|
To English civilians who lived through the early
years of World War I, Germany’s ‘aerial cruisers’ posed a genuinely
terrifying threat. The very name Zeppelin caused trepidation as the
World’s first ever strategic bombers heralded a new and deadly phase
of modern warfare. Nearly a century later, Zeppelins continue to
capture the imagination and the first in our series of books
documents the most successful of all wartime airship designs. It was
mostly ‘P’ and ‘Q’ class Zeppelins that mounted nocturnal air raids
against England, France and Russia from May 1915 until late the
following year. They were the most numerous and widely-used of WWI
Zeppelins - 34 being built - and every one of them is chronicled
with over 150 illustrations, many published for the first time. In
addition there are new and highly-detailed 1:350 scale fold-out
plans, specially-created colour illustrations, markings’ data,
service histories, exciting accounts of individual Zeppelins’
careers, personal anecdotes and detailed appendices, plus special
featurettes on airship armament, ordnance and camouflage.
Written by
Ray Rimell (Zeppelin!, The Airship VC, Skyship!) copies of this
highly original limited edition soft cover - only 1000 printed - are
individually signed and numbered by the author, initiating the
unique series of airship monographs from Albatros Productions, Ltd.,
World leader in WWI aeronautical publishing.
FEATURES: OVER 150
DOCUMENTARY PHOTOS AND SKETCHES * 12 PAGES OF DETAILED SCALE PLANS!
* NEW COLOUR PROFILES * 86 PAGES (INCLUDING COVERS) ISBN 94814-87-4
* SIZE A4 * PUBLISHED PRICE £25.00 * LOW STOCKS!
|
ON
17 June 1917 residents of a small Suffolk village witnessed the
dramatic destruction of a German Zeppelin. Attacked by three British
home defence pilots, L48 fell in flames on Holly Tree Farm,
Theberton with the loss of all but three of her crew. The burnt-out
wreck of the airship was visited by thousands for weeks afterwards
and many fragments of her structure were distributed both officially
and unofficially!
In Summer 2006, the L48 crash site was excavated by aviation
archaeologists who uncovered a number of fascinating artifacts from
the Zeppelin as part of a BBC2 Timewatch documentary aired in
January 2007. Author/illustrator Ray Rimell, who acted as a
consultant for the programme, presents this full account of the day
L48 fell to earth with the aid of rare archive photographs,
exclusive colour plates and artwork, together with scale plans of
L48 and the British aircraft involved. Many eyewitness accounts,
official records and archives - both in Germany and Britain - have
been utilised to produce this unique document of a momentous wartime
event.
Only 1000 copies of the book have been printed and signed copies are
still available from Albatros Productions, Ltd at £9.50 plus £2.00
post and packing, whilst stocks last. |
THE
AIRSHIP VC
THE
amazing, true story of William Leefe Robinson who won the Victoria
Cross for bringing down the first airship on English soil in
September 1916… Originally published in 1989 by Aston, the last
remaining stocks of Ray Rimell’s acclaimed biography are only
available from Albatros Productions, Ltd.
From Billy’s early years in India, education in England, Army
service with the Worcester Regiment, enrolment into the RFC, and
posting to 39 HDS at Sutton Farm, Essex, Ray’s
painstakingly-researched book provides the full background to this
energetic and good-natured young man, drawing on family archives,
interviews with contemporaries and extensive research into personal
and official records. The dramatic destruction of SL11 over Cuffley
in 1916 is described in unprecedented detail and following chapters
cover the aftermath, countrywide adulation for Britain’s first
‘Giant Killer’, the VC award, Robinson’s subsequent service on the
Western Front cut short by a fateful encounter with Richthofen’s
Flying Circus, his escape attempts from PoW camps, mistreatment and
eventual repatriation that ended in tragedy.
* Hardcovers * 128 pages * Over 100 rare photos * Notes and appendices. Signed copies only from Albatros –
personal inscriptions by request.
Only £14.95 plus £3.00 post/pack from the Berkhamsted address. |