Publisher's History

Paladin Press came into existence in September 1970 when Peder Lund joined Robert K. Brown as a partner in a book-publishing venture previously known as Panther Publications. They changed the name to avoid misidentification with the then-active and highly publicized Black Panther movement. The word “paladin” comes from the knights who served in Charlemagne’s court in eighth-century France. It was with some irony that Brown and Lund named the company after knights dispatched by the king to redress wrongs in the land.

Description

Flying Machines Press publisher
Softcover
978-1-89126-816-8
128 pages
9" x 12"
photos, illust.

Subject History

The Salmson 2A2 was one of the most important aircraft of the First World War. It was flown extensively by the French and Americans during the war and by many other countries after the war. This book is the first to cover this classic French reconnaissance and observation plane and is packed with more than 200 photos and many little-known details of its design and combat history. The book also features chapters on all other WWI Salmson aircraft before and after the 2A2. It includes 23 all-new color illustrations showing unit and camouflage markings, as well as all-new five-view drawings to standard modelers' scales of 1/48 and 1/72 covering the S.M.1 and Salmsons 3, 4, and 7, in addition to the 2A2.

Flying Machines Press is a subsidiary of Paladin Press and here we go back to them to reconnect with their fine line of aviation publications. It is with some pride that I note that I was a listed source for some of the research in their fine book on Pfalz aircraft. But here we look at another wonderful publication on a an usual early aviation machine. Number 3 in their series of Great war aircraft it covers the Salmson Company's designs. They built some landmark airframes and its is their aircraft this book covers. Even though I could apply the term "monograph" it simply does not do justice to the impressive body of materials it contains. The authors are well known names it the field of early aviation research and are readily identified as some of the brightest minds in their arenas of study.

Their list of acknowledgements cites other spendid fellows of the genre. This has makings of a 1st class research tool and reference. It does not disappoint in any measure. This reference takes you from the design board to the operational units in the field. American, French, Japanese, Polish markings and factory stenciling are explored as well from the fine art work of Jaunita Franzi. Who's wonderful work is widely known from many early aviation profiles in print today.

First published in 2001 and containing 128 pages of information not seen in any other publication. Everything you would want or need to know on the Salmson Company's airframes can be found here. Multiple sets of fold out drawings and full page plan drawings in 1:72 & 1:48 will impress even the most stout hearted research fiend, enthusiast or devotee.

Notes from Jack Herris of FMP

". . .Interestingly, there is an error in the great color plates; Juanita is so used to illustrating British aircraft that the cockades on the S.M.1 are British instead of French as they should be! That embarrassing goof got by all of us until after the book was in print!"

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