The next installment in Osprey's Air Vanguard series is this one on the first Albatros fighters, the D.I and D.II. Prior to the development of these planes, fighters were powered by rotary engines. These worked fairly well, but were very much reaching the end of their development. The most successful German fighter plane prior to this was the Fokker Eindekker. This was a monoplane fighter and generally armed with a single gun. Multiple guns were installed, but the added weight of the extra guns hampered the performance of these planes. As successful as the Fokker was during mid/late 1916 (the time of the 'Fokker Scourge'), it was eclipsed by the new British DH.2. No longer were the Fokkers the king of the sky and they were shot down with great regularity. What was needed was a new fighter.

Aviation technology moved at a pretty staggering pace during WWI. Today, planes take years to get into service and are useful for decades after. In WWI, they took but a few months to get into service and were potent for only a few more months before being bettered by something else.

To provide a replacement for the Eindekker, several companies produced designs. It was realized that more power would be needed to carry two guns and still provide an edge. The most powerful aviation engine available was a Mercedes water cooled in-line 6 that was used for two seaters. Albatros, who built some of the best two seat aircraft around used one of these in their very aerodynamic new fighter the D.I and it was an immediate success. No sooner were planes made available to the fighting units, than the improved D. II with a lower upper wing, was entering unit service.

These two planes were the mounts of some of Germany's greatest pilots including Udet, von Richtofen and other. However, the D.I/IIs ascendency was short lived to just a few months in late 1916/early 1917 when it was eclipsed by more modern British and French planes like the Sopwith Pup and Triplane and the SPAD VII. Even the D.II was upgraded to the D.III and D.V, both potent planes, one early problems with the D.III breaking lower wing spars was corrected.

In this book by James Miller, we look at what the fighter situation was in the first years of the war. We see the ascendency of the Eindekker and how successful it was. We also see how the introduction of the DH.2 changed things. The development of replacement fighters from the various companies like Fokker and Halberstadt and Albatros are covered as is the introduction of the Albatros into unit service. This corresponded with a change in the organization of the German air service so much was in flux at this time. We see how the plane was designed and its technical aspects. We also get to read a large number of reports from the pilots who flew the plane to help give us an understanding of how welcome this aircraft was to German pilots.

In all, it is another superb title in the Air Vanguard series and like the others, includes a large two page foldout cutaway of the D.II at the end of the book. A superb reference and a fine read as well. One I can easily recommend to you.

February 2013

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