WWI Aviation books cover art

[Gregvan]

Hi All,

Maybe this is one book even Dan doesn't have:


It's a little paperback catalog of all the WWI paintings and other artwork (most of it done during WWI by official Bavarian war artists) held by the Bayerisches Armeemuseum in Ingolstadt. The painting selected for the cover is Luftkampf by Michael Zeno Diemer. Besides Diemer's work, the Museum also holds many of Rudolf Stark's own paintings of aerial warfare. Diemer's Luftkampf is an oil painting (200 X 200 cm) done in 1918, and a pretty accurate depiction of Albatros C.III's in combat with British Martinsydes.

A detail also served as the cover of this edition of Alan Clark's "Aces High":


I have a special affinity for this painting. It served as a two-page "splash panel' opening for an article on WWI aerial warfare in Life magazine in 1964, part of a series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war's outbreak. It was that series that hooked me on WWI (at the age of 9) and it was largely the aviation article - and Diemer's painting - that focused my youthful attention on the aerial war.

[Gregvan]

Hi,

I really like this book, though I can't say much for the cover art:


The book is a loving and detailed biography of Canadian air ace Angus Duncan Bell-Irving of 60 Squadron, written by his daughter Elizabeth O'Kiely. The cover artist is Gaye Hammond. Obviously,the artist could have done a little more work on the outlines and details of that Nieuport 17; the illustration shows the 'B 1' individual marking of Bell-Irving's machine (which he commented on in his letters, stating the 'B 1' looked conveniently like a B I for Bell-Irving), but the B and 1 should have had a cockade in between them etc. The garish colors on that Halberstadt fighter were probably inspired by the faulty depiction of Halberstadt CL.II camouflage in the old Munson book.

The faults of the cover art aside, this is a marvelous book. Not only does it tell the tale of Duncan Bell-Irving with many of his personal letters, sketches and photos, it relates the story of the entire remarkable Bell-Irving family of Vancouver and their varied service in WWI and beyond. Duncan had five brothers who served in various branches of the C.E.F, RFC and Royal Navy, and brother Roderic was killed on the Western Front in October 1918; in addition a sister, Isabel, was a volunteer nurse in the war. Duncan's cousin Angus Bell-Irving flew in 66 Squadron. Altogether, this is a wonderful and heartfelt tribute to one family's service.

[karrart]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

I have a special affinity for this painting. It served as a two-page "splash panel' opening for an article on WWI aerial warfare in Life magazine in 1964, part of a series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war's ourbreak. It was that series that hooked me on WWI (at the age of 9) and it was largely the aviation article - and Diemer's painting - that focused my youthful attention on the aerial war.

Yep- that Life magazine piece helped twist my young "fragile eggshell mind"- and that painting in particular.
Robert Karr
OLD BIRDS STAYING ALIVE - THE AVIATION ART OF ROBERT KARR

[JerryBoucher]

It's a very nice piece - particularly the handling of light and the depiction of clouds.

[dpolglaze]

Contrary to what Greg says , I don't have every book. I'll keep trying, though. Don't have that pamphlet, but located one for sale, and should have it some time soon.

I started typing up a list of the covers, authors, and artists from the thread, but have a ways to go. It's an impressive amount of art on one thread.

Thanks to all. More to come.

Dan

[dpolglaze]

Here's an interesting magazine cover. Arizona Highways, February 1998. And there's a story ...

The artist is Eric von Schmidt. This painting by E. von Schmidt emulates a Liberty Magazine cover from 1928 (I believe March 3, 1928), painted by Harold von Schmidt, Eric's father, who was also famous for his Saturday Evening Post work. I have been unable to locate even a picture of the Liberty Magazine cover. Perhaps someone else can find it. The magazine contained an article on the 27th Aero Squadron.

[Jos]

Hell Dan, nice cover.


Here are two more from Mark Postlethwaite.










Jos

[dpolglaze]

Thought I'd bump this thread with another interesting cover. This book is covered in suede. I have seen several other copies, but none of them have had the embossed "Capt. J. F. White" at the lower right. The book has a few notes in it, with check marks by a number of names. All this leads me to believe this was White's copy.



Dan

[Ricardo Reis]

and can someone shed some info on this?

[Gregvan]

Ricardo,

I'm not sure what you want to know. Back in the 1930's, Robert J. Hogan wrote a lengthy series of sensationalistic pulp fiction novels (in the most classic meaning of pulp fiction) starring "G-8, America's Flying Spy, and his Battle Aces." G-8 was an American SPAD ace and super-spy (master of disguise, etc), who was always foiling dastardly attempts by nefarious German evil scientists. He was usually assisted by his pals "Bull" (a big, brawny ex-football star, who flew a Spad numbered lucky '7')and "Nippy" (a bantam-rooster size sidekick who flaunted superstition by flying a Spad numbered '13'). G-8 also had a batman/personal butler named "Battle" who assisted him with makeup, etc.

The plots hatched by the nasty Hun scientists often featured elements of the supernatural, either real or "faked" - various ghouls, zombies, vampires, giant flying bats, leopard men, death rays, etc etc....I tried to read one or two actual G-8 novels and couldn't even get past the first 10 pages, they were so awful.

The covers (like yours) are always superb examples of pulp fiction Kitch, though I don't know the full story behind the "floating heads".

Hope that helps.