The Winter 2015 issue will follow closely upon the heels of Autumn 2015. It opens with Issue Editor Jack Herris’ “Friedrichshafen Torpedo Bombers,” a comprehensive review of the Friedrichshafen Company’s conversion of land airplanes into floatplane aircraft for torpedo bombing. The principal types were the FF35, FF41A, FF41AT and FF53 and Herris provides all the details of their development histories and final specifications as well as scale drawings and numerous photos of the types. This article adds to our knowledge of some of the more obscure aircraft developed in Germany that nevertheless played a role in World War aviation.
Ron Kinter tells us how the aircraft above were employed during the war in “An Operational History of the Friedrichshafen Torpedo Bombers.” Drawing from original sources, Kintner describes how they were sometimes put to very imaginative uses – including an attack on the Russian torpedo boat, Stroini – in the Baltic during the closing months of the war. A detailed listing of each torpedo bomber in frontline service and the stations and crews that employed them is given along with supplemental photographs, all of which helps complete the story of the Friedrichshafen torpedo bombers.
“Night Fighters,” by Jack Herris, takes a look at another lesser-known chapter of World War I aviation and traces Great Britain’s development and use of fighter aircraft to hunt German airships. Many aircraft types were modified and tried against German raiders, sometimes with spectacular success. As usual, Herris supplies numerous photographs of the unique aircraft which sported a wide array of armament in their effort to bring down the high-flying airships. Among the highlights are triplane and quadraplane (!) designs as well as a SPAD 11 that mounted a large spotlight in front of its propeller.
“You’re The Boss!,” assembled by Aaron Weaver, is the transcript of an informal discussion between the late Howard Nickel and German aviator Rudolf Hunze, who was a combat pilot with Feldflieger-Abteilung 8 and Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) 278 from 1916 until the end of the war. Hunze reminisced about his wartime experiences and offered information that only those who manned the cockpit in those days would have known.
Peter Fedders, PhD, examines the validity of certain aircraft claims in “An Assessment of American Air Combat Victory Claims in 1918.” Fedders provides a detailed list of some of the American claims in the closing months of the war, including latitude and longitude identifications, and compares them against German records that noted lost or missing aircraft. The study’s conclusions appear to be highly supportable and may surprise some of our readers.
League President Michael O’Neal brings us up to date on the League’s membership in “Between The Lines” and offers suggestions on how those members can help increase their number.
“Mentioned in Despatches” displays some additional photographs of the Albatros C.XV that were provided by German historian Volker Koos right after the Autumn 2015 issue’s article on the type went to press.
As part of our continuing service to our readers,“Between the Bookends” gives detailed publication reviews (by Peter Kilduff, Dick Bennett, Carl Bobrow, Jon Guttman, David Layton, Steve Ruffin, Jim Streckfuss and Dan Turner) of 18 recent publications centered on World War I aviation.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, will activate WW1USA from Friday, May 24 until Monday, May 27, 2024. Amateur radio operators are invited to participate in this special event and contact stations around the world. Amateurs are also welcome to serve as guest operators of WW1USA at any time and receive a special amateur radio operator certificate. QSL with WW1USA will be available by mail with a SASE or other postage provided, or via an eQSL. After the event, information will be provided regarding how to request a commemorative certificate. WW1USA operation dates often coincide with other events held at the museum and memorial, highlighting lessons from the first worldwide war. The station helps to raise awareness of the Great War and how it continues to affect the world today. Learn more about the National WW1 Museum and Memorial at WW1USA Amateur Radio Station (May 2024) | National WWI Museum and Memorial (theworldwar.org) .
The issue opens with author Michael O’Neal’s study of post-war casualties at the 3rd Air Instruction Center. Steve Ruffin visits France to view the memorials to fallen American airmen, and Thomas Wildenberg examines Spenser Grey’s role in the origins of strategic bombing. Finally, Robin D. Smith views Manfred von Richthofen’s connection to Ostrowo, Poland and a possible romantic relationship there. We conclude with Charles Walthall’s Tangible Links and Peter Kilduff’s Between the Bookends.
Editor Michael O’Neal opens with author Michael O’Neal’s third article on American training casualties at Issoudun, covering the period from August 1918 to the war’s end. Tom Callen uses inscriptions in a German edition of a French philosophical book to look at the return from captivity of Heinz von Beaulieu-Marconnay and Gustav Bähren. Dr. Peter Fedders examines the battle of the Somme and the role air power (on both sides) played during the six months of the campaign. And finally Mike...
Volumes 21 through 30 are now being sold at a mere $40/volume, or $15/issue for the single issues. So now is the time to fill in some of the gaps in your collection. Some issues are sold out; there's a line through the cover illustration on those and the we are not offering the volume they would be in. Volumes 31-34 are $60 each, with individual issues $20 a copy. Where they are available, Volumes before Volume 21 are $20 each. Single issues are still $15 for issues in those volumes.
As President Dan Polglaze said in Between the Lines in Volume 35 No. 3, we (mostly he) have been delving through our back issues to create the first-ever complete Table of Contents for every issue of OTF published to date. In it you'll find titles, authors, volume, issue and page references, and major topics for each article. It's all in the form of an Excel spreadsheet so you can download your own copy and sort, search and modify it as much as you want. Can't wait to get started? Download a...
