images including photographs of surviving aircraft, archive images, and models and replicas, it shows details of aircraft that were kept top secret during the war.
Extensively illustrated with 140 photos and ten color profiles, this is will be essential reading for all WWI aviation enthusiasts and modellers.

German Monoplane Fighters of WW I

This book describes and illustrates the development of German monoplane fighters in WWI with text, 310 photos, 50 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications. In addition, four monoplane fighters are illustrated in 1/48 scale drawings.

Germany's Triplane Craze

This book describes and illustrates Germany's Triplane Craze of 1917 with more than 145 rare, contemporary photos, 9 color photos, 44 color profiles, performance specifications and production data.

The origins of German triplane and multiplane fighter designs are discussed in the context of the evolving combat environment. Scale Drawings of the Aviatik 30.24, Brandenburg L 16, Fokker V8, Friedrichshafen FF54, and the Schütte-Lanz Dr.I to 1/48 scale are included in the book's 102 pages.

Germany's Fighter Competitions of 1918

This book describes and illustrates Germany's 1918 fighter development through the story of the three Fighter Competitions with more than 215 rare photos illustrating 70 fighter designs, 65 color profiles, and performance specifications.

The German fighter competitions are discussed in the context of the evolving combat environment and Germany's strategic situation. Scale drawings of the Aviatik D.VI and D.VII, Kondor D.II, D.VI, and E.III, SSW D.VI, Fokker V29, Daimler L11, and Zeppelin D.I to 1/48 scale are included in the book's 166 pages.

Richthofen's Flying Circus - Jagdgeschwader Nr I (Osprey)

Undoubtedly the most famous of any nation's aviation units in World War 1 was the legendary Jagdgeschwader Nr 1, or 'The Flying Circus' as its respectful foes labelled it. Germany's first true fighter wing, it would always be associated with its first commander, the charismatic and revered Manfred von Richthofen.
JG 1 was formed in July 1917, and for sixteen months the unit's young pilots in their colourful aircraft battled for aerial dominance of the Western Front. From its ranks emerged many of Germany's most successful airmen, including the Red Baron's brother Lothar; Ernst Udet; Werner Voss; Erich Löwenhardt and Hermann Göring.

This book charts the World War I experiences of JG 1.

Contents: Origins (the early careers of JG I's Jastas and formation of the Geschwader) - Summer Successes (JG I's operations in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, July - September 1917) - Triplane Trials (operations primarily with the Fokker Dr I through the Battle of Cambrai, October 1917 - February 1918) - The 'Kaiser's Battle' (operations during 'Operation Michael,' the last great German offensive of March - May 1918) - New Leaders, New Equipment - Fighting Retreat - Jagdstaffel and Geschwader Commanders of JG I - Aces' listing.

Richthofen - The Red Baron in Old Photographs

Manfred, Freiherr von Richthofen, was the top ace of the First World War, with eighty confirmed victories. He is also one of the most famous fighter pilots of all time. A Prussian nobleman, he started the war as an officer in an Uhlan cavalry unit, serving on both the Eastern and Western fronts.

In May 1915 he joined the flying service, initially as an observer, then as a pilot, flying two-seaters. In August 1916, ace fighter pilot, Oswald Boelcke recruited von Richthofen into a fighter squadron he was forming. He would later take command of Jasta 11, and then of Jagdgeschwader 1, the famous 'Flying Circus'. Manfred von Richthofen would be shot down and killed on 21 April 1918.

Using period images with text and captions taken from von Richthofen's 1917 autobiography, Der Rote Kampfflieger, this book vividly illustrates his extraordinary story.

The Red Baron

Manfred von Richthofen - the Red Baron - was the most celebrated fighter pilot of the First World War, and was holder of the Blue Max, Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military decoration. He was credited with 80 victories in the air, before being shot down in disputed circumstances aged 26. In this autobiography Richthofen tells not only his own story but also that of his contemporaries, their duels in the sky, ever present danger, fame, honour and spiralling death.

Hermann Goering in the First World War - The Personal Photograph Albums of Hermann Goering

When modern readers think of Hermann Goering, what probably comes to mind is the overweight drug addict and convicted war criminal who cheated the hangman's noose at Nuremberg by committing suicide just hours before he was due to die. Or perhaps there is the image of his powerful German air force in the Second World War - the Luftwaffe - bombing defenceless European cities and towns in the early part of the war, until it was defeated by the Royal Air Force in the epic Battle of Britain. Perhaps the reader might think of Goering the debauched art collector who pirated captured collections all over Nazi Europe during the Occupation years.

All of these images are correct, but here we see another Hermann Goering: the slim, dashing fighter pilot and combat ace of an earlier struggle, the Great War of 1914-18, which he began as an infantry officer fighting the French Army in the 1914 Battle of the Frontiers.
During a hospitalization, his friend Bruno Lorzer convinced him to become an aerial observer-photographer, photographing the mighty French fortress of Verdun. He did, and began these never-before-seen personal photo albums of men and aircraft at war: up close.
This remarkable book - the first of an intimate series of photographic diaries - is an unique photographic record of the early years of this notorious figure.