Often we consider that major branches of the military have 'been around forever' and give little thought to their beginnings and organization. As with many things, this isn't quite true and a great deal of thought and experimentation goes into the incorporation of things new.

So it was with the German Army Air Service.

Most of us don't really think of the Germany of 1914 as being anything but a united country, but the reality is that it was still somewhat divided with Prussia and Bavaria being its two largest internal entities. Each provided their own men and materiel to the overall effort against the Allies and it wasn't until the war was well underway that there was any real effort to provide a uniformity to the German military. This was true of the aviation branch as well.

Initially, aeroplanes were used as reconnaissance and were able to fly relatively un-molested over the front lines. Soon, crew were carrying pistols and carbines, which led to arming the aircraft themselves and finally there were specialized aircraft in terms of fighters, bombers, recce aircraft and ground attack, to name a few.

Ian Sumner covers the full development of German military aviation from its initial beginnings until the end of the war in late 1918. This includes not only the development of aircraft, but also the organizational growth of the various branches. There are sections on the use of rigid air ships, naval aviation, observation balloons, the long range bombers, ground attack air craft, recce and observation aircraft and, of course, the fighters.

Throughout there are sections on anti-aircraft defense, training, command structure, and general unit organization. I found it particularly interesting to read that awards and medals were only for officers and that enlisted pilots, some of whom were quite successful, received no recognition at all for their accomplishments.

In addition to the excellent selection of period photographs, illustrator Graham Sumner provides a superb selection of color drawings showing the various uniforms and other gear worn during the war.

Overall, a book that I found fascinating and I am sure that you will as well.

November 2005

 For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit www.ospreypublishing.com or contact them at Osprey Direct, PO Box 140, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 2FA, UK

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly by a site that has around 300,000 visitors a month, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.