World War I witnessed unprecedented growth and innovation in aircraft design, construction, and mass production. Each country generated its own innovations – Albatros Fokker, Pfalz, and Junkers in Germany and Nieuport, Spad, Sopwith and Bristol in France and Britain. This highly illustrated book focuses on the approach of the British who developed fighters in a very different way; Tommy Sopwith had a distinctive approach to fighter design that relied on lightly loaded wings and simple functional box-girder fuselages. His Camel was revolutionary as it combined all the weight well forward; enabling it turn very quickly – but also making it an unforgiving fighter for the inexperienced. The Royal Aircraft Factory’s SE5a represented another leap forward with its comfortable cockpit, modern instrumentation, and inline engine – clearly influenced by both Spads and German aircraft.