Author(s): James S. Corum; Graham Turner (Illustrator)

Military

The air campaign that supported the Anglo-French 1917 spring offensive became known as 'Bloody April' for its human cost. But it was also a turning point in air power history: not only was it the first air campaign to be fought in a modern, integrated style, but the Allies' death toll spurred dramatic changes that would soon make them masters of the sky on the Western Front. Researched from original German-, French- and English-language sources, this is the first history to examine Bloody April at the operational level. Covering not just the fighter battles, but also how the artillery-aircraft combination had to work in late World War I ground offensives, Dr James S. Corum analyses what each side got wrong and why. He also describes little-known parts of the April campaign, such as the use of strategic bombing, and the Germans' use of advanced high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. With archive photos, spectacular new artwork, diagrams and maps throughout, this is a long-overdue account of the reality behind the most famous air campaign of World War I. Book jacket.