Customer Reviews

The Jasta Pilots: Detailed Listings and Histories, August 1916 - November 1918

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I think of this book as an encyclopedia of the Jagdstaffeln of the Imperial German Air Service. There are no first-hand accounts of air combat. Instead, this book is the product of countless hours of painstaking research into the history of the German fighter units of World War I. It is, in short, a reference book, as opposed to easy reading. A half-page history of each Jasta is given. A map showing the locations of the Jasta airfields is cross-referenced to those units that operated there at any time during the war. The map is best read with the aid of a magnifying glass! A chronological listing of the commanders of each Jasta is presented, along with a summary of each pilot accredited with one or more victories. The heart of the book is an alphabetical list of the Jasta pilots, giving a brief summary of their combat records. There are a number of good black and white group photos of many of the Jastas. Of special interest to model enthusiasts, a number of black and white aircraft profile views illustrate the characteristic markings used by the Jastas at various times during the war. Comprehensive lists of casualties round out the volume. In summary, this book should prove invaluable to anyone wishing to pursue serious historical or biographical research into German fighter operations during the Great War.

Jasta Pilots,by N.Franks;et al. does an exceptional ammount of research on the subject. He is the foremost author on WW1 and this book shows why. Although it doesnot contain a lot of personal information about each pilot, it does cover their careers, their kills and even when they were shot down.
A perfect book for someone wishing to delve deep into the history of the German Air Service during the Great War.