During the initial walk through of the latest effort from Aviaeology, it became readily apparent that this was no average publication. Early Canadian Military Aircraft is a land mark tour de force. The first indication of this was the two authors; John A. Griffin and Anthony L. Stachiw. Both gentlemen are very well known and highly respected in the Canadian aviation publication community.

To start to appreciate what this publication has to offer, below list of aircraft covered in this volume:

• Chapter 1 - Avro 504K
• Chapter 2 - DeHavilland D.H.9a
• Chapter 3 - Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A
• Chapter 4 - Curtiss HS-2L
• Chapter 5 - Bristol F.2B
• Chapter 6 - Curtiss JN-4 (Can.)
• Chapter 7 - Fairey IIIC Transatlantic

Each chapter is dedicated to a subject aircraft type, featuring two parts:
Part 1 covers the service career on a year-to-year basis from initial acquisition through to final disposition. The movements and utilization of individual aircraft, as well as relevant personnel and basing is detailed in context throughout.
Part 2 covers the colour schemes, finishing materials, and markings. Each known unique scheme is presented as a colour multi-view schematic, complete with colour keys plus historical and technical notes.

Features:

• 122 pages of colour scheme information and multi-views
• 125 mostly rare photographs
• Detailed fleet tables per aircraft type
• Multi-part appendix on finishing materials, finish colours and markings. Includes facsimile reproductions from original CAF and BESA documentation.
• Multi-part appendix with 15 pages of scale drawings
• Two appendices featuring maps (1 of bases and one of the Trans-Canada Flight of 1920)
• Fully indexed, including individual aircraft by registration and serials, organizations, people, and locations.

Though the lists of contents are impressive, the presentation is even more so. The first thing noted when handling Early Canadian Military Aircraft, was the weight, and the quality of the book. From the hard cover (Aviaeology’s first), to quality heavy gloss paper and well-executed colour profiles and scale drawings, this publication just speaks quality.
All through this publication, there is a very generous amount of colour drawings. All subjects get five-views with the HS-2L having an amazing 97 individual colour drawings (301 in total). Being a modeller, the information on the colours was a real treat. This is the first that I have heard of Olive Green that was widely used during this time period and the Harbour Grey on the early HS-2L schemes.
Aviaeology will be releasing decals keyed to select subjects in the book in 1/32, 1/48, and 1/72 scales.
If this volume sells well (pre sales were brisk), then eventually all 58 aircraft used pre-World War II will get the same superb treatment.
In closing, this land mark piece of Canadian aviation literature deserves to be widely supported.

Reviewed by Vic Scheuerman, IPMS Edmonton, Alberta