JASTA COLOURS, VOLUME 1

Publisher: www.aeronautbooks.com ISBN: 978-1-95320-100-3 Paperback: 274 pages RRP: £52.09

This is the first of a multivolume series which fills a gap in publications on military aviation; a highly detailed and beautifully produced study of German fighter aircraft colours and markings of the First World War.

Written by German aviation historian Bruno Schmäling with Jörn Leckscheid, the book is based on a lifetime of research which began in 1974 with the author visiting and interviewing former pilots of the First World War.

In addition to collecting huge amounts of information, Schmäling also assembled a about 14,000 photographs, many them of them previously unpublished and appear in this book.

Herr Schmäling bases his research on colours and paintschemes and not solely on the interviews with war veterans but on official records, period accounts and serious interpretation of photographs.

This first volume provides extensive information on research and sources for aircraft colours in general, and sets a rock-solid foundation to planned follow-up volumes, the next one on the list being

Volume 2: ‘Development and Background of the Markings 1914 – Spring 1917’.

As one might expect of such a specialised title, the 274 pages of ‘Jasta Colours’ are packed with 223 photos, 55 colour profiles, 4 colour illustrations and reproductions of 61 historical documents. It is an important title which, together with the forthcoming followup volumes, will take its place as the standard work on this highly fascinating subject.

In addition to the above, Aeronaut is planning to publish volume one of the first ever history of Jagdstaffel 11 this year.