Osprey Aviation Elite 18 : Groupe de Combat 12, 'Les Cigognes' : France's Ace Fighter Group in World War 1

This book traces the combat history of the most famous and highest-scoring fighter group in France's World War I Aviation Militaire. Groupe de Combat 12 boasted the highest-scoring Allied fighter pilot, René Fonck, and France's most celebrated hero of the air, Georges Guynemer. Its ranks included numerous other famous aces, such as Rene's Dorme, Alfred Heurteaux, Albert Deullin, and American volunteers Edwin Parsons and Frank L. Baylies. Additionally, Guynemer was instrumental in developing France's premier series of fighter planes, the SPAD VII, XII, XIII and XVII. Text by Jon Guttman with illustrations by Harry Dempsey.

Contents

• The Quest for Air Superiority : Early Exploits of GC.12's Squadrons
• Gathering the Storks : Formation of GC.12 and Operations over Verdun, Champagne and the Somme
• Tragic Glory over Flanders : July 1917 - January 1918
• Resurgence and Revenge : 1918
• Escadrilles and Commanders of GC.12