Groupe de Combat 12, 'Les Cigognes': France's Ace Fighter Group in World War 1

Description

This book traces the combat history of the most famous and highest-scoring fighter group in France's World War I Aviation Militaire. Groupe de Combat 12 boasted the highest-scoring Allied fighter pilot, Rene Fonck, and France's most celebrated hero of the air, Georges Guynemer. Its ranks included numerous other famous aces, such as Rene's Dorme, Alfred Heurteaux, Albert Deullin, and American volunteers Edwin Parsons and Frank L. Baylies. Additionally, Guynemer was instrumental in developing France's premier series of fighter planes, the SPAD VII, XII, XIII and XVII.

A resident of Leesburg, Virginia, Jon Guttman is senior editor, research director and contributing writer for Primedia Enthusiast Publications. Specialising in World War I aviation, he has written eight titles in the past, including Aircraft of the Aces 39: 'SPAD VII Aces of World War I' and Aircraft of the Aces 47: 'SPAD XII/XIII Aces of World War II'. Harry Dempsey has been passionate about World War I aviation for over 30 years, producing the most technically accurate artwork on the subject. He has illustrated every one of the World War I books in the Aircraft of the Aces series to date.

"This is an excellent book -- the text is thoroughly readable and the combination of unit diary and personal accounts works superbly. The addition of so many photos and a really great set of colour profiles makes this a real winner. Thoroughly recommended." --Rowan Baylis, AeroScale