Greg Vanwyngarden

Though a somewhat older work by this author, I think that it has held up rather well all things considered. It's always somewhat unclear just how mediocre the Pfalz pursuit aircraft really were, and whether they were as bad as all that, or simply didn't meet the standards of maneuverability set by Albatros and Fokker. My suspicion is that they were held back by the relatively stagnant state of German engine development, as these planes just didn't enjoy the power reserves that would have allowed them to use "energy" tactics, and take advantage of their ability to out-dive their opposition.… (plus d'informations)

When I look at all the Osprey booklets that the author has written about German fighter units in the Great War I wonder how long it will be before one sees a one-volume work from Osprey on the topic. Be that as it may, what's interesting about this unit is that it was on the cutting edge of the German offensives in the West in 1918, often in contact with American combat aviation. Also, while I had wondered why it was not mentioned in a parallel Osprey publication about how Rudolf Berthold had gone on to be a "free corps" commander post-1918, in this booklet you get those details, and the story is even sadder than I had thought. Worth having if you can come up with a copy for a reasonable price.… (plus d'informations)