by Jim Laurier (Illustrator), Harry Dempsey (Illustrator), Jon Guttman (Author)
Amid the continuous struggle for aerial superiority during World War 1, two aircraft types were at the forefront. Both rotary-engined fighters, the Sopwith Camel and the Fokker Dr I triplane were relatively slow for their time, but were regarded as the most maneuverable machines produced during the conflict, and the classic pair for a tight, evenly matched dogfight at close quarters. In this book Jon Guttman examines the fascinating story of the design and development of these deadly foes. First-hand accounts and innovative cockpit-view artwork give a thrilling insight into the pilots' experiences during the world's first aerial duels and explain their successes and failures.
Format: Illustrated
Pages: 80
Edition: Illustrated
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Published: 10 Mar 2008
ISBN 10: 1846032938
ISBN 13: 9781846032936
In one of the book's best sections, Guttman compares the training and operational capabilities of British and German pilots. It's a topic too seldom addressed, especially in WWI literature, since manned flight was barely out of its infancy at that point. With more than 50 photos plus a dozen or more excellent profiles, cockpit views and action scenes, Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I maintains the Osprey series' visual appeal. Its 80 pages represent a taut, well-conceived treatment of a topic that could easily fill three times that volume. --Barrett Tillman, Aviation History (May 2009)
In all it is a superb look at two of the more famous aircraft that fought in the Great War. It is a book that I know you will enjoy and one that I can highly recommend to students of the time and enthusiasts alike. --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (March 2008)
.. .Sopwith Camel vs Fokker Dr I describes the challenges of establishing aerial superiority over the trenches in 1917... the two aircraft were a good match for one another, which makes them an excellent subject for the Duel Series... [A] great companion to other titles detailing the specific aircraft and can become an important part of any aviation reference library. --Chris BanyaiRiepl, Internet Modeler (April 2008)