The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Bloody April

Gregvan · 18 December 2005, 08:08 PM

Hi Cobby,
I have read the book and reviewed it very favorably for "WWI Aero" (not published yet, though). The book deals strictly with the RFC and its tasks in the months leading up to, during, and just after April 1917. Virtually nothing about the French.

The author, Peter Hart, is (or was) the Oral Historian at the IWM, which gave him access to many, many unpublished accounts by RFC veterans. The best thing about the book is the many personal accounts by both RFC fliers and a few written accounts by their German adversaries. These accounts are often very touching, evocative and reveal what it was really like to be one of those unsung and beleaguered reconnaissance aircrews in their hapless BE2's.

Though there's nothing on the French, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone. Hart also does a great job of relating the aerial campaign to what was happening on the ground. The only disagreement I would have with the author is in his very positive impression of Boom Trenchard.

If you want some good info on French losses and vic's during this time, you should certainly try to find "Bloody April, Black September" by our own Norman Franks, Bill Bailey et al.

Greg

18 December 2005, 08:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gregvan Forum Ace Contributor Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St. Charles, Iowa Posts: 2,671	Hi Cobby, I have read the book and reviewed it very favorably for "WWI Aero" (not published yet, though). The book deals strictly with the RFC and its tasks in the months leading up to, during, and just after April 1917. Virtually nothing about the French. The author, Peter Hart, is (or was) the Oral Historian at the IWM, which gave him access to many, many unpublished accounts by RFC veterans. The best thing about the book is the many personal accounts by both RFC fliers and a few written accounts by their German adversaries. These accounts are often very touching, evocative and reveal what it was really like to be one of those unsung and beleaguered reconnaissance aircrews in their hapless BE2's. Though there's nothing on the French, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone. Hart also does a great job of relating the aerial campaign to what was happening on the ground. The only disagreement I would have with the author is in his very positive impression of Boom Trenchard. If you want some good info on French losses and vic's during this time, you should certainly try to find "Bloody April, Black September" by our own Norman Franks, Bill Bailey et al. Greg __________________ Greg VanWyngarden