The non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society, that publishes their journal, Cross & Cockade International, four times a year. Issues are available as printed as well as digital copies (or both). A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The Society also provide a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front.\The Autumn 2024 journal of Cross & Cockade International features a color painting by Dugald Cameron of a pair of BE2as and a Maurice Farman Se.11. All are with 2 Squadron RFC in 1913 at Upper Dysart aerodrome, about 3 miles south of Montrose, Scotland. This painting supports the first article, The Memoirs of Reginald Mandeville Rodwell, 2 Sq RFC Part 1 – Pre-War Service by Tom Rodwell. The rear inside and outside cover includes five photographs from the Boxcombe Down Aviation Collection, all from George Alexander Mountain’s personal collection. Mountain flew RE8s as an observer with 21 Squadron like the one at the top of the back cover. The center section, The Gazetteer Part 19, covers WAT to Addendum, however, no fold-out map is included with this issue as in the past. The section consists of eleven black-and-white photos and twenty-four black-and-white maps. The Gazetteer is expected to be completed in the next issue.

The first part of The Memoirs of Reginald Mandeville Rodwell, 2 Sq RFC is up first, covering Lt. Rodwell’s pre-war service. This twelve-page article includes twenty-one period black and white photographs. Lt. Reginald Rodwell can be seen flying Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2a, 327, over Broomfield (Montrose, Scotland) aerodrome with B.E.2a, 233, being attended to in the foreground. This would probably have been early 1914 after the move from the Upper Dysart Farm south of Montrose when Upper Dysart was found to be less than ideal. 2 Squadron would later move to France after the start of World War I in July 1914. Lt. Rodwell can be seen at the bottom of the page as well, again in 327.If you have Cross & Cockade Volume 23-4, there is a nice article on 2 Squadron that includes a few mentions of Lt. Rodwell.

A nine-page feature by Colin Owers is up next, addressing British Borel Seaplanes.This includes thirteen period black and white photographs and drawings. Mick Davis got excited and created a two-page fold-out scale drawing of the Borel Seaplane with six full views and three scrap views. Borel No. 83 can be seen taxiing at Calshot on June 11, 1913, at the bottom of Page 55-163. Borel Number 88 can be seen at the top of the page on a Felixstowe slipway. Borel No. 83 was later converted from floats to wheels for training purposes, along with four other Borels.

Mike Kelsey contributes the first part ofThe Last Days of Rudolf von Eschwege History, Myth and Fictionnext. Lt. Rudolf von Eschwege was the highest scoring ace [20 confirmed and 6 un-confirmed] on the Macedonian front up to his death on November 21, 1917.He was attacking a kite balloon that had an additional surprise of 500 pounds high explosives to curtail Lt. Eschwege’s balloon busting. This twenty-page feature includes 26 period black-and-white photographs and five black-and-white maps. The black and white illustration at the top of Page 55-178 depicts a balloon observer jumping from his balloon showing the parachute attached to the side of the balloon basket. The period photograph towards the bottom of the page depicts Flight Lt. J.L.A. Sinclair in front of his Sopwith 9700 bomber. The Sopwith 9700 was the RNAS designation for the single seat Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter. Flight Lt. Sinclair flew with No. 2 Wing RNAS stationed at Lemnos and Lesbos from November 1916 to November 1917.

The third part of Andrei Alexandrov’s history [edited by Harry Woodman] of the The Imperial Russian Naval Air Service spans twenty-four pages and includes 63 period photographs. Many of the photographs are sourced from the Russian State Archive. The photograph at the top of Page 55-205 shows a beached FBA, FB.3, at the Tzerel Air Station that oversaw the Irben Straits and Riga Bay to the Baltic Sea [note the lighthouse in the background]. The bottom of the page depicts the German Sablatnig SF.2 prototype [580] seaplane. Production examples [25 additional aircraft] added a large ventral fin. Designed to be reconnaissance platforms, they were primarily utilized as trainers.

Modeling: New Releases and Kit Reviews has Joe Moran highlighting market news for kits and accessories. This issue sees Bob Gladding scratch-building a 1/72 Russian Lebed 12 and Joe Moran building a MAC 1/72 Bristol Scout C that was originally released in 2011 with four decal options. Joe Moran built 1255, a Royal Naval Air Service bird that was the first wheeled aircraft to take off from a moving ship, the HMS Vindex. Page 55-213 shows off five photographs of the result. 1255 was later damaged beyond repair during a takeoff accident on August 31, 1916. The Bookshelf section is a review of WWI aviation specific books and magazines with this issue totaling twelve.

Topics

• Editorial by Mick Davis
• The Memoirs of Reginald Mandeville Rodwell, 2 Sq RFC Part 1 – Pre-War Service via Tom Rodwell[Page 55.155]
• British Borel Seaplanesby Colin A. Owers [Page 55.163]
• The Last Days of Rudolf von Eschwege History, Myth and Fiction Part 1 by Mike Kelsey [Page 55.178]
• The Imperial Russian Naval Air ServicePart 3by Andrei Alexandrov/ Edited by Harry Woodman [Page 55.205]
• Obituaries: Derek Davis
• Modeling: New Releases and Kit Reviews compiled by Joe Moran [Page 55.213]
• Bookshelf– Edited by Paul R. Hare

There is no surprise that this is another great issue from Cross & Cockade International and I am always impressed with the quality of the articles, both from a research perspective, and readability. The period pictures, maps, and drawings in this journal come off looking great thanks to their printing on the journal's glossy paper. If you are into early / WWI aviation; this journal is an incredible source of information that will have you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next issue.

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

Highly recommended!