Air Power and the Arab World 1909-1955: Volume 1 - Military Flying Services in Arab Countries, 1909-1918

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At a time when multiple wars are raging across much of the Middle East, it is almost forgotten that it was Abu al-Qasim Abbas ibn Firnas ibn Wirdas at-Takurni an Andalusian inventor, physician and engineer who was the first person to undertake experiments in flying with any degree of success. That was back in the 9th Century A.D. Nigh on a thousand years later the Arab World's critical strategic location made it almost inevitable that these regions would be drawn into the imperial rivalries of the leading European powers, while the Ottoman Empire struggled to maintain its existing position in the area. This in turn meant that the first bombs to be dropped by military aircraft fell on Arab soil. Not surprisingly, as the Arab countries slowly achieved their independence, they too wanted to have air forces. In 1948 the first such Arab air forces were thrown into battle in an ill-fated attempt to keep Palestine as a primarily Arab country. Based on decades of consistent research, but also newly available sources in both Arabic and various European languages, and richly illustrated with a wide range of authentic photography, Volume 1 of the Air Power and the Arab World, 1909-1955 mini-series is telling the story of the men and machines of the first half century of military aviation in the Arab World. AUTHORS: Dr. David C Nicolle is a British historian specialising in the military history of the Middle Ages, with special interest in the Middle East and Arab countries. The late Air Vice Marshal Gabr Ali Gabr, PhD (EAF), served as a pilot in a De Havilland Vampire fighter jet during the Suez War of 1956. 140 b/w photos/ills, 15 colour profiles, 5 maps, 8 colour photos/ills

Reviews

"Highly recommended." * AMPS Indianapolis *
"...a great introduction to the subject. And I cant wait for the sequel." * Cybermodeler *
"The book offers a commendable overview of the introduction of the airplane into the Middle East and North Africa, including aircraft used by European powers in the colonies as well as variety of Arab pilots and missions." * Historical Miniatures Gaming Society *
"The written word alone would be worth the price of the book, but this title is further enriched by the photographs included." * Internet Modeler *
"If this is your initial entry into this series, you will be quite pleased." * IPMS/USA *
"The level of detail regarding the operations and units of the time is quite remarkable and you are provided an interesting look into how these units functioned." * ModelingMadness.Com *

Author Bio

Dr. David C Nicolle is a British historian specialising in the military history of the Middle Ages, with special interest in the Middle East and Arab countries. After working for BBC Arabic Service, he obtained his MA at SOAS, University of London, followed by a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. He then lectured in art history at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan. Dr. Nicolle has published over 100 books about warfare ranging from Roman times to the 20th century, mostly as sole author. He also co-authored the Arab MiGs series of books which covered the history of the Arab air forces at war with Israel from 1955 to 1973. Furthermore, he has appeared in several TV-documentaries, and has published numerous articles in specialized press. This is his first instalment for Helions @War series. The late Air Vice Marshal Gabr Ali Gabr, PhD (EAF), served as a pilot in a De Havilland Vampire fighter jet during the Suez War of 1956. After concluding his higher military education at the Air Warfare Institute in 1960, he served as Instructor in Air Tactics at the Air Warfare Institute from 1962-1964 and 1966-1967, as Staff Officer during the June 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Chief of Operational Training Branch in the period 1968-1973, and as Chief of Operations Group during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War. Following a tour as Instructor in the Art of Operations and Chief of the Air Force, the Chair at High War College from 1977 until 1982, and receiving his PhD at the Nasser High Academy in 1989, he moved into writing and published several books and dozens of articles on the history of air warfare in Egypt and abroad.