Featured battle : Big Bethel

Part of American Civil War

Date : 10 June 1861

At Big Bethel, near Fortress Monroe, Maj Gen Ben Butler with 7 Union regiments attacked one of J.B. Magruder's outposts on the James peninsula. It was held by just 1,400 Confederates but Union confusion and rebel artillery blunted the attack and drove Butlers troops back. The casualty rate of 76 Union to 8 Confederate went some way to supporting the southern assertion that 1 true rebel was worth 10 'Yankees Hirelings'.

The Zeppelin

Michael Belafi (Trans. Cordula Werschkun)
This is a fascinating study of a fascinating man and his more than life-long obsession with lighter-than-air flight. It primarily covers Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin's life and the early Zeppelins, before the 1st World War. There are copious photographs from the early days covering the main developments and achievements, and I have rarely seen such coverage in a single book. There is a very short chapter on their use as a weapon in WW1, and it is clear that the author thoroughly disapproved of it's militarisation, and gives it very little space, but I think it should be applauded for that. There are plenty of books demonising the Zeppelins, and it's very refreshing to have one that doesn't.
There is also a decent section on what I would call the glory days of the dirigibles, during the 1920's and early 30's but the main focus is still the early years, since the Count himself died in 1917 and I feel that the book is none the less for that. There is even a final chapter that covers the modern airships that are the Count's direct descendants which is valuable to provide a sense of continuity and re-birth.
The text in some places can seem a little unusual to English eyes, since it is quite clearly and unashamedly a translation of a German work. But I found that once I had accustomed myself to that, it read smoothly and enthusiastically. It fills an important gap on my early aviation bookshelf, and I would unhesitatingly recommend it to fill the similar gap on yours.
Pen & Sword Aviation, 2015