Naval Aces of WW1 Part 2 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | September 2012 | Title | Naval Aces of WW1 Part 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Jon Guttman | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2012 | ISBN | 9781849086646 |
| Format | 96 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $22.95 |
Review
I’ve always loved “backwater” military topics. And Jon Guttman’s vivid volume from Osprey Publishing neatly fits the bill.
Whereas Part 1 recapped somewhat drab British Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) subjects, Naval Aces of World War 1, Part 2 metaphorically explodes in color.
Coverage courses through Imperial German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Italian aviators. Greek and American pilots make appearances, too. Contents include
- Der Fliegende Kriegsmarine
- Zeebrugge Hornet’s Nest
- Aces Above the Baltic
- Detached Duty
- Action Over the Adriatic
I especially enjoyed details of two U.S. figures: Charles H Hammann, the first American to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor in aerial combat, and David Ingalls, WWI’s sole US Navy ace. Fascinating notes on Imperial Russia’s Aleksandr de Seversky further fed my admittedly provincial proclivities!
I really enjoyed this instructive little book. Harry Dempsey’s competent color plates provide plenty of modeling inspiration. And extended captions and a helpful appendix of German aces supplement Guttman’s profusely illustrated, ably indexed effort.
Recommended!
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!