French Strategic and Tactical Bombardment Forces of World War I is a translation of Rene Martel's classic L'Aviation Francaise de Bombardement (Des Origines au 11 Novembre 1918), published in Paris in 1939. Martel's history is by far the most important description of World War I French bombing published in any language. This story of French bombardment-during the brief period when France was the world's greatest air power-is virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. France not only supplied aircraft to virtually every Allied power in the war, but by the end of the war her air force routinely conducted raids consisting of 100 to 150 bombers against German troop concentrations. These massive raids occurred at a time when the British and Americans had difficulty mustering as many as three-dozen bombers to send against one target. The pioneering French efforts in technology and tactics-many of which preceded the better-known British and American efforts-are covered, as well as the development of aerial bombs, bomb-dropping mechanisms, bombsights, intelligence-based targeting packages, formation flying, night flying and navigation, long range fighter escorts, and aerial photography for bomb damage assessment. A keen observer of personalities, Professor Martel describes with great feeling the pioneers who created this new brand of warfare: Happe, de Goys, the Fequant brothers, de Kerillis, Laurens, and Bouchet. Also included is his analysis of the successful German propaganda response to French strategic bombing, which is particularly insightful. Allen Suddaby's careful translation of this long out-of-print work is enhanced by his son Steven's recent scholarship on Great War bombing campaigns. The original 1939 text is supplemented with the results of 65 years of research since then and benefits from the knowledge of several experts in the field who were consulted in the course of preparing this edition. Downloadable Map of

About the Author
Rene Martel served his native France as an observer/bombardier during the First World War. He published widely in history, politics, and geography from the 1920s to the 1940s. Allen Suddaby received his degree in Romance Languages from Syracuse University and is currently retired and living in North Carolina. Steven Suddaby has published several articles on the strategic bombing campaigns of the First World War, winning the Thornton D. Hooper Award for Excellence in Aviation History in 1998 and 2004.

Reviews
A welcomed addition to the body of World War I literature in English that all too often under-appreciates France's contributions to the war effort. -- Francois Le Roy * The Journal Of Military History, January 2008 *
Martel, who fought the Great War from the sky as an observer and bombardier, first published this most important and detailed description of the French art of bombardment in 1939. It is only now that his work has been translated into English and edited, revealing how strategy and tactics in French aviation warfare developed as the war progressed to include simple bomb-dropping, creating and effectively using bombsights, targeting based on intelligence, flying in formation and as escorts, and using aerial photography to assess damage. The able and accessible translation gives the general reader better insight into the non-technical aspects of the world of the bombardier, as Martel also writes of the propaganda war about bombing on both sides and closely describes the work of pioneers in war aviation to make a new technology fit a war fought on very traditional principles. * Reference and Research Book News *
A fine piece of work....extremely well done...sure to become a classic in its own right. It belongs on the bookshelf of all serious World War I aviation history researchers, and is recommended very highly. * Over The Front, Vol. 22, No. 1, Spring 2007 (www.overthefront.com) *
An outstanding military history...a seminal contribution to academic library Military Studies and Aviation History reference collections. * Library Bookwatch, January 2007 *
The best available source on the French bombardment forces in the war...a must. * Over The Top, Vol. 1, No. 6, June 2007 *
Much recent scholarship has been added to the original text by making this work an important source book from a Great War airman who created this first, and greatest, history of early aerial bombardment. Western Front enthusiasts simply must have this book. * Stand To! The Journal Of The Western Front Association, January 2008 *
Steven and Allen Suddaby deserve high praise....The Suddabys' work will have rendered a much needed contribution to the history of the First World War in general. -- John H. Morrow, Jr., University of Georgia * The International History Review *
Truly a mammoth undertaking....The author has produced what can only be described as a well written and detailed account....This is a truly great book....A must. * The '14 - '18 Journal *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810856622
Author Rene Martel
Format Paperback
Page Count 504
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 803g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 155mm * 30mm