Sopwith Camels over Italy, 1917-1918

"During the First World War, Italy assisted their British Allies. Their fight was against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, fought mainly in the northeast of the Italian mainland, edging toward Austria. The battle had played out between 1915-17, but in October 1917 the Austro-Hungarians managed to push the Italians back during the Battle of Caporetto. With the danger signs obvious, both Britain and France sent reinforcements. Both countries needed to send aeroplanes with which to support their ground troops. Britain's Royal Flying Corps sent three squadrons of Sopwith Camel fighters, plus one REN reconaissance squadron (the latter increased by one for a few months in early 1918). These three Camel squardons fought gallantly over the plains and mountainous regions of north-east Italy, sharing the air battle with aircraft of the Italian Air Force. Thsi book illustrates the Camel squadrosn efforts to contain and defend against Austro-Hungarian efforst to defeat Italy. Whilst the so-called aces of the Western Front are well known, their counterparts' exploits over Italy are less defined. Nevertheless, there were some big-scoring British aces amongst the three Camel squadrons, including Matthew Frew, Spike Howell, Jack Cottle and Peter Carpenter. Aces from futher afield included W.G. "Billy" Barker, a Canadian who would, back over France, win one of the last VCs of the Great War."--Back cover.