WWI Aviation books cover art

YavorD · 2 August 2009, 05:50 AM

Thank you, Gregvan, dpolglaze et al!
For me, in particular, this thread is highly educational, too. Sometime somebody is going to study the broad topic of WWI aviation literature, if not already done! Isn't it? I will be glad to see such an article or monograph!
Regards,
Yavor

dpolglaze · 2 August 2009, 10:15 AM

Greg,

Nice pulps. I was at a bookstore yesterday, and right on the top of a giant stack of magazines were two Jo Kotula MAN covers I haven't seen posted here, so they had to be purchased. I'll get pics and post sometime soon.

In the meantime, this is Joseph C. Chase:

This is unknown, and although some might say it isn't art, I don't know I could even draw this well

Dan

dpolglaze · 4 August 2009, 08:28 AM

Here's a couple more.

unknown line art

the book isn't really about WWI aviation - it's by Dick Grace, a WWI pilot. The "Squadron of Death" is a group of stunt pilots, a number of whom were killed in making movies not too long after the war.

Dan

Gregvan · 4 August 2009, 08:43 AM

Thanks for those, Dan. I've always wanted to read "Squadron of Death".

Here is one pulp I actually have, "Fawcett's Battle Stories" of May 1931. In it, journalist David B. Rogers interviewed Udet about his techniques and combats, and "how he shot down 62 planes". This article was transcribed and is available right here in the "articles" section of the forum:

How I Shot Down 62 Planes

Not to be outdone, less than a year later

Rene Fonck (the 'Death Falcon of France') told how he shot down 125 planes! "Fawcett's Battle Stories" of February 1932. I don't have this issue or article, but I wish I did. Fonck was officially credited with 75 victories, but always claimed about 50 or 51 more unconfirmed. If French confirmation standards had been more like the American or British, he might have had over 100:

Gregvan · 4 August 2009, 08:51 AM

"Beware the Hun in the sun!" Aces, October 1930, cover by Rudolph Belarski:

Aces from March 1930. "Spandaus at Sunrise"!:

Aces from November 1931. Still only 20 cents:

Gregvan · 4 August 2009, 08:56 AM

"Doing it the hard way" again - Part 1. "Aces" July 1931:

"Doing it the hard way" again - part 2. "Battle Stories" February 1930. Now, where did that French (?) pilot get a parachute?:

Manfred von Richthofen HU · 4 August 2009, 09:00 AM

Gregvan · 4 August 2009, 09:03 AM

I gotta love the 'Halloween' color scheme on this Camel from Battle Stories of November 1930. Orange and black, with a skull & crossbones!

For something different, here's a cover with a naval theme. "Battle Stories" from June 1929:

From the November 1928 issue:

Gregvan · 6 August 2009, 02:47 PM

Hi,

I hope that you guys aren't getting tired of the pulp covers. Here's "Aces" from April 1931 - I think by Rudolph Belarski again. One really doesn't see too many Fokker Tripes in old pulp art (and note, this one isn't all red) - Fokker D.VIIs, and even Albatrosse, were more common. The Fokker Dr.I didn't become the subject of choice for WWI art until Charles Schultz introduced Snoopy to the Red Baron in the mid-60's, I believe.

On this "Battle Birds" cover from January '34, this desperate SPAD pilot managed to take out two Fokker D.VIIs at considerable self-expense.

"Daredevil Aces" from August 1933"

Germanophile-1 · 8 August 2009, 06:45 AM

Drifting slightly from Greg's treasury of Golden Age magazine covers, attached is an image of the cover of the new book Manfred von Richthofen – The Aircraft, Myths and Accomplishments of ‘The Red Baron’ by James F. Miller. In addition to the sharp-looking cover, the book contains 26 color profiles and 12 wing plan views.

A visual feast, in my humble view.

Peter