Book Title: Seefrosta: Seefrontstaffel Flanders October 1917 - August 1918
Author: Michael Schmeelke
ISBN: 978-1-935881-94-0
Category: History
Format: Paperback
Summary: Seefrosta, Seefrontstaffel Flanders October 1917 – August 1918 by noted historian Michael Schmeelke tells the story of this unique combat unit on the coast of the English Channel in the last year of the war. The Seefrosta flew land-based fighters and reconnaissance aircraft in support of the naval aviatiors at Zeebrugge and Ostend and were the aviation component of the seaward extention of the trench line. This story, related here in detail for the first time, includes rosters of its flight personnel and aircraft and is told with 144 maps and photos and 25 color profiles of its aircraft in the book’s 150 pages.
From Aeronaut Books, this is a well-researched title relying on primary sources. It covers the pilots, aircraft, and history of the unit through daily battle reports. I particularly enjoyed reading of the efforts of their leader Hans Rolshoven to obtain more and better aircraft, as well as the challenges of maintaining the force in fighting shape. There are helpful appendices on unit personnel and aircraft as well as notes on unit and squadron markings and paint scheme and colors. The color profiles and photos are excellent. Maps are also helpful and in many cases show mission flight paths around the English Channel and North Sea.
The book convincingly corrects some details found on p87 of Jasta Pilots. Hans Rolshoven was killed in his Albatros D.III(OAW) not a Pfalz D.III - picture of the wreck p58 and text p60. Reinhold Poss was never Seefrosta staffel leader. He was later a wing commander after Seefrosta was integrated with the Marine Jagdgeschwader led and formed by Lt.z.S. Gotthard Sachsenberg. ppgs 4, 115. Yet, the profile of Rolshoven's Albatros D.III (OAW) on p31 and the photo caption on p9 of the same plane vary greatly (one or the other must be in error).
The book is a treasure trove for Wings modelers and scenario planners because it covers many encounters in detail. There are minor errors in the some profiles: reverse "K" struts are not pictured on some of the Albatros D.Va although visible in photos of the same plane. Plane number is incorrect in the photo caption of Poss's Albatros p.132. Planes of the Seefrosta include these, among others listed:
Halberstadt CL.II
Rumpler C.IV
LVG C.V
Albatros D.III
Pfalz D.III and D.IIIa
Albatros D.V and D.Va
Fokker D.VII
Fokker E.V
Hansa Brandenberg W12 seaplanes (not Seefrosta but at nearby Zeebrugge and Ostende)
I've made an index of enemy planes encountered including many where specific units are mentioned:
Curtiss H.12 and Felixstowe F.2A flying boats: p5
Airco DH4
RNAS 5 Sqn p23, 25, 30-31 (N6008 Richardson/Furby)
RNAS 2 Sqn p24
RAF 25 Sqn p84
RAF 202 Sqn p3 (N5969), 78, 115
RAF 217 Sqn p83, 84 (attacked HB-W12s on water)
Airco DH9
RAF 98 Sqn p 67, 75, 78
RAF 206 Sqn p108
RAF 209 Sqn p64
RAF 211 Sqn p60, 107, see pics p66, 69-71
RAF 217 Sqn see pic p79
RAF 218 Sqn p84, 89, 92, 104, 105, 107, 109
Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8
RAF 38 Sqn p88
Bristol F2B
?? p48
RAF 88 Sqn p65
Caudron
p29
Handley-Page 0/100
RNAS 7 Sqn p25
RNAS 75 Sqn p24
RAF 214 Sqn p53
RAF 215 Sqn p46
Hanriot HD2 floatplane
French p53, 57, 59 (pilots, plane #’s), see pics p73-74
Sopwith Camel (add ‘200’ to RNAS Sqn # for RAF designation)
RNAS 4 Sqn p23
Seaplane-Defence p24, 41
RNAS 13 Sqn p31, 41 (pilots, plane #s)
RNAS 10 Sqn p34
RAF 203 Sqn p88
RAF 204 Sqn p105, 107
RAF 210 Sqn p107
RAF 213 Sqn p45 (pilots, plane #s), 75, 92, 95, 113, 115
17th Pursuit Sqn (USAS) p105, 107
148th Pursuit Sqn (USAS) p107, 110 (E1409 Wyly, same unit as Lawrence Callahan, Louisville KY)
Sopwith Pup
Seaplane-Defence-Flight p6, pic p121
"Sopwiths" (Camels)
RAF 203 Sqn p88
SPAD XIII
Escadrille Spa 75 p6
Escadrille Spa 80 p6
Escadrille Spa 83 p6
Escadrille Spa 313 (American pilots) p101
Highly recommended.
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