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French Flying Boats 1924-39
French Aircraft in Polish Naval Aviation

by Martin Wawrzynkowski

Polish Wings Number 27

Stratus

S u m m a r y
Publisher and Title:

Polish Wings Number 27
French Flying Boats 1924-39
by Martin Wawrzynkowski

Stratus, 2019
ISBN: 978-83-65958-50-1
Media: English. 96 pages; soft cover.
Price:


£18.00 plus shippng available online from MMP Books
Review Type: First Read
Advantages: Well-produced, well captioned and printed photos and excellent colour details.
Disadvantages: None noted
Conclusion:

This is certainly an area and era of aviation history and aeroplanes that has had scant coverage and one that this reviewer knew next to nothing about. This well-produced volume should appeal to the modeller and aviation historian with interests in Polish aviation, between-the-wars aviation and French aircraft of that era.


Reviewed by Graham Carter



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FirstRead

 

This stout A4 publication is subtitled “French Aircraft in Polish Naval Aviation” and is part of a long-running series of books covering the history of Polish Aviation. Glossy card covers with attractive colour illustrations enclose the 96-pages of quality semi-gloss  paper, case-bound and strong.

The book starts with a diagram showing the organisation of the Polish Naval service and then a 12-page history of the naval wing and its search for suitable aircraft, illustrated with B&W photos of bases, aircraft and personnel. It is apparent that this wing was not well funded and ended up with much out-of-date equipment in the decades up to WWII.

 

 

Eight pages are then devoted to a detailed examination of the camouflage schemes and markings of the aircraft, all illustrated with B&W images reproduced to a good size and as clear as can be expected of 85-95 year-old photos.

 

 

The bulk of the book, 76 pages, is then taken up with detailed descriptions of the aircraft selected for service, their history, some technical information, descriptions of service, with photos and colour drawings of examples. The aircraft covered, most of which I had never heard of, are:

  • LeO H-13 B3 and E,

  • CAMS 30E, 

  • Latham 43 HB-3,

  • Schreck FBA 17 HMT.2/HE.2, and the 

  • LeO H-135 B3

It was the Schreck that made up the bulk of the service from 1924 right through until the outbreak of war. Most of these flying boats and amphibians would be unknown to most modellers and historians, but that is what makes the book interesting. Most images are reproduced clearly and are well captioned.

 

 

Colour schemes, drafted by Janusz Swiatlon, are well executed and very useful.

 

 

Conclusion

 

This is certainly an area and era of aviation history and aeroplanes that has had scant coverage and one that this reviewer knew next to nothing about. This well-produced volume should appeal to the modeller and aviation historian with interests in Polish aviation, between-the-wars aviation and French aircraft of that era.

Thanks to MMP Booksfor the sample.

Review Copyright © 2020 by Graham Carter
This Page Created on 14 October, 2020
Last updated 14 October, 2020

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