ARMEE DE L'AIR : A Pictorial History of the French Air Force, 1937 - 1945
Prix régulier 15,00 € TTC 6%
Characteristics
| Book cover finish | Offset varnish, Perfect paperback |
| Special features | First edition, Original edition ( O.E. or Or.E ) |
| Condition | Used, acceptable |
| Number of pages | 64 |
| Published date | 1976 |
| Language | English |
| Size | 22 x 28 x 0.35 cm |
| Authors | Paul Camelio & Christopher Shores |
| Editor | Squadron / Signal Publications |
Description
Until the time of the Munich Conference in 1938, Armée de l'Air aircraft were uncamouflaged. Fighters were either overall Dark Green ( Vert Emaillite ) or bare metal ; day bombers were Dark Green ; night bombers Dark Brown ( Chocolat ). After December 1938, the French rapidly camouflaged their aircraft. ( ... ) Before January 1940, national roundels were carried only at the four wingtip positions. Escadrille emblems, indicating derivation from the First World War, were frequently carried on the fuselage side. As of that date a fuselage roundel was adopted, followed in April by fuselage escadrille numbers, resulting in the displacement of the Squadron insignia. Unsuccessful official attempts were made to suppress the emblems, most finally reappeared on the vertical fin. Blue, White and Red rudder stripes were a consistent marking.
Armée de l'Air units structure resembled that of other European Air Forces much more than it did American. The Escadrille is the basic unit of about 12 planes carrying on the traditions and identifications of Great War Squadrons. Unlike the First World War organisation, however, Escadrilles were paired in Groupes. In pre - War practice two or three Groupes were then combined into Escadres, similar to the German Staffel - Gruppe - Geschwader system. ( ... )
Excerpt from page No. 2.
