Title:

British Aircraft in French Service

Author:

Jean-Jacques Petit

Publisher

Avia Editions

Price

49 Euros (about $63.00)

Reviewer:

Jean Paul Poisseroux

Notes: ISBN 2-915030-04-9

 

 

Characteristics:

A-4 format, hard cover, 156 pages, 710 pictures (with 15 in color), 38 color profils . French Text and English caption.

 <<Hey Dad, have we used foreign aircraft in the past? >> asked the little boy with a wooden glider in his hand.-<<Don’t know >> replied the father, <<why?>>

-<< We had Spad and Dewoitine! >>. Today, 30 years later, I would be happy to reply on my turn <<Yes, look at there! >>. Thanks to a French Air Force official artist and Historian, Jean – Jacques Petit, the new  “AVIA EDITIONS” publisher offer us a jump in the past in one of the most prolific country in aviation subject. Yes I admit , and I’m proud that we produce here the famous Mirage, but I can’t restrain my view to home made production to understand History. This amazing research allow us to count approx. 132 different English aircrafts (including sub-type,Mark) that flown under French civil and military register. And regarding the foreign aircraft enlisted,  the list is not close, as American and German aircrafts have also been used!. For the historians and modellers, belonging or not to a SIG, these 156 pages are a real treasure, despite the fact that 695 pictures are in black and white (no trouble as the legend in english give infos on color and markings, when possible).The text is synthetic and a report with units, serial ,delivery, status close each type chapter. I can just imagine the research hours ! If Lancaster and Spitfire are in mind, a lot of modellers ignore the existence of Avro Anson, Tiger Moth, and Sopwith Baby in the rank. This collection is a real “mine” for future models. Here are the detailed aircrafts, classified by period:

Part 1 WWI
 Sopwith (Baby, triplane, 1 1/2 Strutter, Dolphin)

Part 2  « The glories » between the Wars (1919-1938)

Airspeed AS-6 Envoy
Avro 638 Club Cadet
British Aircraft Eagle II
Comper CLA.7 Swift
De Havilland DH.94/ 60/80/85/86/87/88/90
 Miles M2A & C Hawk / M3A & B Falcon/ M11 Withney Straight/ M17 Monarch
Percival Dl, D2 Gull/ K10 Vega Gull/ Q6 Petrel
Short S.8 Calcutta
Vickers 54 Viking IV/ Vimy FB28 Commercial


Part 3 WWII + (1939-1947)

 Airspeed AS.58 Horsa II/ AS.10 Oxford
Armstrong-Witworth A.W 27 Ensign
Avro 652A Anson/ 685 York Cl
Boulton Paul Defiant
Bristol 142 L Blenheim IV & V
Bristol 156 Beaufighter Mk 1C, VIF & TFX
Burnelli/Cunliffe-Owen OA-1
De Havilland DH.82/84/89/98T3/FBVI/PRXVI/NF30
Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Fulmar
General Aircraft ST.12 Universal/ST.25 Monospar
Gloster Gladiator
Handley-Page 70 Halifax
Hawker Hurricane
Miles M25 Martinet TT1/ Master II
Percival P34 Proctor
Short 25 Sunderland III & V
Supermarine Walrus II/ Sea Otter Mk 1
Vickers Supermarine Spitire II, V,IX, XVI

Vickers Supermarine Seafire LIII/F15
 Vickers Wellington Mk I, X, XIII & XIV
Westland Lysander

Part 4 After WWII (from 1948 to…..today)

Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Armstrong Witworth/Gloster Meteor F4/T7/NF11/NF13/NF14/TT20
 Auster (Taylorcraft) I, AOP IV/AOP V
Auster J & Auster Mk 5/AOP V
Auster 3/2 Arrow- J/4- J/5 Adventurer, 5A Adventurer, 5B Autocar
Auster 3/8 & Auster F Aiglet Traîner
Auster J/5G & Auster Autocar
Aviation Traders Ltd ATL.98 Carvair
Avro 683 Lancaster MR3 & 7
BAC 111
British Aerospace (Handley-Page) Jetstream 31
British Aerospace BAe 146-200-QC
British Aerospace/Hawker Siddeley H.S 125
Bristol 170 Freighter
Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander/Trislander
De Havilland DH.100 Vampire F1/ FB5/ FB6/ T55
De Havilland DH.104 Dove II/ DH.106 Cornet/ DH.114 Heron
English Electric Camberra
Handley-Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 210
Hawker Siddeley H.S 748
Miles M14A Hawk Traîner & Magister/ M38 Messenger 2A/ M57 Aerovan/ M65 Gemini 1A
Percival EP.9 Prospector/ R50 Prince
Short SC.7 Skyvan & 360
SNCASE Vampire Mk 53 "Mistral" / Aquilon 20, 201- 204
Vickers Viking 1B
Vickers 708 & 724 Viscount / 952 Vanguard & 953F Merchantman


Part 5 The Commonwealth
 
Canadair CL.215 & CLA15
Canadair CL.600/CRJ
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk/ DHC-2 Beaver/ DHC-3 Otter/ DHC-4 Twin Otter
GAF 22/24 Nomad
 Noorduyn C-64 Norseman

 As you can see, this book (almost exhaustive, say the author) will be a reference, THE pictionary” (as say my daughter) on the subject. Try to get it , you will not regret it. Highly recommended. JP

   Available at  :

 Avia Editions, Quartier Malarias 07400 Rochemaure France
Tél. : +33 (0)4 75 49 51 99 Fax : +33 (0)4 75 49 51 98

E-mail : jc.soumille@tiscali.fr

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