Introduction

Polish Wings 39, Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone by Stratus Publishing is authored and illustrated by Bartlomiej Belcarz and Franciszek Strzelczyk.

This 104 page English language volume describes the operational usage of the CR.714 during the defense of France in1940 by expatriate Polish pilots, with the last 9 pages of the book devoted to camouflage and markings, including a few photos of the sole surviving example of an unrestored Finnish example.

Content

This book focuses on the role played by the Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone in the Battle of France in 1940.  Conceived as a light fighter based on a successful racing plane, 200 were contracted for, and some were originally committed to Finland, but the Finns rejected their use as a combat aircraft both due to poor performance and its unsuitability for use in the harsh winter climate. Subsequently, the French order was reduced to 90 due to the disappointing rate of climb and maneuverability.

Originally, a squadron of volunteers, many Polish, were to take their aircraft to Finland to fight the Soviets, but with deteriorating conditions in Europe and the Finns declaration of the aircraft sunsuitability, some 36 were supplied to the Polish Warsaw squadron, the Groupe de Chase 1/145, the only unit to use the 714 in combat.

Polish Wings 39 is thus a chronological, day by day, description of the deployment and use of the  diminutive French fighter, as the  1/145 was forced not only to fight the Germans in an inadequate mount, but to constantly relocate as the advancing ground forces  threaten to overrun their airfields.

Imagery

Every page of the volume is illustrated with appropriate photos of pilots, groundcrew, airfields, organizational tables, and of course photos of the planes themselves. Along with these, 26 different airframes are depicted in full color renderings, most in 3 views, with a few being only in profile.   The final few pages are devoted to a detailed description of the camouflage and markings applied to the Caudrons, and there are a few color photos of the unrestored example from Finland that was sent to the Polish museum for preservation.

Conclusion

If you're looking for information regarding the design and development of the CR.714, you'll need to look elsewhere, but if you're interested in its use during the invasion of France, and/or building a model with accurate camouflage and markings, you'll be very satisfied by Polish Wings 39,  Caudron-Renault CR.714 Cyclone.

We thank Casemate Publishers for this copy to review.  Please remember to mention to Casemate and Stratus Publishing, and vendors that you saw this product here - on Aeroscale.