ÉDITION SPÉCIALE - AVIONS n°1 - Le Grand Cirque de Pierre Clostermann

Without ever intending to, Pierre Clostermann became a true legend—the very symbol of the Free French Air Forces during the Second World War. His record as a fighter ace, his political career, and his remarkable achievements in industry all made him an exceptional figure. Yet it is undoubtedly his book The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque) that directly forged the myth. Which of us did not catch the aviation bug upon reading it? Who did not look up to the heroes he portrayed?

 

HISTORY REDISCOVERED AND EXPANDED

 

Twenty years after the passing of "Cloclo" and the publication of a pioneering article that has long been out of print, AVIONS launches its "Special Edition" collection. Christophe Cony compiles, revises, and enriches the articles devoted to the immortal author of The Big Show. From his childhood and flight training to his time as an RAF fighter pilot, his Gaullist political career, the Algerian War, and his various other commitments, the career of the best-known ace of the French wings in 1939–1945 is thoroughly examined. The volume draws upon carefully curated iconography, technical data sheets of his aircraft, the Operations Record Books of the squadrons in which he flew, and his combat reports. An essential, definitive biography for aviation enthusiasts and World War II history buffs alike.