Beskrivelse af de første, Fokker jagerflytyper

The appearance in July 1915 of the Fokker E I heralded a reign of terror over the Western Front that the Allies called the 'Fokker Scourge'. The French Nieuport 11 was one type desperately thrown into action to counter the Fokkers. The swirling dogfights between this fighter – and its more powerful but more unwieldy stablemate, the Nieuport 16 – and a succession of improved Fokkers, the E II, E III and E IV, came to symbolise air combat in World War I. This book gives a detailed look at the developmental history of the fighters, contrasting the interrupter gear-equipped Fokker with the more improvised solution incorporated in the Nieuport – a machine gun fitted to the upper wing to avoid the propeller entirely. The Germans went on to abandon the monoplane in favour of a new and deadly generation of biplane fighters, based on the lessons learned from these vicious engagements and influenced by the success of the French Nieuport.

The appearance in July 1915 of the Fokker E I heralded a reign of terror over the Western Front that the Allies called the 'Fokker Scourge'. The French Nieuport 11 was one type desperately thrown into action to counter the Fokkers. The swirling dogfights between this fighter – and its more powerful but more unwieldy stablemate, the Nieuport 16 – and a succession of improved Fokkers, the E II, E III and E IV, came to symbolise air combat in World War I. This book gives a detailed look at the developmental history of the fighters, contrasting the interrupter gear-equipped Fokker with the more improvised solution incorporated in the Nieuport – a machine gun fitted to the upper wing to avoid the propeller entirely. The Germans went on to abandon the monoplane in favour of a new and deadly generation of biplane fighters, based on the lessons learned from these vicious engagements and influenced by the success of the French Nieuport.

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.

Various ingenious schemes on the part of both sides to gain superiority in the air, most of which had limited success, were suddenly over-shadowed by the arrival at the front in the summer of 1915 of the Fokker Eindecker, which had a synchronized machine gun firing through the whirling blades of the propeller. Spread amongst German two-seater reconnaissance units in ones and twos, those flying these first single-seater fighting aeroplanes, if they were successful, soon became famous ond the first aces of this new form of aerial warfare. Names such as Boelcke, Immelmann, Wintgens, Parschau, Mulzer, Hohndorf, Frankl and von Althaus quickly became heroes to the German public and the first winners of the coveted Pour ie Merite - the famed Blue max.

A biography of one of Germany’s pioneers in aerial combat: “a great read” (Internet Modeler). Max Immelmann was born in Dresden, the son of a container factory owner. When World War I started, Immelmann was recalled to active service, transferred to the Luftstreitkäfte, and sent for pilot training in November 1914. He was on his way to becoming a legendary flying ace. Initially stationed in northern France as a reconnaissance aviator, he was shot down by a French pilot but managed to land safely behind German lines. He was decorated with the Iron Cross, Second Class for preserving his aircraft. Later in 1915, he became one of the first German fighter pilots, quickly building an impressive score of victories as he became known as The Eagle of Lille, Der Adler von Lille. Known for the aerial combat maneuver that bears his name; for the use of a machine gun synchronized to fire forward through the propeller arc; and for his association with the Fokker Eindecker, Germany’s first fighter aircraft, Immelmann was the first pilot to be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor—which became colloquially known as the “Blue Max” in the German Air Service. Along with Oswald Boelcke and other pilots, Immelmann was one of the main instigators of the Fokker Scourge, which inflicted heavy losses upon British and French aircrews during 1915. He was credited with fifteen victories—the final one coming on March 30, 1916. This Casemate edition of Max Immelmann’s biography does not change a word from the original 1930 edition, but for the first time, reworks the original type and page layout to provide a beautiful and highly readable new treatment to this classic of aviation literature.