German Aircraft in the Great War 1914-1918

GERMAN AIRCRAFT IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 -1918 ISBN: 9781838056742 A5 256 pages + 200 images. A comprehensive and original look at the German Air Force and German Naval Air Arm in the First World War 1914-1918. For the first time in print a complete breakdown of the organisation and the German system of supply.

Commences with early German aviation to the opening of Johannisthal airfield in 1909 and the growth of Anthony Fokker and his aircraft. For the first time a complete and accurate account of the formation of German aviation and German military aviation which is based on Allied intelligence and newly translated archive documents. The industry reports are based on the inspections of the League of Nations Inter-Allied Control Commissions on aviation 1919 - 1926.

There is special mention of the Fokker D.VII and its fate. Included lists of German aerodromes and the organisation of the German Naval Air Arm in November 1918 (Orders of Battle). For the first time there is a complete description of the German Naval Air Arm the Marine-Fliegerabteilung in the First World War with orders of battle, including Armistice Day 1918 and the air arm's dominance over the English Channel with the Flanders Flight gaining air superiority.

(Included are the giant Riesenflugzeuge aeroplanes and their raids on London.) The aces are not forgotten with an accurate account of the loss of Manfred von Richthofen with his autopsy report, proving Brown did not shoot him down. The other aces Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann are described with new information. Also included is Fraulein Mellie Beese, the first German woman pilot who set up a training school at Johannisthal Berlin.

There are descriptions of the German aircraft industry, spares supply and the aftermath of the Armistice including the Amerika Programme and the Hindenburg plan. Includes all the aviation firms and their designations. There are orders of battle of the German squadron in the field on the Western Front and the deployment of the German bomber force the Giants - the Riesenflugzeuge.

Including Linke Hofmann, Staaken, D.F.W. Zeppelin giant bombers. There is emphasis on the training squadrons and depots.

There is fresh information on the all-metal Zeppelin Staaken based on the League of Nations inspection reports of the Inter-Allied Control Commissions: the inspectors found a second Staaken air liner in production. This too is supported with fresh drawings and pictures. There is a comprehensive appendix.

256 pages over 200 original black and white pictures and drawings. Additional material will be found in Volume 2 "Flying for Kaiser Wilhelm 1914-1918" which can only be found on EBay.