The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International - Autumn 2015, features a color painting by Geoffrey Watson of the Vickers FB.19 A5227 on the cover. A5227 carried interesting armament in the form of two extra Lewis machine guns on the lower wing just inboard of the wing struts, bringing its total armament up to four machine guns. This issue also includes a separate A2 size sheet in color covering Ordnance Survey maps that are marked up with the location of WWI aviation interest sties in Ireland.

Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. They also provide a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier. In fact, this issue includes some updates for that monograph in the Fabric section.

The featured articles are all well done, supported with photos, drawings, and maps as appropriate. Indeed the first article, Michael Kelsey’s Mission to Monastir, is 18 pages featuring 26 photos, 2 maps, 2 tables, 3 appendixes, principle sources, a bibliography, and 25 notes. If you are in to detail, it’s all here. A few of the articles are in parts like Stewart Taylor’s piece, Uncompromising and Efficient: Capt H.A. Oaks DFC, 48 Sqn RAF. Of course, that will just have you waiting for the Fall 2015 issue.

Topics:

• Editorial by Mick Davis
• Mission to Monastir by Michael Kelsey
• Atlas of German and Foreign Seaplanes: Zeppelin-Lindau ‘Dornier’ Flying Boats by Paul Leaman
• The RFC with the British Expeditionary Force: June 1915 by Mick Davis
• Where the Runway was a Beach: Early Aviation in Venice by Pietro Lando
• Uncompromising and Efficient: Capt H.A. Oaks DFC, 48 Sqn RAF, Part 1 by Stewart Taylor
• Tale of a 20 by Kevin Kelly by Mick Davis & Trevor Henshaw
• Nieuport 12 & 20 Drawings by Mick Davis
• Logbook: Nieuport Two-Seaters in RFC Service
• Fabric by Mick Davis
• Bookshelf

Centerfold Pullout:

• Gazetteer of Flying Sites: UK & Ireland, Part 23, Conclusion by Mick Davis & Bill Morgan

Mick Davis’ Fabric is basically a ‘letters to the editor’, providing updates to previous articles in the journal from authors and readers. The Bookshelf section is a review of WWI aviation specific books and magazines with this issue totaling fifteen.

Its been a few years since I have picked up a Cross & Cockade issue and I’m quite impressed with the increase in quality. If you are in to early / WWI aviation, this journal is an incredible source of information that will have you on the edge of your seat for the next issue.

My thanks to Cross & Cockade International and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great issue.

Highly recommended!