This title in the Images of War series from Pen & Sword gives a fantastic photographic overiew of French Aviation during the First World War. Most pages have just one photo with an extensive caption, allowing the images to be reporduced at a nice size for modellers. The images in this book, many of which are published for the first time will be invaluable to modellers. With the new Spads in 1/32 scale from Roden and the Nieuports and Caudrons from Copper State, the photos in this book show some great details, which will enhance your builds and I am sure some better modellers than I could create some fantastic dioramas based on the photos in this book. As ever, this series and this title are recommended for your home reference library.

SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

Featured in

Over The Front, Spring 2018

As featured by

JP4, September 2018

Images for this book came from such collections as the Service Historique de la Défense and Musée de l’Air et de l’Éspace, as well as private collectors such as Albin Denis and Claude Thollon- Pomerol. Hence, French military aviation aspects go beyond famous fighter pilots and include bombing, reconnaissance and sea-based airplanes.
Such keen perspective is seen in the book’s final photograph, taken on 19 November 1918, captioned as showing “practically anonymous among the crowds, Charles Nungesser … waits to witness Général Pétain receiving his marshal’s baton.” A generation later, Maréchal Pétain would succumb to collaborating with the Nazis. But that later treachery does not detract from the glories of the ancien régime depicted in this well-assembled book, which is recommended highly.

Over the Front

The book is interesting and informative... Sumner has researched the subject thoroughly: it is good that he gives biographical details including years of birth and death for many of the men in the photos, and he has researched the current status of each airfield mentioned. It is a pity that the book has no index as it is therefore difficult to use for searching for this information. It is good that he gives space to the airships and balloons used by the French, though confusingly the text sometimes says balloons when he clearly means airship. He also includes many photos, not just of the aeroplanes involved and their crews, but of the ground crews, accommodation, offices etc, which makes for a well-rounded coverage.

Adrian Roberts

This book offers an interesting panorama of the French Air Force during the Great War.

Air Fan, June/July 2018

As featured on...

War History Online

A fitting tribute to the French Air Force during the Great War.

Superb collection. 10/10

The Great War magazine, May 2018

Great book, photos and captions are poignant and well put together.

Click here to read the review online.

Amazon review by Geoff Boultwood

Author Ian Sumner gives the right perspective of the incredible evolution of the WWI French military planes, running through the years describing all the main types but also many incredible flying machines that could perfectly stand in a Jules Verne book.

Recommended to all WWI aviation fans.

Click here to read the full review.

Amazon review by freelancer Marco de Montis

For the aircraft enthusiast and particularly for modellers lots of useful references and plenty of ideas for some dioramas as well.

Read the complete review here.

Military Model Scene, Robin Buckland

An addition to the deservedly popular Images at War series. This new book covers the fascinating story of the French Air Force during WWI – Highly Recommended.\r\n\r\nRead the complete review here.

Firetrench

As featured 'On The Book Shelf'

Wargames Illustrated, January 2018