Illastrations

Illastrations 91-III-1 90-VIII-3 90-X-5 90-VIII-4 90-VIII-3 37 INDENTIFICATION REQUEST 91-III-2 From Mark Kraatz, OMSA #4475 Bavarian medal struck in grey metal (non-magnetic), 39mm m diameter OBVERSE: "LUDWIG II KOENIG V.BAYERN" surrounding h~s coinage head, with small letters"NP"in the undercut of the neck. REVERSE "25.8 1845- 13.6.1886" along the upper c~rcumference, In the center isa Bavarian shield w~th letter "N" superimposed and with three leaves sprouting on each s~de of the shield. Below is the signature "Ludwig". IDENTIFICATION REQUEST 91-III-3 From 1. V. Victorov-Orlov, OMSA #2815 A bronze medal, 31.75mm in diameter plus a shght protrusion at the top. with a hole through it for suspension. OBVERSE: a styllzcd shcll, like the symbol of Shell Oil Company. This is surrounded by an Arabic inscr~ption. REVERSE: multiple shells within decorative designs surround a center bearing Arabic inscriptions. 38 BOOK REVIEWS JAil books for rewew should be sent to Charles P. McDowell, JOMSA Book Review Editor;6801 Sue PaigeCt; Springfteld, VA22152. After review books become the property of the OMSA Library.] Aviation Awards of Impertal Germany in World War 1, Volume II, "The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Prussia" by Neal W. O’Connor; published in 1990 by The Foundation for Aviation World War I; P.O. Box 212: Princeton, NJ 08542,; 285 pages, dlustrated. Available from the Foundation for $30 (postage and handling included). Those who were pleased with Neal O’Connor’s first volume, The A viation A wards of ttteKingdom of Bavaria,will be delighted with this companionvolume. Like the first volume, it is a major accomplishment ~n both content and format and should be well received by both students of World War I and collectors of aviation awards. It ~s printed on very high quality paper and richly illustrated with four full-color photos and another 242 in black and white. Prior to discussing the seven principal Prussian decorations for bravery, the author sets the stage with an informative but brief section on the Kingdom of Prussia itself. The first award discussed is perhaps the best-known of all German awards: the Iron Cross, which was founded on March !0, 1813 by King Friedreich Wilhelm III as a Prussian decoration. Subsequent chapters cover the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, the Order of the Crown, the Pour le Merite, the House Order of Hohenzollern, the Prussian Member’s Cross with Swords of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order, and the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross. Each chapter provides background information on an award and then focuses on its use as aviation award during the First World War w~th emphasis on specific recipients. Each chapter is has excellent illustrations of both the award being discussed and recipients of that award. The final chapter is somewhat ~ronic. Entitled, "Final Honors," it presents a montage of photos illustrating the ritual and ceremony that attended the burial of leading German aviators (many of whom had actually become public figures through their flying exploits). An ~mportant part of these funerals was the display of the deceased hero’s awards and decorations (a European practice which is still employed). At the end of the book O’Connor presents twenty tables and appendiceswhich analyze the distribution and timing of awards and present sample citations. Perhaps his most important appendixes are the first twelve, which deal with the Pour le Merit. These appendixes cover all fliers who either received or were nominated for this decoration. They are listed by rank, by branch of service, by status as fighter pilots, by victory scores and by whether the Pour le Merit ultimately was or was not awarded. This book is magnificent. It is well-written, easy and interesting to read, and rich in detail. It ~s a must! (Reviewed by Librarian). 39 .

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