Synopsis
A British icon of World War I aerial combat, just as the Supermarine Spitfire is for World War II, the Sopwith Camel might more aptly be compared to the equally iconic (if one is Japanese) Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero. A superb dogfighter in the hands of pilots who mastered its vicious idiosyncrasies, the Camel also packed a considerable punch for its day as the first British fighter with twin machine guns. It has been credited with the most aerial victories of any fighter type of the conflict, but that statistic is somewhat misleading - and further muddied by the heavy losses Camel units suffered in 1918, as higher performance types began to eclipse the plane. Nevertheless, Camels appeared on several battlefronts to the end of the war and beyond - during the Russian Civil War, for example - and performed remarkably well in a variety of other roles, including as a ground strafer, night fighter, night intruder, and carrier-based fighter.
About the Authors
Jon Guttman, a resident of Leesburg, Virginia, is currently research director for Historynet.com. Specialising in World War I aviation, he has written numerous titles for Osprey including the popular Aircraft of the Aces 66: Balloon-Busting Aces of World War I.
Simon Smith was born in 1960 in Aldershot, England. After graduating with a First in Fine Art and Illustration at Farnham and Reigate Art schools, he became a prolific military and aviation illustrator, and has won the Guild of Aviation Artists' Nockolds Trophy several times.
Harry Dempsey has been passionate about World War 1 aviation for more than 30 years, resulting in the production of some of the most technically accurate artwork on the subject for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series. He has illustrated a vast number of World War 1 titles in Osprey's ever-growing range of best-selling aviation titles.
Richard Chasemore completed a four-year course in technical illustration in 1992. Since then, he has worked on a wide variety of projects in publishing and advertising, using both traditional and digital media. He has lectured in airbrush techniques, and written six educational books on digital art. A long-standing contributor to the top-selling Star Wars Incredible Cross Sections series, his contribution has taken him to Skywalker Ranch in California to work with Lucasfilm's concept artists. Richard also enjoys music and is a co-founder of Superglider Records.
Peter Bull graduated from art college in 1979 and has worked as a freelance illustrator for over 25 years. He has created both traditional and digital art for publishers worldwide, and also runs the Peter Bull Art Studio, based in Kent, UK, which he founded in 1975.
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