Kings of the Air

To this day, First World War aviation remains immensely popular. Aces flying colourful aeroplanes continue to feature in novels, movies, comics and even video games. This aerial myth is not new; war propaganda was keen to promote a heroic conflict in the sky, one that contrasted with the mud of the trenches. Considering how popular this topic still is, there is a surprising lack of English-language studies of French aviation during the First World War. Ian Sumner’s book is therefore a welcome addition. This monograph, firmly grounded in military history, explores the story of French military aviation from its beginnings to 1918. The author chose a chronological approach to investigate the rapid expansion of the service and its contribution to the war. There is an emphasis on key moments, such as the battles of Verdun and the Somme, the year 1917, and the apotheosis of French aviation in 1918. The book also looks at famous aces, such as René Fonck and Georges Guynemer, and explains how significant they were for the war effort. Technical and tactical innovations, too often ignored, are also investigated and weighed against the broader strategy employed on the Western Front.

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