The French Nieuport company provided the Allied air forces with the first true fighter scout of World War 1 in the shape of the diminutive XI of 1915. Based on the Bebe racer, built for the abandoned Gordon-Bennett Trophy of the previous year, the aircraft utilised a sesquiplane (lower wing much smaller than the upper wing) arrangement which gave the XI extreme manoeuvrability. It was the only scout respected by the all-conquering German Fokker E-series of 1915-16, and was flown by French, British, Russian, Belgian and Italian aces. The XI was replaced from May 1916 onwards by the bigger and...
The French Nieuport company provided the Allied air forces with the first true fighter scout of World War 1 in the shape of the diminutive XI of 1915....
The 50 pilots featured in Fallen Eagles were all decorated for bravery during The Great War. All survived the conflict only to die flying in the postwar years. The causes of their deaths ranged from being casualties of small wars, then as now rife in the Middle East, mechanical failure or pilot error. The 1920s were still pioneering years for aviation and aviators and test flying, air races and displays, record attempts etc were fraught with dangers known and unknown. In addition to the better known names such as Sir John Alcock, Captain W Beauchamp-Proctor VC and Sammy Kincaid there are many...
The 50 pilots featured in Fallen Eagles were all decorated for bravery during The Great War. All survived the conflict only to die flying in the postw...
When the Second World War began in 1939 it was thought that it would be fought along the same lines as the First World War, with the Allied air forces operating from both Britain and France. With the fall of Britain's Northern European Allies in May 1940, all that changed. From then onwards, RAF aircraft operating over enemy and enemy-held territory necessitated flights across both the North Sea and the English Channel. This meant that aircrew in difficulties would be forced to come down in both of these bodies of water. Therefore it was essential that some form of rescue service be made...
When the Second World War began in 1939 it was thought that it would be fought along the same lines as the First World War, with the Allied air forces...
Picking up from where we left off with Great War Fighter Aces 1914-16, this new addition to the Images of War series covers the dramatic closing years of the First World War.
Picking up from where we left off with Great War Fighter Aces 1914-16, this new addition to the Images of War series covers the dramatic closing years...
New addition to the Images of War series, focussing on the Sopwith Camels flown over Italy during the First World War and the victories achieved by the pilots who flew them.
New addition to the Images of War series, focussing on the Sopwith Camels flown over Italy during the First World War and the victories achieved by th...
Over and Above was first published in 1919, soon after John Everard Gurdo had been invalided out of the RAF. This new edition retains exactly the original script but has been updated with an introduction by John Gurdon's granddaughter Camilla Jane Gurdon Blakely and an extended illustrated appendix by renowned historian Norman Franks.
Over and Above was first published in 1919, soon after John Everard Gurdo had been invalided out of the RAF. This new edition retains exactly the orig...
