The Bulgarian Hunters: Roland D.II & D.III in WWI
By Matt Bittner
Authors: Mitko Mitkov
Publisher: Aeronaut Books
ISBN: 978-1-964637-41-9
Binding: Digital
Pages: 92
Until recently, little was known about Bulgarian fliers during WWI. However, one person is changing that with this and other publications:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Organization During the War
- 3. Acquisition
- 4. Aviation School
- 5. 1st Aeroplane Detachment
- 6. 2nd Aeroplane Detachment
- 7. Airplane Workshop
- 8. The End
- Appendix A: Roland Design & Production
- Appendix B: Roland D.II
- Appendix C: Roland D.III
- Sources
This is an excellent book detailing the Bulgarian air force during the First World War, especially as it relates to its use of the LFG Roland D.II and D.III. In fact, they were the only service that managed to bring down another aircraft using the Roland D.III. But the sad thing is, while they requested newer fighters from Germany, the Germans kept the better aircraft for their own use on the Western Front. Which means the Bulgarians were able to use the older machines to their best advantage, even if that advantage was slight.
The book mentions multiple sorties and fights the Bulgarians were able to accomplish and provides as detailed a look as could be gleaned from available sources. All in all, this is an excellent book about the use of the Roland's on the Eastern Front against an enemy that had more modern equipment. If I may quote an ending passage, this best sums up the Bulgarian experience:
"Although not particularly successful, the LFG Roland D.II/D.III were the only specialized means of conducting air combat available to the Bulgarians. Despite frequent technical failures, less than ideal flight characteristics, and the enemy's superiority in number and quality, the pilots of the 1st and 2nd Airplane Detachments gave their all to fulfill their duty in the name of Bulgaria."
There are scale plans at the end of the book, and there are also three color profiles of the D.II and four of the D.III, plus a color profile of a captured B.E.2C. In addition there are color profiles of a British FK.8, B.E.2C converted to a single-seater, and a Bristol M.1C. All profiles created by master artist Bob Pearson.
Modeling-wise the LFG Roland D.II has been decently covered. First of all, the author has created his own modeling company, mdesign, and he has released a 3D printed kit in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72. Otherwise there were kits in 1/48 by Cramer Craft, Hi-Tech injected, and Sierra Scale Models. In 1/72 there were/are other kits by Cramer Craft, Eurokit, Kovozávody Prostějov (KP) (whom also release their kit as a D.IIa, but I think they only changed the engine and nothing else), Merlin, Pegasus (which I have built) and Roseplane. In 1/144 Decapod Models made a 3D printed D.II.
For the Roland D.III the only kit so far is by mdesign in 1/48; however, they do have plans to release it in 1/72 and 1/32.
If the history of the Eastern Front in WWI, Bulgarian aviation and/or the Roland D.II/D.III interests you, then definitely pick up this book. You won't regret it.
You can order the book in paperback and digital on Amazon.