Ballons - An italian book

[Attila57]

I bought this Italian book about the balloons and their use in Italy until 1930 (with a particoular regard to WWI):

Giuseppe Magrin

I PALLONI DELLA GUERRA Storia ed evoluzione dei mezzi di volo dalla Grande Guerra al 1930

Paolo Gaspari Editore

ISBN 88-86338-31-7

143 pages -16,60 euros

I think that a good number of wingmen will be able to read or to translate it without too much difficulty. There's a lot of pictures and drawings-

The index of this book:

- The first aerial crossing of the Alps
- The feat of Usuelli and Crespi
- The aerostatic military service from its origins to the war in Libya
- 1915 The new organization of the Italian Air Force
- 1917 The reorganization of the Italina Air Force
- The War Balloons
- The Third Army balloners on the Piave
- The Ace Giannino Ancillotto
- Balloon and dirigible heroic crew
- If the Draken could tell their adventures
- The spherical balloons for uncostrained ascensions
- The constrained balloon
- The Draken Balloon
- La Saiucisse
- The Italian A.P. Ballon
- A technical description of the A.P. Ballon
- The gas envelope
- The stabilizing pockets
- The suspension
- the composition and regulation of the gas valve
- The envelope pressure
- Main operations for the inflation and fie tuning of the italian balloon
- The tactical use of the balloon
- The observers of the balloons
- The Italian balloon features
- The deformable bladder
- The ballon kite for meteorology and communication porpuse
- The ballon kite for anti-aircraft defense
- The parachute

It might be an interesting read for understand ballons feature and history and a evidence of a little known use of them on the Italy war front.

[Guntruck]

Looks interesting. Wish it would be publisged in English in the future.

[Attila57]

Gaspari Editore is a Publishing House specialized in books about the First World War, the history of Veneto-Friuli and so on.
I don't know if they will translate their books in english. It'a a shame because they have several interesting books..

The photographs and drawings alone are worth the price of the book and the text is not as complicated to be translated if necessary using Google.

A true little gem of its kind

[Flying Officer Kyte]

How much does it retail for Attilio? It looks most intresting. I just got a book about thr American balloonist Thadius Lowe from the American Civil war.
Have you ever come across a book called "Slide Rule" It is the autobiography of the writer Neville Shute. It tells about his work as an aeronautical engineer on the Airship the R 100. I read it about 40 years ago, but it still carries a vivid image in my mind of these pioneers in the history of airship design.
Rob.

[Attila57]

The single chapter are often short but the detail is good.

I especially appreciate some tables and diagrams Fo example the detailed drawing of mc.1130 powered balloon or the table that explains the characteristic of the envelope fabrics.

The powered balloon was a discovery for me. A little engine applied to the balloon enable an indipendent shift (like a dirigible) to reduce the dependence on ground operations.

It' a book very concise but informative.

It is part of the series' History and Collecting "whose other titles include:

the War of the gas 1914-1918
Italian hand grenades
Austrian hand grenades
The period of neutrality
Campaign of 1915
The climb to Bainsizza Towards the crisis of Fall

This publisher has other two series about WWI " (ten titles):

The battles of the retreat from Caporetto
Diaries and memoirs of World War I

There's another italian publisher - Itinera progetti - with excellent books on World War (about thirty-forty titles).

I bought "Hell of stone - the Austrian and Hungarian on Carso" whre there are some picture of planes and balloons from archives no published on the Internet.

At the end of December I will buy another book from this publisher: Canvas wings.

Attilio

[Attila57]

I forgot I took note of the two titles you mentioned, Rob.


I know the first one long ago looking for books about balloons.


The second one can still be ordered on Amazon! "Slide rule" is a title appropriated for the story of an engineer of the past century Now "CAD" could be more appropiate!

Attilio

[Taranis]

Very great! look this:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/world_war_1/

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks Taranis, It drew my attention to two titles of which I was not aware. They are now on my wish list.
Rob.

[Taranis]

you're welcome Rob.

[Attila57]

Unfortunately one of the most interesting title:

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1

is out of stock!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Unfortunately one of the most interesting title:

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1

is out of stock!

Hi Attilio.
Amazon have it in stock if you are quick. I just ordered one.
Rob.

[Attila57]

Thanks for the info, Rob

Attilio

[Attila57]

Unfortunately one of the most interesting title:

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1

is out of stock!

This book is in stock again!

Attilio

[Attila57]

Now I've got a copy of reprinted Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1!! With the same order to an italian online bookshop I bought another Osprey title: Austro-Hungarian of World War 1 A really interesting book.