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Australian Hawk over the Western Front

$34.95

By Evgeni Bessonov
Published in 2006 by Grub Street, UK
HArdcover, 221 Pages
Size - 24.5cm * 16.5cm

A Biography of Major R. S. Dallas DSO, DSC, C de G avec Palme

Major Roderick Dallas is Australia's leading air ace of all time and, with fifty victories, also one of the highest-scoring Commonwealth aces. Even so, until this excellently researched volume, there has never been a full biography of this exceptional pilot, whose fighting career spanned from 1916 to 1918. Flying Nieuport Scouts, Triplanes and Camels with the RNAS and RAF, he was an ever-present threat over the Western Front and the scourge of the German Air Force.

Hellwig's book has been taken principally from primary sources (Dallas' own letters, log book and service record, in addition to squadron record books, combat reports and contemporary accounts), and his resulting conclusions will surprise many. Here is a fitting tribute not just to Australia's greatest war hero of the air but to a man any country would be proud to call their own. It will be read avidly by all those interested in WWI history.

Contents:

* Preface
* Foreword
* Fledglings and Eaglehawks
* The Fledgling Stretches His Wings
* The Fledgling Learns His Trade
* The Hawk Flexes His Talons
* The Hawk Fathers His Flock
* The Hawk Reaches the Heights
* The Hawk Falls
* Postscript
* Appendix A - Notes on Fighting in the Air
* Appendix B - Rank Structure
* Appendix C - Calendar of Notable Dates
* Appendix D - Medals, Awards and Citations
* Appendix E - Victory List
* Appendix F - Aircraft Flown
* Appendix G - Three Views of Aircraft Flown in Combat
* Appendix H - Stan's Artwork
* Acknowledgements
* Bibliography
* Map
* Index

From Wikipedia:
Roderic Stanley (Stan) Dallas DSO, DSC & Bar (30 July 1891 – 1 June 1918) was an Australian fighter ace of World War I. His score of aerial victories is generally regarded as the second-highest by an Australian, after Robert Little; however there is considerable dispute over Dallas's exact total. While his official score is commonly given as 39, claim-by-claim analyses list as few as 32, and other research credits him with over 50, compared to Little's official tally of 47.

Like Little, Dallas flew with British units, rather than the nascent Australian Flying Corps. Beyond his personal triumphs in combat, Dallas achieved success as a squadron leader, both in the air and on the ground. He was also an influential tactician and test pilot who trialled the latest British aeroplanes and flying equipment. His service spanned almost the entirety of World War I fighter aviation.

Illustrated with 16 pages of B&W photos, 1 map and 10 pages of drawings