USAS 1st Pursuit Group (Aviation Elite Units)

USAS 1st Pursuit Group (Aviation Elite Units)
by Jon Guttman

USAS 1st Pursuit Group (Aviation Elite Units)
List Price: $25.95
Our Price: $14.44
You Save: $11.51 (44%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Jon Guttman
Illustrator: Harry Dempsey
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-06-17
ISBN: 1846033098
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Book Reviews of USAS 1st Pursuit Group (Aviation Elite Units)

Book Review: America's WWI Top Guns in Action!
Summary: 5 Stars

The 1st Pursuit Group compiled a brilliant record in Word War I. Entering combat in March 1918, the Group had been credited with downing 275 aircraft and Drachens by war's end and boasted America's top two aces, both of which received the MoH. Jon Guttmann chronicles the fortunes of this hard-hitting unit in this Osprey 'Aviation Elite Unit' volume, #28 in the series.

Mention of the 1st PG inevitably brings up images of Rickenbacker, Luke, the Hat-in-the-Ring Squadron and so on. Yet, as documented in Jon Guttmann's nicely done history, the Group was eventually made up of five (!) squadrons - the 27th, 147th, 94th, 95th and 185th - and pilots such as 'Ham' Coolidge, Bill Vail, Wilbert White, Jerry Vasconcells, Bill Russel, Sumner Sewall, John Huffer and others helped make the Group the powerhouse it was.

Initially equipped with Nieuport 28s - which had a nasty habit of shedding the fabric on the upper wing - the Group had mixed results flying in the quiet Toul sector. When it was switched to Chateau Thierry in late June, 1st PG pilots found themselves opposed by Germany's top units, the Group initially suffering heavy losses. The switch to Spad XIIIs in July 1918 and a posting back to the Tour front enabled the Group to regain its footing and progress into a first-class fighting unit.

While author Guttman's narrative certainly does a nine job of relating the 1st PG's history, I was especialy impressed by the wealth of rare photographs used in the book, some 130 pix in all. And, as always, Harry Dempsey's color profiles brought the Group's Nieuports, Spads and Camels to life.

All in all, USAS 1st PURSUIT GROUP is a fine, well-illustrated overview of America's best fighter group in action. Highly recommended.

Summary of USAS 1st Pursuit Group (Aviation Elite Units)

The 1st Pursuit Group claimed more enemy kills than any other Group in the United States Air Service in World War I, partly thanks to 'ace of aces', Eddie Rickenbacker, and balloon-busting ace, Frank Luke, both of whom also earned the Medal of Honor. Starting operations in March 1918, the Group initially flew Nieuport 28s, now rejected by the French, and quickly showed its quality. Douglas Campbell was the first American-trained pilot in the USAS to make a kill and soon afterwards became the Service's first ace. Expanded by the arrival of additional squadrons, the Group went to war in earnest over Ch¿teau Thierry in July, suffering heavy losses against experienced German pilots and better airplanes. Re-equipped with the superior Spad XIII, the now battle-seasoned Group achieved its full potential over St. Mihiel and the Argonne.

This is the story of the Group that produced some of America's first fighter aces and its rapid evolution over a few months as a deadly rival to opposing German units with years of combat experience behind them. Its publication marks the 90th anniversary of 1st Pursuit Group's distinguished contribution to Allied victory.

Aviation Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Aviation Books
Aces High: War in the Air Over the Western Front, 1914-18 (Cassell Military Classics) ImageAces High: War in the Air Over the Western Front, 1914-18 (Cassell Military Classics)
by ALAN CLARK
WEIDENFELD NICHOLSON MILITARY; Published: 1999; Hardcover; Book
The Phantom Story ImageThe Phantom Story
by Anthony M. Thornborough, Peter E. Davis
Cassell; Published: 2001-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $129.17
The Unknown Battle of Midway: The Destruction of the American Torpedo Squadrons ImageThe Unknown Battle of Midway: The Destruction of the American Torpedo Squadrons
by Professor Alvin Kernan
Yale University Press; Published: 2005-11-11; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $30.00
Hostile Skies: My Falklands Air War ImageHostile Skies: My Falklands Air War
by David Morgan
Orion Publishing; Published: 2007-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $344.12
Plotting a True Course: Reflections on USAF Strategic Attack Theory and Doctrine<br> The Post World War II Experience ImagePlotting a True Course: Reflections on USAF Strategic Attack Theory and Doctrine
The Post World War II Experience

by William P. Head
Praeger; Published: 2003-05-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $54.48
Price in other shops: $91.95
Air Power in the Age of Total War ImageAir Power in the Age of Total War
by John Buckley
Indiana University Press; Published: 1999-03-01; Library Binding; Book
Price in other shops: $49.95
Intelligence and Anglo-American Air Support in World War Two: Tunisia and the Western Desert, 1940-43 (Studies in Military & Strategic History) ImageIntelligence and Anglo-American Air Support in World War Two: Tunisia and the Western Desert, 1940-43 (Studies in Military & Strategic History)
by Brad W. Gladman
Palgrave Macmillan; Published: 2009-01-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $68.99
Price in other shops: $84.00
To Hanoi and Back: The United States Air Force and North Vietnam 1966-1973 ImageTo Hanoi and Back: The United States Air Force and North Vietnam 1966-1973
by Wayne Thompson
Dept. of the Air Force; Published: 2003-11-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.95
Price in other shops: $42.00
The Ash Warriors ImageThe Ash Warriors
by C. R. Anderegg
Dept. of the Air Force; Published: 2000-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.00
Under the Wire: The World War II Adventures of a Legendary Escape Artist and "Cooler King" ImageUnder the Wire: The World War II Adventures of a Legendary Escape Artist and "Cooler King"
by William Ash, Brendan Foley
Thomas Dunne Books; Published: 2005-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.77
Price in other shops: $24.95
Similar Books and other products
Bristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces) ImageBristol F2 Fighter Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces)
by Jon Guttman
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2007-09-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.68
Price in other shops: $22.95
Early German Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces) ImageEarly German Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces)
by Greg Vanwyngarden
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2006-10-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $69.41
Jagdstaffel  2 Boelcke: Von Richthofen's Mentor (Aviation Elite Units) ImageJagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Von Richthofen's Mentor (Aviation Elite Units)
by Greg Vanwyngarden
Osprey Publishing Limited; Osprey Publishing; Published: 2007-11-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.96
Price in other shops: $25.95
No 60 Sqn RFC/RAF (Aviation Elite Units) ImageNo 60 Sqn RFC/ RAF (Aviation Elite Units)
by Alex Revell
Osprey Publishing Limited; Osprey Publishing; Published: 2011-09-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.97
Price in other shops: $25.95
Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader 'Berthold' (Aviation Elite Units) ImageJagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader 'Berthold' (Aviation Elite Units)
by Greg Vanwyngarden
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2005-02-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.97
Price in other shops: $25.95
'Richthofen's Circus': Jagdgeschwader Nr 1 (Aviation Elite Units) Image'Richthofen's Circus': Jagdgeschwader Nr 1 (Aviation Elite Units)
by Greg Vanwyngarden
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2004-07-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.07
Price in other shops: $25.95
Jasta 18 - The Red Noses (Aviation Elite Units) ImageJasta 18 - The Red Noses (Aviation Elite Units)
by Greg Vanwyngarden
Osprey Publishing Limited; Osprey Publishing; Published: 2011-03-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.15
Price in other shops: $25.95
SPA124 Lafayette Escadrille: American Volunteer Airmen in World War 1 (Aviation Elite Units) ImageSPA124 Lafayette Escadrille: American Volunteer Airmen in World War 1 (Aviation Elite Units)
by Jon Guttman
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2004-07-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.35
Price in other shops: $25.95
No 56 Sqn RAF/RFC (Aviation Elite Units) ImageNo 56 Sqn RAF/ RFC (Aviation Elite Units)
by Alex Revell
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2009-09-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.74
Price in other shops: $25.95
The Nieuport 28: America's First Fighter ImageThe Nieuport 28: America's First Fighter
by Theodore Hamady
Schiffer Pub Ltd; Published: 2008-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $46.95
Price in other shops: $59.95
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories