Customer Reviews

SEPTEMBER EVENING: The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss

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First off, let me say this is a "Must Read" for anyone remotely interested in the aerial campaigns of WW1 and/or the career of Werner Voss. The subtitle of the book: "The Life and Final Combat of the German World War One Ace Werner Voss" neatly describes the organization of the book with 77 pages devoted to his life and wartime career prior to September 23, 1917, while the final 89 recount the climatic dogfight and its aftermath.

I must say that I was a bit disappointed with the depth of coverage dealing with his wartime career. The author explains that much family and archival material was lost during the Second World War and other than an examination of his relationship with von Richthofen, his personal and professional life remains indistinct. What we are left with is a valuable recounting of all the pertinent postings during his service career and thumbnail descriptions of his 48 aerial victories.

In the recounting of Voss' final Dogfight, where he fought nearly single handed against nine British aircraft, the author gives the reader a clear picture of this epic encounter as well doing some first rate detective work examining the numerous controversies surrounding the fight. The appendices which include the after-action reports of the particpants and a fine selection of photographs are a highlight of the book. This will be a valuable addition to every WW1 aviation bookshelf.

I GOT THIS BOOK AND I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT.FOR THE FIRST TIME ANYWHERE YOU CAN NOW FIND THE REAL STORY OF THE TEENAGE ACE WERNER VOSS.HE WAS THE BETTER PILOT THAN THE RED BARON SOME SAY AND EVEN THE BARON HIMSELF SAID HE WAS THE ONE TO WATCH.THIS BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF A GREAT KID TO HIS LAST BATTLE WITH THE 7 S.E.5A SCOUTS ON THAT SEPTEMBER EVENING.

This book not only serves its purpose (examining the life of German ace Werner Voss) but serves as a good introductory book for anyone interested in lear something about World War I dofights and aces, because the author talks about a lot of aces, including Richthofen, Ball, Mannock, Collishaw, Lothar Richthofen, etc.

The photos (all in black and white, of course) are also stunning, with great restoration job upon them.

I wanted to know who Werner Voss was, what he was like. This book is well researched and also adds to describe the character of Voss well, to leave you with a feeling of what the young man must have been like. In so much as it can, from a part of aviation history when pilots were just trying to get principles of combat flying down, and when most of them accomplished it by intuition alone.