World War I Airwar

World War I was like no war before. It was a world conflict of unprecedented horror, it abruptly ended the relative peace and prosperity of the Victorian era, unleashing such demons of the twentieth century as mass death and two new parts of war: mechanized warfare and aerial combat.

From the swirling dogfights to the bombing missions that became ever more deadly, the airwar of World War I changed the character of warfare forever.

As the name suggests, World War I Airwar is about the airwar of the War To End All Wars. It describes the terrible scope of aerial combat and commemorates the men who fought, killed and died in the sky above the trench warfare as well as the aircraft (and airships) they flew.

Although we may not be familiar with the ground battles of World War I, the World War I “Flying Ace” continues to be an historic image of that war but you’ll read why the reality was much less romantic. The hope of aviation that begun only a few years earlier with the Wright Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk quickly evolved into a deadly, ruthless and capricious business.

You’ll read about the devastating physical and emotional impact the war had on pilots such as Edward Corringham “Mick” Mannock, as well as extraordinary acts of heroism on both sides.

Read about the aces and other “knights of the air” whose high-flying exploits captured the imaginations of millions and replaced the prewar daredevil sports pilot as national heroes, including Ernst Udet, Edward Mannock, Georges Guynemer, James McCudden, Rene Fonck, Frank Luke and William Avery “Billy” Bishop.

The book also goes into greater detail about two aces in particular, Manfred von Richthofen (“the Red Baron”) and Eddie Rickenbacker, the leading American ace of World War I. One survived the war but the other was killed during its final months.

Regardless of the ability and luck of the pilot, his life also depended on aircraft whose engines failed, guns jammed and wings broke with unsettling frequency. You’ll read how the aircraft and its weapons evolved during the war and how seemingly little things, such as the location of the machine gun, played such an important role in air supremacy for both sides.

The airwar in World War I didn’t just involve aces and fighter aircraft. This second printing includes a new chapter called “Raids From Overhead” that describes the bomber missions over Britain that featured the huge German Zeppelins and the bombers that Britain, France and Italy flew on raids over German targets.

Both sides naturally wanted to destroy as many enemy aircraft as possible and one way was to develop anti-aircraft (AA) weapons. Another new chapter in the book, called “Anti-aircraft Warfare,” describes these new weapons and tactics.

In addition to the fighter and bomber roles, aircraft in World War I were used by both sides in two other roles. The new chapter “Ground Attack Role” describes how both sides used aircraft in World War I to attack (strafe) targets, such as rail yards, ships, equipment and of course troop positions, on the ground.

A fourth new chapter in this second printing describes how both sides finally realized the advantages of the aircraft, beginning with the role of reconnaissance, a role that in previous wars was done by the horses and the cavalry but could be done much quicker and more reliably with aircraft.

World War I Airwar is of interest to aviation historians and enthusiasts.

Contents Include:

The Storm Approaches
The Aircraft
The Reconnaissance Role
Dogfights And Aerial Combat
Raids From Overhead
Anti-Aircraft Warfare
Ground Attack Role
Aces Of World War I
Eddie Rickenbacker
The Red Baron
Contribution To Final Victory