Aircraft of the Chaco War 1928-1935 (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

This is almost a coffee table book. It is big and a bit heavy. The exterior hardback dimensions measure 8 & 3/4 inches wide by 11 & 1/4 inches tall! Nice, think, glossy paper for the gorgeous b&w photographs and line drawings that abound. One cannot say enough nice things about the magnificent and rare photographs and line drawings. They are worth the price alone, but they also greatly compliment the good text, which covers the air war in extensive detail but also covers the war in general and the aftermath.The title of the book is most accurate. The vast majority of information presented is tied to describing the specific makes/types of aircraft operated with information on how they were employed, losses, markings, and other facts tied to the specific planes (often by serial number).The book does a great job of being balanced regarding Bolivian and Paraguayan planes, photos, and information. However, the 3 personal interviews done by the co-authors were of Paraguayan participants of the war, and the co-author, Sapienza, is Paraguayan. But at least the nice dust jacket front cover shows a Bolivian plane. There are 3 Bolivian contributors, 4 Paraguayan, 3 European, and 3 American; but no Bolivian organization is shown as a contributor while there are 4 Paraguayan (the Puerza Aerea Paraguaya, the Aviacion Naval Paraguaya, the Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, and the staff of the Museo de Historia Militar).Here are the contents:- Full-scale photograph of an old and new Paraguayan trainers in flight, June 1938 (pgs 2-3), as shown again and discussed on p. 142.- Acknowledgements (p. 4)- Table of Contents (p. 5)- Introduction (pgs. 6-9), with b&w maps on pgs. 6-7- Historical Background (pgs. 10-15)- Chapters 1-6 (pgs 16-142)1. Opening Hostilities (pgs. 16-17)2. Bombers, Reconnaissance, and Multi-Purpose Aircraft (pgs. 18-65), 12 different planes3. Fighters and Fighter-Bombers (pgs. 66-89), 7 different planes4. Other Types--Transports, Ambulances, and Trainers (pgs. 90-128), 13 different transports, 6 different Bolivian trainers, and 7 different Paraguayan trainers.5. Things That Didn't Happen (pgs. 129-136)6. The Aftermath (pgs. 137-142)- Sources (pgs 143-144)The biggest failing of the book is that it lacks a table or chart showing the respective losses during the war. While I read it, I created my own tables showing the respective losses by Bolivia and Paraguay broken down by make/type plane, date of loss, serial number, reason for loss, and the page number from the book. It would have been real simple and real valuable for the co-authors to have done the same.The post-war pictures and information tied to the 4 large Bolivian Junkers Ju 86s, arriving in 1937, is quite interesting (pgs. 11-12, 140-142) and helps explain why Paraguay was suddenly ready to sign off on the peace boundaries in the summer of 1938.The bibliography is only decent for English (e.g., this is a 1997 book but no listing for Farcau's 1996 book, The Chaco War) and very good for Spanish sources.There is one large b&w map dealing with circa 1931-1932, which only has airfield symbols for a few of the fields existing at the beginning of the war but there are no dedicated maps or airfield symbols for all the fields that were opened and used during the conflict. The other smaller b&w map just generally shows all of South America.Sadly, there are some little typos and errors. For example, on p. 8: "it is general (sic) recognized that...." On p. 22 in the text the authors state the Bolivian Curtiss-Wright C14R Osprey has a max. bomb load of 260 lbs., but on p. 26 the period photo/data piece clearly shows a max bomb load of 250 lbs. On p. 36 the co-authors state that a Paraguayan Potez 25 was lost after an aerial combat on 12 Dec 34, but on p. 72 in the Curtiss Model 35A Hawk II section they state the combat loss happened on 11 Dec 34.Book is printed in Hong Kong/China.If you are interested in the Chaco War, the early use of airplanes in modern (post WW I)combat, or just aviation between the World Wars, then GET THIS BOOK ASAP! I can't say enough great things about it.

As an earlier reviewer noted, this work very ably fills the pictorial void in Bruce Farcau's otherwise excellent history of the Depression era Chaco War between Bolivia and Paraguay. Despite its focus on air operations - which is obviously not a fault, but the intended scope of the book - Hagedorn & Sapienza's collection of photographs and related information are certainly the quickest way for 21st century readers, and especially foreigners who have little conception of the Gran Chaco region, to get a feel for the time and place of this war.If there is any fault, it would have to be the book's hefty price. But realistically, that is to be expected with the excellent glossy paper used and the fine photo reproduction of the publisher, combined with the rather limited sales appeal of such an obscure military history.Alas, obscure is not irrelevant. The photos of modern engines of war in such an unpopulated and remote place, the barren look of the landscape and the overall verdict of history - that this was a completely unnecessary war - all reminded me of today's smoldering standoff between Ethiopia and Eritrea.A very worthwhile book, virtually a mandatory supplement to Farcau's work.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the aircraft used by both Bolivia and Paraguay during their war over the Chaco Boreal (or Grand Chaco), a conflict fought over what was then thought to be rich mineral and oil deposits... things don't change much!Given the various nationalities involved as "mercenaries" for both belligerents, the conflict could be viewed together with the later Second Italo-Abyssinian War and the Spanish Civil War as a prelude to World War II in Europe/Africa/Middle East.The book is well illustrated with black & white `photos of the aircraft used by the two air-forces, and details about operations that each participated in. There's even a potted history of the conflict to give the reader an understanding of what went on in this little known conflict.Jon. E. DUGGAN... Sydney NSW, Australia Aircraft of the Chaco War 1928-1935

A must have book for anyone interested in the subject.

Beautiful book with rare pictures.

Brilliant!! Any aviation history buff should have this book. Author, Antonio Sapienza, is a true scholar and authority on aviation history of South America. I am looking forward to his next book coming out in 2018 .

This is a must buy if you have an interest in military aviation in general and/or in Latin America.Excellent little seen photographs and a thoroughly researched narrative are most appreciate.

Solid effort to uncover one of the least known and most interesting aerial struggles of the Americas

good book

Ce livre est une excellente contribution à l'histoire d'un conflit peu connu (sinon à travers sa vision par Hergé dans "l'oreille cassée"). Précis et détaillé.