The Rise and Fall of the French Air Force: French Air Operations and Strategy 1900-1940

[Orwell1984]

Hi Stig
All the questions you mentioned are discussed in the book and the first three chapters and part of the fourth look at French military aviation up to 1930s (including the Rif war). One interesting point he looks at is how by the end of World War One, the French air forces had developed a level of tactical support for the Army that was excellent. He traces how this skill was forgotten (in the bomber madness of the 30s that so many air services got involved in) and only rediscovered too late . His discussion of the BCR concept and where it took the French I found fascinating. As I said in English I haven’t found much better, but I’m sure there is much more in-depth in French.