Jagdstaffel 2 ‘Boelcke’

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Author :
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781846032035
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (32 download)

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Book Synopsis Jagdstaffel 2 ‘Boelcke’ by : Greg VanWyngarden

Download or read book Jagdstaffel 2 ‘Boelcke’ written by Greg VanWyngarden and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2007-11-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By August 1916, the German Air Service was fighting a losing struggle in the skies over the Battle of the Somme. Royal Flying Corps aircraft reigned almost supreme over the battlefront, and the vaunted Fokker monoplanes had been hounded from the air. In response, an entirely new type of fighting formation came into being - the Jagdstaffel, which was a unit designed solely as a fighting squadron. One of the first, and undoubtedly the most famous, was Jasta 2, formed and led by Germany's premiere fighter ace Oswald Boelcke. Renamed Jasta "Boelcke" by Imperial Decree, the unit would carry its first commander's legacy to spectacular success in late 1918. This title examines the tactics, personalities and achievements of this ace squadron which finished the war with a record of 336 victories, second only to Richthofen's own unit in confirmed kills.

Knight of Germany

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Author :
Publisher : Casemate / Greenhill
ISBN 13 : 1612000436
Total Pages : 291 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (12 download)

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Book Synopsis Knight of Germany by : Johannes Werner

Download or read book Knight of Germany written by Johannes Werner and published by Casemate / Greenhill. This book was released on 2009-10-19 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of the World War I fighter pilot the Red Baron himself sought to emulate . . . German air ace Oswald Boelcke was a national hero during World War I. He was the youngest captain in the German air force, decorated with the Pour le Mérite while still only a lieutenant, and credited with forty aerial victories at the time of his death. Becoming a pilot shortly before the outbreak of the war, Boelcke established his reputation on the Western front first in reconnaissance, then in scouts, before finally becoming the best known of the early German aces, along with Max Immelmann. After Immelmann’ s death, he was taken off flying and traveled to the Eastern front where he met a young pilot called Manfred von Richthofen. Transferred back to the Western Front in command of Jasta 2, he remembered von Richthofen when new small fighting units were formed and chose him as a pilot for his new Staffel. Boelcke was tragically killed in a flying accident during combat in October 1916, although not before the reputation of his unit, together with his own, had been firmly established forever. This absorbing biography was written with the blessing of Boelcke’s family. Professor Werner was given access to his letters and other papers, and presents here a rounded and fascinating portrait of a great airman and a remarkable soldier who became known as the father of the German Jagdflieger. This edition has been completely reoriginated while remaining faithful to the language of the time of its original translation from German in the 1930s.

Jasta Boelcke

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Author :
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1909166359
Total Pages : 406 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Jasta Boelcke by : Norman Franks

Download or read book Jasta Boelcke written by Norman Franks and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2004-06-19 with total page 406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An account of the renowned German fighter unit in World War I, “a wonderful journey through these pilots’ lives, in victory and defeat” (Aerodrome). As August drew to a close in 1916, the German Air Service was reeling almost helplessly towards inevitable defeat on the Somme. The Artillery and Feldflieger Abteilungen, the Kampfstaffeln, had been quickly reduced to relative impotency by the overwhelming quantitative and qualitative superiority of the Allies. The once feared Fokker and Pfalz Eindeckers proved unequal to the task of checking the aerial flood which daily scoured the ravaged German front. A crisis was reached. Germany was compelled to seek a new solution. Jagdstaffel 2 was formed to stem the tide and fight back. Later by Imperial decree renamed Jasta Boelcke in honor of its distinguished commander Oswald Boelcke, this military formation had no prolonged, entangled gestation period. There was no parent, no prior stirrings of life. Jasta 2 was lifted from the keyboard of a typewriter, assigned to the First Army and provided with a leader. Between 2 September and 31 December 1916, it scored 85 kills, and was destined to end the war with 336 confirmed victories. Here, for the first time, is the story of that auspicious and audacious unit, told in his inimitable style by Norman Franks, an expert in his subject.

‘Richthofen’s Circus’

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Author :
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781841767260
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (672 download)

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Book Synopsis ‘Richthofen’s Circus’ by : Greg VanWyngarden

Download or read book ‘Richthofen’s Circus’ written by Greg VanWyngarden and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2004-07-25 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

One in a Thousand

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Author :
Publisher : University of Toronto Press
ISBN 13 : 1442607467
Total Pages : 202 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (426 download)

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Book Synopsis One in a Thousand by : Graham Broad

Download or read book One in a Thousand written by Graham Broad and published by University of Toronto Press. This book was released on 2017-01-01 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This short microhistory details the life and death of Eddie McKay, a varsity athlete at Western University, who flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. Graham Broad switches creatively from telling McKay's fascinating story to teaching valuable lessons on how to do history: why the past matters, why historians take different approaches, how to pose historical questions, how to identify relevant source materials, and the importance of thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful treatment of historical subjects. The book includes a timeline of the subject's life, a map of relevant combat areas in the Battle of the Somme, and nine illustrations. It concludes with four unsolved events in McKay's life: a mysterious woman, a strange advertisement for batteries, an empty envelope, and an unknown grave--demonstrating that even a detailed history about one person's life is never really complete.

World War I [5 volumes]

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Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN 13 : 1851099654
Total Pages : 2532 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (51 download)

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Book Synopsis World War I [5 volumes] by : Spencer C. Tucker

Download or read book World War I [5 volumes] written by Spencer C. Tucker and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2014-10-28 with total page 2532 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offering exhaustive coverage, detailed analyses, and the latest historical interpretations of events, this expansive, five-volume encyclopedia is the most comprehensive and detailed reference source on the First World War available today. One hundred years after the beginning of World War I in 1914, this conflict still stands as perhaps the most important event of the 20th century. World War I toppled all of the existing empires at the time, transformed the Middle East, and vaulted the United States to becoming the world's leading economic power. Its effects were profound and lasting—and included outcomes that led to World War II. This multivolume encyclopedia provides a wide-ranging examination of World War I that covers all of the important battles; key individuals, both civilian and military; weapons and technologies; and diplomatic, social, political, cultural, military, and economic developments. Suitable as a reference tool for high school and undergraduate students as well as faculty members and graduate-level researchers, World War I: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection offers accessible, in-depth information and up-to-date analyses in a format that lends itself to quick and easy use. The set comprises alphabetically arranged, cross-referenced entries accompanied by further reading selections as well as a comprehensive bibliography. A fifth volume provides chronologically arranged documents and an A–Z index.

Oswald Boelcke

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Author :
Publisher : Grub Street Publishers
ISBN 13 : 191069066X
Total Pages : 241 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis Oswald Boelcke by : R.G. Head

Download or read book Oswald Boelcke written by R.G. Head and published by Grub Street Publishers. This book was released on 2016-08-05 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This biography of the pioneering WWI flying ace who mentored the Red Baron is “fascinating . . . [it] captures combat aviation at its inception” (MiG Sweep: The Magazine of Aviation Warriors). With a total of forty victories, Oswald Boelcke was Germany’s first ace in World War I—and a century later he remains a towering figure in the history of air warfare, renowned for his character, inspirational leadership, organizational genius, development of air-to-air tactics, and impact on aerial doctrine. Paving the way for modern air forces across the world with his pioneering strategies, Boelcke had a dramatic effect on his contemporaries. The famed Red Baron’s mentor, instructor, squadron commander, and friend, he exerted a tremendous influence upon the German air force. He was one of the first pilots to be awarded the famous Pour le Mérite, commonly recognized as the “Blue Max.” All of this was achieved after overcoming medical obstacles in childhood and later life with willpower and determination. Boelcke even gained the admiration of his enemies: After his tragic death in a midair collision, Britain’s Royal Flying Corps dropped a wreath on his funeral, and several of his captured foes sent another wreath from their German prison camp. His name and legacy live on, as seen in the Luftwaffe’s designation of the Tactical Air Force Wing 31 “Boelcke.” This definitive biography reveals his importance as a fighter pilot who set the standard in military aviation.

Aces of Jagdgeschwader Nr III

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472808444
Total Pages : 100 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Aces of Jagdgeschwader Nr III by : Greg VanWyngarden

Download or read book Aces of Jagdgeschwader Nr III written by Greg VanWyngarden and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-01-20 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Royal Prussian Jagdgeschwader Nr III was the third of Germany's vaunted fighter wings to be formed during World War 1. Commanded by the Pour le Mérite winner and well-respected ace Hauptmann Bruno Loerzer for its entire existence, it was composed of the celebrated Jasta 'Boelcke', along with Jagdstaffeln 26, 27 and 36. Equipped largely with the new Fokker triplane, these four units would play an important role in the Kaiserschlacht as part of the 17. Armee. As Germany's fortunes waned in the summer of 1918, the aces of JG III nonetheless did their best to stem the tides of British, French and later American aircraft they encountered. Aces such as Carl Bolle, Paul Bäumer, Heinrich Bongartz, Hermann Frommherz, Rudolf Klimke and the infamous Hermann Göring all carved their names in the record books flying in this formidable formation. This book examines the tactics, achievements and personalities of one of the deadliest of Germany's aerial units.

Cavalry of the Clouds

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Author :
Publisher : The History Press
ISBN 13 : 0752476041
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (524 download)

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Book Synopsis Cavalry of the Clouds by : John Sweetman

Download or read book Cavalry of the Clouds written by John Sweetman and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2011-11-08 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1917, David Lloyd George declared that airmen were 'the cavalry of the clouds - the knighthood of this war.' This romantic image was fostered post-war by writers of adventure stories and the stunts of Hollywood filmmakers, and yet it was far from the harsh reality of the life of an airman. From their baptism of fire in 1914 carrying out reconnaissance and experiencing the first dogfights, to the breakthrough in 1918 which claimed heavy casualties, the aerial defenders of Britain were continually tested. In Cavalry of the Clouds John Sweetman describes the development of British air power during the First World War on the Western Front, which culminated in the creation of the first independent air force, the RAF. By making use of the correspondence of airmen and ground staff of all nationalities, he illustrates the impact this new type of conflict had on those involved and their families at home. Extensively researched and handsomely illustrated with contemporary photographs, Cavalry of the Clouds is an essential reference work for any student of military history.

Reconnaissance and Bomber Aces of World War 1

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1782008039
Total Pages : 171 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

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Book Synopsis Reconnaissance and Bomber Aces of World War 1 by : Jon Guttman

Download or read book Reconnaissance and Bomber Aces of World War 1 written by Jon Guttman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-01-20 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Often overshadowed by the fighters that either protected or threatened them, two-seater reconnaissance aircraft performed the oldest and most strategically vital aerial task of World War 1 a task that required them to return with the intelligence they gathered at all costs. Bomber sorties were equally important and dangerous, and the very nature of both types of mission required going in harm's way. A remarkable number of British, French and German two-seater teams managed to attain or exceed the five victories needed to achieve the acedom popularly associated with their single-seat nemeses, and in this book, with rich illustrations and first-hand accounts of the veterans themselves, they receive their long-overdue recognition. Many high-scoring single-seat fighter aces also began their careers in two-seaters, particularly in the early stages of the conflict, and their exploits as either pilots or observers are detailed here too.

DH 2 vs Albatros D I/D II

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 178096420X
Total Pages : 168 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis DH 2 vs Albatros D I/D II by : James F. Miller

Download or read book DH 2 vs Albatros D I/D II written by James F. Miller and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-05-20 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Flown by Victoria Cross recipient Lanoe Hawker and the members of No 24 Sqn, the ungainly yet nimble DH 2 helped the Allies attain air superiority over the Somme in early 1916 and hold it through the summer. With its rotary engine 'pusher' configuration affording excellent visibility and eliminating the need for a synchronized machine gun, the DH 2 was more than a match for anything the Germans could put in the air. That is, until the arrival of the Albatros D II, a sleek inline-engined machine built for speed and with twin-gun firepower. Thus, the later part of 1916 saw an epic struggle in the skies above the Somme pitting the manoeuvrable yet under-gunned DH 2s against the less nimble yet better armed and faster Albatros D IIs. In the end the Germans would regain air superiority, three squadron commanders – two of whom were considered pinnacles of their respective air forces – would lose their lives, and an up-and-coming pilot (Manfred von Richthofen) would triumph in a legendary dogfight and attain unimagined heights fighting with tactics learned from a fallen mentor.

Air Combat Manoeuvring

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Author :
Publisher : One Billion Knowledgeable
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (661 download)

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Book Synopsis Air Combat Manoeuvring by : Fouad Sabry

Download or read book Air Combat Manoeuvring written by Fouad Sabry and published by One Billion Knowledgeable. This book was released on 2024-06-03 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is Air Combat Manoeuvring Air combat manoeuvring (ACM) is the tactic of moving, turning, and situating one's fighter aircraft in order to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft. Commonly associated with dogfighting, air combat manoeuvres rely on offensive and defensive basic fighter manoeuvring (BFM) to gain an advantage over an aerial opponent. How you will benefit (I) Insights, and validations about the following topics: Chapter 1: Air combat manoeuvring Chapter 2: Fighter aircraft Chapter 3: Fokker Scourge Chapter 4: Oswald Boelcke Chapter 5: Max Immelmann Chapter 6: Thach Weave Chapter 7: Aerial warfare Chapter 8: Dogfight Chapter 9: Dicta Boelcke Chapter 10: History of aerial warfare (II) Answering the public top questions about air combat manoeuvring. Who this book is for Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Air Combat Manoeuvring.

The Luftwaffe: A History

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Author :
Publisher : Pen and Sword
ISBN 13 : 1781591105
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (815 download)

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Book Synopsis The Luftwaffe: A History by : John Killen

Download or read book The Luftwaffe: A History written by John Killen and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2013-06-12 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: John Killen's exhaustive work is a study of German air power between 1915 and 1945, from the early days of flying when Immelmann, Boelke, Richtofen and other First World War aces fought and died to give Germany air supremacy, to the nightmare existence of the Luftwaffe as the Third Reich plunged headlong to destruction. Here are the aircraft: the frail biplanes and triplanes of the Kaiser's war; the great Lufthansa aircraft and airships of the turbulent Thirties; the monoplanes designed to help Hitler in his conquest of Europe. Here are the generals who forged the air weapon of the Luftwaffe - the swaggering Goering, the playboy Udet, the ebullient Kesselring and the scapegoat Jeschonnek; here, too, are the pilots who tried to keep faith with their Fatherland despite overwhelming odds; Adolf Galland, Werner Molders, Joachim Marseille and Hanna Reitsch. Not least are the actions fought by the Luftwaffe from the Spanish Civil War to the Battle of Britain, through the bloody struggle for Crete and the siege of Stalingrad to the fearful twilight over Berlin.

Fighter Pilot's Handbook - Magic, Death and Glory in the Golden Age of Flight

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Author :
Publisher : Metro Publishing
ISBN 13 : 178418912X
Total Pages : 145 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (841 download)

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Book Synopsis Fighter Pilot's Handbook - Magic, Death and Glory in the Golden Age of Flight by : Gordon Thorburn

Download or read book Fighter Pilot's Handbook - Magic, Death and Glory in the Golden Age of Flight written by Gordon Thorburn and published by Metro Publishing. This book was released on 2015-11-05 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the early days of flight, no one imagined the aeroplane as a weapon of war. Inevitably, the First World War proved the catalyst that was to change the face of battle for ever. But at the war’s outbreak, military aircraft, most of which were slow and stable two-seat biplanes, were held to have only one useful function: reconnaissance.It was not long, however, before pilots had the idea of dropping explosives from their cockpits. Once machine guns began to be fitted to aircraft, two factors immediately became clear: reconnaissance aircraft needed to be defended, and enemy machines had to be attacked and destroyed. So was born the ‘scout’ (as fighter aircraft were known then), to be followed, before long, by the ‘aces’ who flew them.In this wide-ranging and extremely readable study of the fighter pilot’s skills, training and experiences from the early days of flight, and the development of the machines they flew, the author, who has written widely on aerial warfare, takes the reader on a journey from the first flying machines in the late nineteenth century, to the development of the specialised fighter aircraft armed with one or more machine guns, and capable, by the war’s end, of speeds of 140mph and more. Along the way he takes in the development of the devices that allowed a machine gun to fire through the propeller arc, the coming of aerial photography and airborne wireless, parachutes, engine design, test flying and problems of flight, including the dreaded ‘spin’ that killed so may pilots, and the invention of aerial tactics such as the Immelmann Turn.Here, too, are the aces, the pilots who became famous and fêted at home for their exploits, at a time when newspapers were filled with ever-lengthening casualty lists from the Western Front. Some, like Germany’s Manfred von Richthofen - the ‘Red Baron’ - Britain’s James McCudden and Eddie Rickenbacker of the USA, are still well-known today, while others like Raymond Collishaw of the Royal Naval Air Service, France’s René Fonck, and Aleksandr Kazakov of the Imperial Russian Air Service are less prominent.In 1914 it was all new, this business of flying at the enemy. It is a story of creativity, of machines, experiments, turning points, ebb and flow, heroes. Starting from almost nothing, the fighting men tried out their ideas and established the principles that ultimately made aircraft the most important weapon of all.

Albatros D.I–D.II

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1780966008
Total Pages : 67 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis Albatros D.I–D.II by : James F. Miller

Download or read book Albatros D.I–D.II written by James F. Miller and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-01-20 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A concise technical history of the German Albatros D.I and D.II type scouts. In 1916 German aerial domination had been lost to the French and British fighters. German fighter pilots requested an aircraft that was more powerful and more heavily armed, and the Albatros design bureau set to work on what was to become an iconic aircraft design. By April 1916, they had developed the Albatros D.I, that featured the usual Albatros semi-monocoque wooden construction with a 160hp Mercedes engine and two forward-firing machine guns. Alongside the development of the D.I, Albatros had also designed and built a second machine that was similar to the D.I – the Albatros D.II. Although there were several external differences between the two aircraft, it is important to note that these machines evolved simultaneously and that the D.II was not the result of post-combat feedback from D.I pilots. With the inclusion of these aircraft into their reorganized air force, Germany was able to regain control of the skies by autumn 1916. This history shows that, along with the later designs they inspired, the Albatros D.I and D.II were instrumental in allowing the Germans to prosecute their domination through 'Bloody April' and well into the summer months that followed.

The Red Battle Flyer

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Author :
Publisher : DigiCat
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 127 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (596 download)

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Book Synopsis The Red Battle Flyer by : Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen

Download or read book The Red Battle Flyer written by Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen and published by DigiCat. This book was released on 2022-07-20 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is written by the Red Baron, the famous German flying ace of the Great War who was credited with 80 combat victories in flying battles. It is an autobiography, talking about his early life and love of horses and dogs, and his family. A fascinating insight into a famous figure.

FE 2b/d vs Albatros Scouts

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1780963262
Total Pages : 82 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis FE 2b/d vs Albatros Scouts by : James F. Miller

Download or read book FE 2b/d vs Albatros Scouts written by James F. Miller and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-01-20 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the spring of 1916 the deployment of the RFC's FE 2 – with its rotary engine 'pusher' configuration affording excellent visibility for its pilot and observer, and removing the need for synchronized machine guns – helped wrest aerial dominance from Imperial Germany's Fokker Eindecker monoplanes, and then contributed to retaining it throughout the Somme battles of that fateful summer. However, by autumn German reorganization saw the birth of the Jagdstaffeln (specialised fighter squadrons) and the arrival of the new Albatros D scout, a sleek inline-engined machine built for speed and twin-gun firepower. Thus, for the remainder of 1916 and well into the next year an epic struggle for aerial superiority raged above the horrors of the Somme and Passchendaele battlefields, pitting the FE 2 against the better-armed and faster Albatros scouts that were focused on attacking and destroying their two-seater opponents. In the end the Germans would regain air superiority, and hold it into the following summer with the employment of their new Jagdgeschwader (larger fighter groupings), but the FE 2 remained a tenacious foe that inflicted many casualties – some of whom were Germany's best aces (including 'The Red Baron').