Les Skyraider Francais

摘要

France's publishing houses have an enviable record of producing high-quality aviation titles - in the French language, of course. Perhaps because of this relatively small market they are willing and able to examine niche subjects which publishers elsewhere might dismiss as being un-commercial. French aviation volumes are at their best when covering French subjects, and the Armee de l'Air's Skyraiders definitely count. Guillemin's enthusiasm for the Skyraider is evident throughout, and he treats the subject methodically, in detail and from a variety of angles. The fact that parts two and three, those dealing with the Skyraider's employment in Algeria and elsewhere in Africa in areas of French influence, cover 220 pages in themselves is indicative of the amount of live action the French 'Sky' pilots saw. All the book's five sections are illustrated with a superb selection of photos, many gathered from private collections. The final one reviews surviving French Skyraiders and has the commendable effect of isolating pictures of restored warbirds from the main body of the book. The volume concludes with 70 pages of appendices, among these a detailed production list and individual aircraft histories, and a cross-reference of Skyraider Bureau Numbers and construction numbers to their French serials and codes.