MWSA

P.O. Box 669

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2005 - 2009 MWSA

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Book: War Wings: films of the First Air War

Author: Phillip W. Stewart

Genre: Non-fiction – World War I Aviation film data

Publisher” PMS Press 

Reviewer: Bill McDonald

One of Kind Research Book on WWI Air War Films

What a treasure chest of information for researchers - "War Wings: Films of the First Air War", by author and aviation research expert, Philip W. Stewart, is a true undiscovered gem. It is a one of a kind book that will someday in the future be recognized as a monumental and historic achievement. It is hard to fathom all the long hours of work went into getting the detailed data and information that is contained within these wonderful pages.

As an author and documentary film maker myself, I could see this book being used as a tool for anyone putting together a TV show, or movie, on the air combat in WWI. This book has put together a user friendly guidebook to aviation documentary motion pictures from the first war that classifies what is in the U.S. National Archives. This is not small achievement!

The book is really specialized by virtue of the information it presents and may not be of much interests to the average reader of war or aviation books; however, for those with a deeper need for finding actual film footage from that war, this is a must have book. There is something in the last part of this book that might interest most readers - an reprinted article by Brigadier General "Billy" Mitchell that is worth reading.

I give this book FIVE STARS because if its great value for historic preservation - but this book will have a small readership interest due to its very nature. This is not a casual book to sit down and read at the beach or the airport - this is for real aviation buffs, historians, film makers and perhaps, some college libraries. I found it enjoyable but it is has a specific target readership and is not recommend it for the general reading public at large.