The non-profit UK-based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes their journal, Cross & Cockade International, four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 80 pages plus centerfold] as well as digital copies (or both). A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publishes 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 Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance.

The Spring 2025 journal of Cross & Cockade International features a color photograph of D6953, a Wosley Viper engine SE5a. Originally delivered to 1 AAP, she then went to 1 ASD Reception Park, followed by 2 AIS on August 11, 1918. She was issued to 60 Squadron on August 14, 1918, where she became the A Flight leader’s aircraft as seen by the white ‘A’ on the rear fuselage. Here she is seen at Boffles, France during September 1918. Flight Commander John William Rayner flew D6953 for two of his five aerial victories in late October 1918 over Fokker D.VIIs. Captain Alexander Beck [DFC] flew D6953 for an aerial victory on October 29, on his way to 11 aerial victories. 2^nd Lt. Stanley James Mason flew D6953 on November 9, 1918, when she was damaged by ground fire. She was quickly repaired and transferred to 2 ASD on November 14, 1918. The rear cover depicts Flight Commander John William Rayner seated in D6953 SE5a. The lower photograph is of Captain Bernard Francis McEntegart in a SE5a, D6136, when he was assigned to 60 Squadron. McEntegart would serve with the Royal Aircraft Establishment in a research role and end his service as Air Officer Commanding, Headquarters Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, retaining the rank of Vice Air-Marshall. The pull-out center section begins a series on Rigging Notes. Part 1 addresses the AVRO Biplane, AVRO Biplane 80 HP Military Type, Curtiss Aeroplane Type TL / JN3, and the B.E. 2c Biplane.

Elimor Mekevet leads off with Flyers and Encounters in the Air Campaign in Palestine. This article covers both sides of the Palestine air conflict with three pilots: Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy, 2^nd Lt Claude Henry Vautin, and 2^nd Lt. Thomas Lancaster Steele. It spans fifty pages and includes eighty-four period photographs, six black and white maps, along with one color photograph on the inside of the rear cover. The younger brother of Hellmuth Felmy, Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy developed a reputation for his fostering of chivalry amongst airmen throughout Palestine. He was awarded the Iron Cross and Knight’s Cross in May 1917. It was Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy who organized a full military burial of a pilot from 2nd Lt. Claude Vautin’s unit, No 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) from their battle on July 8, 1917. Oberleutnant Gerhard Felmy also notified 2nd Lt. Vautin’s unit of his capture with a photograph of both of them and provided the utmost courtesy before the Turks took charge of him. 2nd Lt Vautin would remain a POW until November 28, 1918, when he was repatriated to Cairo. The black and white illustration at the top of Page 56-035 depicts Nieuport 23bis “Gisel” B3597 with 2^nd Lt. Tom Oswald Clogstown in the cockpit. This is representative of B3594, the 2^nd Lt. Thomas Lancaster Steele failed to return on April 10, 1918. Note the twin-over-wing Lewis guns, just an example of the many configurations the B3597 carried. Clogstown would retire in 1945 as a Group Captain and live to the age of 89. The bottom of the page shows off a captured Albatros D. Va (OAW) 6573/17, probably the mount of Offstv. [Offizierstellvertreter] Willi Hampel of Jasta 1F.

Colin Owers is up next with The Curtiss K Flying Boat. This nine-page feature has eight black-and-white photographs along with a three-view drawing and specification table. The Curtis K was a more powerful and larger flying boat than the Curtis F flying boat, going from a 90 hp engine to a 160 hp Curtiss V-X eight-cylinder engine. The first flight was achieved in November 1914 by Curtis test pilot, Walter E. Johnson. A claim by Curtiss was that the Curtiss K was the largest and fastest single-engine flying boat in November 1914. The black and white photograph on Page 56.057 shows off a Curtiss K flying boat that was placed on display outside of Congress in June 1916. The sign reads “This Flying Boat has been 700 hours in the air. It has trained 50 aviators for England. Russia has 80 machines like this. We have none. Many Hydro-Aeroplanes today are larger than this one.” This press on the US Congress did not result in any Curtiss K Flying Boats, but 3.5 million was voted to pursue aeronautics. The bulk of this feature is based on the issues Curtiss had with the delivery of the Curtiss K Flying Boat to Russia and is quite interesting.

The fifth part of Andrei Alexandrov’s history [edited by Harry Woodman] of the Imperial Russian Naval Air Service spans eight pages and includes three period photographs. There are five maps to support Appendix 2 on Air Stations and Bases of the Imperial Russian Naval Air Service. The photograph on Page 56-068 shows a unique arrangement of two 16 kg fragmentation bombs and is related to Appendix 3: Armament of the Imperial Russia Naval Air Service to 1917. These Oranovsky bombs were available as both fragmentation and as HE bombs. Eventually carrying these bombs near the nose were moved to hang underneath the lower wing. There are six drawings of Russian aviation bombs as support. The Bookshelf section is a review of WWI aviation-specific books and magazines with this issue totaling seven.

Topics:

• Editorial by Mick Davis
• Flyers and Encounters in the Air Campaign in Palestine by Elimor Mekevet [Page 56.035]
• The Curtiss K Flying Boat by Colin Owers [Page 56.057]
• The Imperial Russian Naval Air Service Part 5 by Andrei Alexandrov / Edited by Harry Woodman [Page 56.068]
• Fabric by Mick Davis
• Bookshelf – Edited by Paul R. Hare [Page 56.071]

This is another great issue from The Great War Aviation Society, and I am always impressed with the quality of the articles, both from a research perspective, and readability. Elimor Mekevet’s article on Palestine was certainly a tour de force. 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 The Great War Aviation Society and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great issue.

Highly recommended!