Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1

26 March 2003, 03:14 PM

Just received Osprey's new book on "Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1".

This is the first volume on D VII aces and covers the Jagdstaffel of the four army Jagdgeswadern - JG 1, JG II, JG III and JG IV. Volume 2 will cover other D VII Staffeln.

As usual with any book written by N. Franks and Greg VanWyngarden, it is well written, well researched and well illustrated. Besides short biographies of all Aces, it has numerous notes on colors and markings of their respective D VII.

Well readable and highly recommended.

Gregvan · 26 March 2003, 05:42 PM

Thanks for the kind words, Guy Canuck

!

Greg VanWyngarden

3 April 2003, 04:33 AM

Greg;

Got the DR. I volume on Monday - excellent. Should have the DVII volume by tomorrow.

Do you know when part II will be published.

Thanks,
Scott.

Gregvan · 3 April 2003, 06:44 PM

Dear Scott,

Thanks for the nice words on the Dr.I Aces book

. Hope you enjoy the D.VII Aces book as much.

Don't hold your breath for Volume 2. It's still in preparation, and with Osprey's packed publishing schedule, I would imagine it will come out about a year from now.

However, the 'companion volume' on Sopwith Camel Aces by Norman Franks is now available. I am working on 2 titles for Osprey's "Aviation Elite" units titles as well, and these will both (eventually) deal with WWI German fighter units.

Greg VanWyngarden

4 April 2003, 06:41 AM

Greg;

I'm sure they will be worth waiting for. I'll keep an eye on the Osprey site.

Thanks,
Scott.

Craig · 4 April 2003, 07:28 AM

Quote:

........ and these will both *(eventually) deal with WWI German fighter units.

Greg VanWyngarden

Tease!
What might these units be?

Gregvan · 5 April 2003, 03:50 AM

Hi,

Sorry, I didn't mean to tease, I was just in a hurry.

The first "Aviation Elite" title will deal with Jagdgeschwader I, which certainly seemed the most natural and appropriate subject for an 'elite' title. After some discussion, it was decided that the next volume will deal with Jagdgeschwader II (Jastas 12,13, 15 and 19).

The problem is, of course, that so much has been published on these units (particularly JG I) that it's difficult to come up with 'new' information and photos that have not been seen before, especially by hard-core enthusiasts like those who use this forum.

Jon Guttman is also hard at work on 2 Aviation Elite Osprey titles, and I don't think I'm giving too much away if I 'spill' the fact that he's working on the Lafayette Escadrille and also on G.C. 12, the 'Cigognes'.

Best regards,

Greg VanWyngarden

baldeagle · 5 April 2003, 03:20 PM

When do we get "Pfalz Aces of WW1"????

Albatroid · 6 April 2003, 03:47 PM

I'll throw my hat in the ring on a copy of "Pfalz Aces of WW1" also! Just picked up part 1 for the Fok D-VII and also the Camel Aces title last Friday. Still reading another title at the moment, so I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but really enjoyed the initial flip through on both.

Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series has caught some flak for this or that profile from time to time, especially in some of the WW2 books, but it seems to me that they get better with each new title.

Gregvan · 6 April 2003, 05:10 PM

Hi,

Actually, gentlemen, I have already made a proposal to the Osprey aviation editor for a "Pfalz Scouts of WWI" title some time ago, and he was quite interested. However, the problem is that the other books come first, and there is relatively scant info and photos available on Pfalz D.III/D.IIIa machines which were actually flown by 'aces'. In fact, I doubt that too many German pilots scored five or more victories on the type. With the paucity of available German records, it's generally difficult to tell exactly what type of a/c they were flying during late 1917/early 1918, and many Jagdstaffeln had a mixed bag of types on strength.

Thus, a "Pfalz Aces" title is at least a couple of years off, but I am hoping to do one eventually. That will give me more time to acquire new photos, one of the primary defining criteria for such a title. I'd like to come up with "previously unpublished" (a hackneyed phrase) or at least somewhat rare photos, which is even harder. The stumbling point will be coming up with 30-40 color profiles of "Pfalz ace" aircraft which are relatively accurate and substantiated by photographic and documentary evidence.

The Pfalz D.III/D.IIIa types saw considerable use, but oddly, photos of operational examples are somewhat scarce when compared with the Albatros D.V/Va or Fokker D.VII. I don't think they were widely used by too many of the 'top' aces, though I know this is a topic which has been discussed on this forum before.Sure, we know Loewenhardt almost certainly flew both the D.III and D.IIIa in Jasta 10, but locating photos of his specific machines has proven frustrating !! A Pfalz title from Osprey might well have to include Pfalz Eindeckers and even the Pfalz Dr.I (which was flown by Baeumer, Auffahrt, and Beckmann - though again it's a moot point about victories scored in the type) and the Pfalz D.XII as well - again, authenticated photos of D.XII's flown by aces are very hard to come by.

In the meantime, for Pfalz Pfanatics, let me recommend the "Pfalz Aircraft of World War I" title by Jack Herris from Flying Machines Press, and Ray Rimell's marvelous Datafiles on the various Pfalz machines. They all have some info on Pfalz a/c flown by aces.

BTW, Baldeagle, I really enjoyed the "Junkyard Wars" segment, and have always enjoyed seeing the old bird fly at Rhinebeck. You've given many, many people more enjoyment than you know.

Very best regards,

Greg VanWyngarden