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. Issues are available as printed as well as digital copies (or both). 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 for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front.

The Summer 2023 journal of Cross & Cockade International features a colorized photograph of a Hanriot-built Sopwith 1B1 of Escadrille SOP 107 after being captured on July 17, 1917. The rear inside and rear outside cover present color illustration profiles by David Méchin of the Sopwith Type 9400, 1A2, and 1B2 aircraft. The center section, The Gazetteer Part 14, covers MER-PEC, however, no fold out map is included with this issue as in the past. The section consists of five black and white photos, and seventeen black and white maps.

The late Stewart K. Taylor leads off this issue with a 31-page, 49-photograph, feature based on letters from Lt. Harold Wilkinson of 20 and 23 Squadrons that flew the FE2. This article complements the Cross & Cockade monograph on the Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b/d aircraft that was published on July 1, 2009. Short biographies of Canadian pilots that flew with Wilkinson in 20 Squadron are also included at the end of the article. All the FE2 photographs are those that did not make it into the earlier monograph. These letters to his family are quite engaging since they are truly Wilkerson’s contemporaneous views. There is a variety in letter length with some quite short notes to others that approach several pages in this journal.

David Méchin is up next with a feature on the Sopwith 1-½ Strutter in France where it was known as the Sopwith 1A2, 1B1, or 1B. This 11-page article includes 20 black and white captioned-photographs. This is an intriguing tale of how the French Air Force adopted a British tractor biplane when the French were considered to be elite designers. The licensed manufacture of the Sopwith - ½ Strutter in France is quite the political tale, costing Rene Besnard, the under-secretary of state for military aeronautics his job. Still testing and evaluation of the Sopwith led to initial orders from four French manufacturers: Darracq, Hanriot, Liore et Olivier, and Robert Esnautt Pelterie (REP). Four additional French aircraft manufacturers were later added, including Salmson. The photograph on the top of Page 54.111 depicts a Hanriot manufactured 1-½ Strutter as a 1A2. This aircraft was flown by Sous Lt. Albert Edmond Mezergues in February 1917 with Escadrille N79. Mezergues scored six aerial victories in WWI with his first two on September 1, 1914. He was shot down and captured on August 22, 1917 but managed to escape on February 26, 1918. He survived to fight for Spanish Morocco in the Rif War where he was killed on May15, 1925.

Rod Henderson chimes in with a three-page article on Andrew Edward McKeever, Two-Seater Ace. Seven clear black and white photographs are included to show off this Canadian ace who flew the Bristol F2B two-seat fighter. A great photograph on Page 54.119 shows McKeever in front of a captured Fokker D.VII [OAW] bearing 1 Squadron CAF’s maple leaf insignia just below the cockpit. McKeever ended up with 31 aerial kills making him the leading two-seater ace of the war. Unfortunately, McKeever died of complications from an automobile accident in December 1919. Steve Mills follows with Kipper VC’s Secret in a six-page, eight photograph tale. This never account discusses the never-before published story of the Aircraft Guided Distantly Control Boat (DCB) and Gascoigne “Kipper” Robinson.

A five-page article on Oswald Boelcke’s leadership that was first published in 2021 is presented next. This six-pager includes ten black and white photographs. French nurse Blanka seems to be quite smitten as Oswald Boelcke takes her up for a ride in his unarmed trainer Fokker Eindekker E.I, 13/15, at Douai La Brayelle Aerodrome in August 1915 as shown on Page 54.127. This stunt got him banned from giving out rides in the future due to the huge crowd that formed to watch him fly around the aerodrome. Baker Flies Wolseley’s First from Paul R. Hare follows with six black and white photographs on three pages.

The Wolseley Company was Britain’s largest car manufacturer, producing around 3,000 automobiles a year. When the war started, the Wolseley began manufacturing RAF BE2c aircraft, fitted with Renault engines. The first aircraft completed was 5384 which was delivered to Farnborough on August 14, 1915. Originally intended for Egyptian service, 5384 literally missed the boat and stayed in Britain to serve with 25 Squadron at Broomfield Farm. Page 54.133 shows off 5384 at Farnborough with a photograph of Brian Edmund Baker in flying gear at the bottom of the page.

Angus Scully brings a six-page photo essay next comprising of 14 black and white photographs. This was particularly interesting to me as I am quite close to Everman Barron Field, where several of the photographs were taken. Fort Worth and the surrounding area served as a large training center for Americans, British, and Canadians during World War I. Page 54.138 depicts a SPAD S.VII at Camp Mohawk and a Curtiss JN-4 (Can) of 82 CTS. Barron Field is no longer recognizable, but there is a historical marker showing what was once abuzz with the sound of aircraft engines.

Mick Davis’ column, Fabric, provides reader feedback with four black and white photographs. Joe Moran highlights market news and Bob Gladding extolls the joys of building a Formaplane 1/72 vacuformed kit of the Halberstadt Cl.II two-seat escort fighter. Joe Moran reviews the excellent new Arma Hobby 1/72 Fokker E.V fighter. The Bookshelf section is a review of WWI aviation specific books and magazines with this issue totaling nine.

Topics:

• Editorial by Mick Davis
• Faithful Adherence by Stewart K. Taylor
• The Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter - A French story by David Méchin [Page 54.111]
• Two-Seater Ace - Andrew Edward McKeever by Rod Henderson [Page 54.119]
• Kipper VC’s Secret Air-Controlled Drone Boats by Steve Mills
• Oswald Boelcke – A Role Model by R. G. Head, Mike Kuhn, and Gert Overhoff [Page 54.127]
• Baker Flies Wolseley's first by Paul Hare [Page 54.133]
• Enlisted Men's Lives in the RFC 1917-18 by Angus Scully [Page 54.138]
• Fabric: Queries and Feedback compiled by Mick Davis
• Modeling: New Releases and Kit Reviews compiled by Joe Moran
• Bookshelf – Edited by Paul R. Hare

As usual, this is another excellent 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!