WWI Aviation books cover art

[YavorD]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Quite different in style and approach from Yavor's ....

It's a nice combination
Regards,
Yavor

[tcrean7828]

Mates,
What more can I say but - Outstanding!!!!! Keep it up!

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

[Gregvan]

OK, Tom. Here we go:
In the early 1930's, "Aces" pulp magazine featured true stories about (guess what?) many of the war's real aces, with great cover art by Rudolph Belarski. Here's Udet, featured on the January 1932 issue. I guess this settles the question of what Udet's Dr.I REALLY looked like!



Here's the March 1932 issue about David Putnam. Interesting thing is, Putnam really DID fly a red Spad XIII in the 139th Aero Squadron, and it was sometimes called the "red devil" - though I'm sure it didn't actually have a devil's head painted on it - and it didn't have British cockades! :



Here's the June 1932 issue with an article about my fellow Iowan James Norman Hall, by his fellow Lafayette Escadrille pilot Edwin C. Parsons! The cover depicts Hall's Nieuport 28 of the 94th Aero stripping its wing fabric, which was part of the reason he was brought down and taken POW. The "Warrior under Three Flags" bit refers to the fact that Hall fought as an infantryman in the BEF ("Kitchener's Mob"), the French SPA124 and the USAS.



Sure wish I had these issues, but I just snagged these off the internet!

[Gregvan]

Hi,

Here's another "Aces" cover; as late as Winter 1937 they were still using WWI air scenes, while other air-war pulps were switching to more modern airplane scenarios. This is the hard way for a Nieuport to shoot down an Albatros!:



Here's another "Aces" cover (March 1929), which features an unusual combination of airplanes; an American (?) marked FE2b (?) and a Hannover CL.IIIa of 1918, based on the one in the hands of the 94th Aero and widely photographed:

[Gregvan]

I got a million of 'em:

"Aces" from August of 1930:



"Daredevil Aces". Nice Triplanes:



"War Aces". Unfortunately I don't know the artists for these.

[Gregvan]

Hi Again,

Another "hard way" to bring down an enemy airplane - in this case a Salmson tackling an LVG:




I like this one. The artist used real French escadrille insignia on these Spads:


Here's an issue of "Flying Aces" which purports to feature Willy Coppens balloon-busting with LePrieur rockets on its cover. At least his Nieuport is sorta blue...

[rainbase]

Greg, that's a fantastic gallery of covers. BIG thank; I really enjoy these.

[Gregvan]

Thanks for that, Rainbase - it's nice to know someone is enjoying these.

Here's a "Sky Birds" cover which depicts a rare Sopwith Salamander, in combat with Fokker E.V's. The painting by Frank Tinsley also features the inset in the corner explaining the tactics of the Salamander:


Here's "Aces" from Spring 1939:



"Daredevil Aces". You generally got your 10 cents' worth with a pulp cover - this one is typically packed, with DH9, a gaggle of Fokkers and a burning balloon:

[Gregvan]

Here's "Battle Birds" from December 1933;


Another "Battle Birds", from June 1934. Pulp writers loved alliteration: "Mercedes Maniacs" and "Haunted Hangar" ! :


Here is another issue of "Flying Aces": something different, with Handley-Pages attacking the Mole at Zeebrugge. "Flying Aces" billed itself as the only complete aviation magazine, with fictional tales by the likes of Arch Whitehouse, true stories, "Phineas Pinkham" humor, and scale model plans of planes past and present. By the way, if you've never read one of Joe Archibald's "Phineas Pinkham" howlers, they are hilarious - and gloriously politically incorrect:

[Gregvan]

Wrapping up for tonight:

A very early "Flying Aces". Arch Whitehouse was one prolific writer:



"Battle Birds" from February 1934. I wonder what "Flight of the Ape-Men" was like?



"Daredevil Aces" from October 1933. Note that a bomb has hung up in the rack on the DH9, and the pilot is sitting on the undercarriage trying to jar it loose while the observer blasts away at the Fokkers. Who's flying the plane?: