The German Giants: The German R-Planes 1914-1918

Ref: 4554

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{detailed description}Of all the startling developments in aircraft that were made in the First World War, that of the German giant bombers, the 'R-planes', was perhaps the most impressive. These were the largest planes to bomb England in either war, and their construction was achieved within a few short years of the wood-and-wire 'boxkite' era. All-metal monoplane bombers, four-engined and heavily armed, were planned by the brilliant design teams of 1918.
This is the complete story of the development and service history of the R-planes, giving full details of every aeroplane that was built. Photographs, most of them hitherto unpublished, accompany almost every entry. There are also specifications of unfulfilled projects, and descriptions of incomplete construction. Full-page general-arrangement drawings are given of the most important types.
Since the publication of the first edition six years ago, the authors have located additional information concerning construction, combat service and future projects. Based on the study of the original German archive records, much of this data is presented here for the first time. Included are such items as the R-plane which carried a five-inch cannon, the monoplane guided missiles designed to be launched from R-planes and all metal monoplane projects with wing spans of incredible size.
The authors have also made an exhaustive record of the performance and achievement of the Giants, and their book follows the service career of every aircraft, giving the full story of their operations over England and on the Eastern front, the weight of bombs dropped, the casualties suffered, and the names of the pilots.
This is the first complete account of an extraordinary episode in aeronautical history.
{Author / Publisher / Date}by G. W. Haddow and Peter M. Grosz
April 1969 2nd. edn. large format 310pp
{condition}small inscription, otherwise very good in chipped, torn and price clipped d/j.
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