Italian Aces of World War 1

Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #89

by Paolo Varriale, Harry Dempsey (Illustrator)

The Italian aces of World War 1 have gone down in history as the irrefutable masters of the skies in the battle against their Austro-Hungarian enemies. In this often forgotten theater of warfare these remarkable pilots gave the Italian forces an undisputed air superiority and left an enduring legacy as extraordinary men. Having interviewed the descendants of almost every Italian ace from the Great War, Paolo Varriale uncovers these fighters' incredible and sometimes tragic histories. Years of painstaking research has culminated in this truly groundbreaking study which brings to life the exploits of such famous aces as Baracca, Ruffo and Piccio, and the lesser known Riva, Sabelli and Nardini. Letters, diaries and unpublished photographs shed light on previously unknown personal and unit insignia, exposing many myths and making this a commanding addition to the aviation history of World War 1.

Genres: Aviation, Military History, World War I

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2009

Reviews

[Sleepy Boy]

Excellent from cover to cover, also including Italian Flying Boat Aces of the war. Great writing/insight on a "lesser" Front of the Great War.