Philatelic Bookshop

General catalogue
with recent updates

Philately and postal history, postcards, catalogues, colonies, forgeries, fiscals, handbooks, air mail, maritime and military, preadhesive, postal rates, thematics, numismatics and general collecting.

Pdf download

Browse the catalogue


Cod. 2340E
EUR 45,00
Special Price
EUR 36,00

HISTORY BOOK



Rosario Abate - Giorgio Apostolo
CAPRONI NELLA PRIMA GUERRA MONDIALE
CAPRONI IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

300 pp. - 12 colour tables - 175 b/w ill. - fine art quality paper - format cm 24x21 - hardbound in colour - printed 2010
series "Meeting History"
Italian and English text

ISBN: 978-88-96381-06-9
Editorial consultant Maurizio Pagliano

The most significant milestones in the development of Italian bomber aircraft, a celebration of Gianni Caproni, the foresighted constructor of those early wings, synonymous with "strategic bombing".

The complete history of this complex all-Italian aircraft from the design phase to the completion of the prototype, from the results of the first test flights until acceptance by the military administration, continuing later with the demanding phase of national production and concluding with the operational service of the various versions. In the most organic presentation possible, an examination was made of all the most important facts which led to the creation and development of these aeroplanes, and all their individual technical characteristics, together with an ordered study of the production figures.

Great emphasis was placed on the photographic documentation, in the main previously unpublished, and which, better than any document, illustrates the evolution of the Caproni biplane and triplane bombers.
Constant and fundamental support was provided by the Caproni Family, who placed documents and photographic material at disposition.

The text and the original structure of the work, published in 1970, have been in part reworked or modified, and now incorporates some new sections, such as an English translation, the replacement of many illustrations, updated captions, and a colour photographic appendix.

The volume appears in the period of the major celebrations of the 150 years of Italian Unity, and the 1915-1918 war is considered by many experts to be the fourth war of independence. However, research works like this stand apart from simple anniversaries, and contribute to the recording of the design and entrepreneurial capabilities of a man like Gianni Caproni, born at Arco, in the Trentino, territory then in the possession of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and who elected to become Italian and make his contribution to the victory of the Tricolour.

CONTENTS

Preface by Giovanni, Maria Fede and Umberto Caproni from Taliedo
Foreword by Maurizio Pagliano
Author's note

Colour plates

Caproni 300 HP
* The concept of strategic bombing
* The first Caproni enter into action
* 1916: deep bombing raids
* The third year of war

Caproni 450 HP
* More power for the bombers
* Technical data of the Caproni 450 HP
* 1917: raids over Pola and Cattaro
* Target: Vienna
* Caproni built in France
* Derivations from the Ca.3 until 1926

Caproni 600 HP
* Programmes of international co-production
* 1918: the victory

Other users
* The Caproni of the Regia Marina
* Caproni on the Western front line
* The American Northern Bombing Group
* American pilots at Foggia
* Tri-motors in the re-conquest of Libya

The triplanes
* A giant of the era

The single engines
* From monoplane reconnaissance aircraft to triplane fighter

Flying the tri-motor

Bibliography
The authors
FOREWORD by Maurizio Pagliano

In Italian aviation circles, the First World War, which saw Italy enter the field on 24 May 1915 alongside the forces of the Triple Entente against the Central Empire, brings to mind above all two types of aircraft, the S.V.A. and the Caproni. The first, as will be recalled, was a reconnaissance and light bomber biplane designed by ingegneri Umberto Savoia and Rodolfo Verduzio and manufactured by Ansaldo, which entered service with operational units at the beginning of 1918. The second, with its characteristic tri-motor formula, was conceived and produced by ingegner Gianni Caproni, and became synonymous with strategic bombing, a definition which must, however, take account of the technological and doctrinaire parameters of the era.

This volume, written by Giorgio Apostolo and Rosario Abate, two established experts in the sector, describes the history of this complex all-Italian aircraft from the design phase to the prototype, from the results of the first test flights until acceptance by the military administration, then the demanding phase of national production and the operational service of the various versions. Published for the first time in 1970, it is re-launched after some forty years in a new edition promoted by the Vaccari publishing house which, amongst other projects, is engaged in reissuing works which for some time have not been available from libraries or publishing companies.

In my second forty years of activity in the editorial field I continue to demand of the authors the application of some basic principals which have always guided me through the profession, and which can be summed up as: intellectual honesty, knowledge of the subject, balanced opinions, and civility in terms of humans relationships. Assumed are the ability to write, and the desire to be read. I should add that in works of a technical nature like this there is no space for ideological interpretations of any kind; it is the numerical data that assumes overwhelming value, and this must be the foundations for a realistic picture of the situation. These are important characteristics, which are distinguishing features of the books with the signatures of Apostolo and Abate.

The volume appears in the period of the major celebrations of the 150 years of Italian Unity, and the 1915-1918 war is considered by many experts to be the fourth war of independence. However, research works like this stand apart from simple anniversaries, and contribute to the recording of the design and entrepreneurial capabilities of a man like Gianni Caproni, born at Arco, in the Trentino, territory then in the possession of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and who elected to become Italian and make his contribution to the victory of the Tricolour.

There is a letter, reproduced in its original English in the book, dated 11 February 1919, and addressed to Inginiere [sic] Caproni: "My Dear Sir, in the name of the American Expeditionary Forces, I desire to express to you our appreciation of all that you have accomplished in the realm of the Allied aviation during the war. Your name is of course well known to all of us as an inventor of marked genius, but will be especially remembered by those officers with whom you came in contact on account of the sympathetic understanding and friendship which you always displayed toward the United States. Your untiring efforts and unfailing interest were of the greatest help to us in the development of our Air Service.

I am sure that I voice the sentiments of all when I say to you that among our officers and men you will ever find in the United States the same warm welcome and the same friendship which you have shown to us in your own land of Italy".

It was signed by General John Joseph Pershing, Commander in Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe.
Rosario Abate obtained a Phisician degree at Catania University and moved to North Italy. He started writing about avation in 1953. Since then his works have appeared in numerous journals in Italy and abroad. His books include a story of the Italian aviation, the story of the Caproni Aeronautica Bergamasca company and Aeroplani Caproni (with Alegi and Apostolo). He passed away in Milan in 2004.

Giorgio Apostolo became interested in aviation in 1950 launching an intensive career which continues to these days. A contributing editor of several aerospace journals, he has authored many publications, books and serials. For many years he edited the historical magazine «Aerofan» and he is owner of a specialized publishing house.

Copyright © 2024 - 1996 Vaccari srl
All rights reserved