Ultimately awesome book thread

Dowly · 09-03-09, 03:59 PM

We dont have one dont we?

Soo, how about starting one then?

Post recommendations, reviews or questions regarding airwar related books. Makes it easier to cherry pick good books from the billions out there.

Nothing to say about my books right now, havent read them in ages, but starting the 'God or an airplane' (no idea what it's called in english or if it is even available in english, but that's how it's called in finnish & german), a book about LW ace Günther Lützow. Wonderful book, but I'm not expecting anyone taking my word on it, so I'll read it and come back to fill you up with them details.

Biggles · 09-03-09, 04:06 PM

Well the Biggles series is an obvious pick for me, but then, they might be for a younger audience

Dowly · 09-03-09, 04:14 PM

Yeh, it might suitable for them younger ones. Task Force! You there? We got a book for you!

Mikhayl · 09-03-09, 04:29 PM

Hey, I still have a dozen of the old Biggles books, some of them were really cool, especially loved "Biggles in Norway"

My favourite pick would be Hans Ulrich Rudel's "Stuka Pilot", terrific.

And equally awesome is Pierre Clostermann's "The Big Show", amazing story and the style is very good, some scenes really put you right in the action, especially one story of a landing gone bad... I don't know how this translates to English though, but regardless, the story is great.

Edit: OK, "The Big Show" is probably a fairly common recommendation, so try to get "Flames in the Sky" too. It's several short stories, more or less romanced. The story of the Mosquito attack on ships in Norway is still fresh in my mind even though I red the book over 10 years ago.

Edit2: and something quite different too but I don't know if it's even been translated at all. "Un du Normandie-Niemen" (mixed Russian/French unit) by Roger Sauvage, French black fighter pilot:

Some crazy stories in there too, besides the aerial combats, like Russian mechanics drinking glycol (or something like that) to fight the cold in winter and so on.

Captain Birdseye · 09-03-09, 08:16 PM

First Light. This follows the RAF pilot Geoffrey Wellum from training, to the outbreak of the BoB, all the way through the trials and stresses until him leaving the airforce after being posted to Malta in '42. A very very moving book. He quotes some poems in there that almost bring a tear to the eye.

Dowly · 09-03-09, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Birdseye

First Light. This follows the RAF pilot Geoffrey Wellum from training, to the outbreak of the BoB, all the way through the trials and stresses until him leaving the airforce after being posted to Malta in '42. A very very moving book. He quotes some poems in there that almost bring a tear to the eye.

Have that book, awesome read it is!

And might add, he flew for 92. and Spitfire. And to add what BE said, I never knew the spit's exhaust flames were so hazardous during night landings.

I recommend this one.

EDIT evenb ab eveb drybjm get it, now! Goo it id!

Task Force · 09-03-09, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

Yeh, it might suitable for them younger ones. Task Force! You there? We got a book for you!

yep.

ok... the Encylopedia of military aircraft... stars with WW1 and ends in the late 90s/early 2000s. its a rather good book...

PeriscopeDepth · 09-04-09, 01:16 AM

It's not WWII era, but James Salter's The Hunters is amazing. A novel set during the Korean War written by an F-86 pilot. Also, his God's of Tin is worth a read.

PD

Oberon · 09-04-09, 04:47 AM

War in a Stringbag - Charles Lamb
A Swordfish pilot in the Med, took part in the Taranto, was on board Courageous when she was sunk, and captured by the Vichy French.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Stringba.../dp/030435841X

The Hardest Day: Battle of Britain 18 August 1940 - Alfred Price
A superb detailing of one days worth of raids, including the high-low attack on Kenley (which you can play as a scenario in BOBII), with extensive eye-witness accounts.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hardest-Day-...ref=pd_sim_b_3

Apache - Ed Macy
An outstanding look at the British version of the Apache, told by one of the men involved in the rescue mission on Jugroom Fort.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6386331.stm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apache-Ed-Ma...2057233&sr=1-1

Biggles · 09-04-09, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikhayl

Hey, I still have a dozen of the old Biggles books, some of them were really cool, especially loved "Biggles in Norway"

I have quite a collection here at home, and I too remember "Biggles in Norway" to be a good one!

Apart from that, I liked the ones about WWI, like "The Camels are Coming", "Biggles of the Camel Squadron"....

Captain Birdseye · 09-04-09, 02:49 PM

I have just ordered I Flew for the Fuhrer, for twenty pence.

It follows the story of a Luftwaffe fighter pilot from the outbreak of the war to the end.

You can't lose for 20 pence

SgtPotato · 10-05-09, 04:34 PM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wings-Like-E...4778266&sr=1-2

With Wings like Eagles - Michael Korda

bought it for my dad as a father day's gift.

BTW, I have a book, Semper Fi in the Sky, with me and I can't find it. it seem that I might lost it or left it at my home during the christmas break.

Lieste · 10-05-09, 06:20 PM

Most probably have or have seen a copy -

Shaw, Robert: Fighter Combat - Tactics and Manoeuvring; Naval Institute Press, 1985. ISBN 0-87021-059-9

Good solid text on fighter tactics, with discussion of all sorts of limitations and opportunities for 'the shot' and disengagement. Written by a Naval Aviator, in response to the dearth of material available to him. Has good (but simple) chapters on aircraft performance characteristics.

If anyone is interested in aero-engineering/aerodynamics/stability I can suggest several good titles, and point at interesting NACA/NASA papers online.

Stealth Hunter · 10-05-09, 08:45 PM

Aces Falling- Peter Hart

http://www.amazon.com/Aces-Falling-A.../dp/0753824078

MANNOCK: The Life & Death of Major Edward Mannock VC, DSO, MC, RAF - Norman Franks

http://www.amazon.com/MANNOCK-Death-...ref=pd_sim_b_5

BLACK FOKKER LEADER: CARL DEGELOW - Peter Kilduff

http://www.amazon.com/BLACK-FOKKER-L...ref=pd_sim_b_1

Malaula! The Battle Cry of Jasta 17 - Leutnant Julius Buckler

http://www.amazon.com/Malaula-Battle...ef=pd_sim_b_20

Der Rote Kampfflieger - Hauptmann Manfred Frhr. von Richthofen

http://www.amazon.com/rote-Kampfflie...4793051&sr=1-1

KNIGHT OF GERMANY: Oswald Boelcke, German Ace - Johannes Werner

http://www.amazon.com/KNIGHT-GERMANY...4793139&sr=1-1

09-03-09, 03:59 PM	#1
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Ultimately awesome book thread We dont have one dont we? Soo, how about starting one then? Post recommendations, reviews or questions regarding airwar related books. Makes it easier to cherry pick good books from the billions out there. Nothing to say about my books right now, havent read them in ages, but starting the 'God or an airplane' (no idea what it's called in english or if it is even available in english, but that's how it's called in finnish & german), a book about LW ace Günther Lützow. Wonderful book, but I'm not expecting anyone taking my word on it, so I'll read it and come back to fill you up with them details.

09-03-09, 04:06 PM	#2
Biggles Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sweden (I'm not a Viking...) Posts: 3,528 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Well the Biggles series is an obvious pick for me, but then, they might be for a younger audience __________________

09-03-09, 04:29 PM	#4
Mikhayl Captain Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 485 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	Hey, I still have a dozen of the old Biggles books, some of them were really cool, especially loved "Biggles in Norway" My favourite pick would be Hans Ulrich Rudel's "Stuka Pilot", terrific. And equally awesome is Pierre Clostermann's "The Big Show", amazing story and the style is very good, some scenes really put you right in the action, especially one story of a landing gone bad... I don't know how this translates to English though, but regardless, the story is great. Edit: OK, "The Big Show" is probably a fairly common recommendation, so try to get "Flames in the Sky" too. It's several short stories, more or less romanced. The story of the Mosquito attack on ships in Norway is still fresh in my mind even though I red the book over 10 years ago. Edit2: and something quite different too but I don't know if it's even been translated at all. "Un du Normandie-Niemen" (mixed Russian/French unit) by Roger Sauvage, French black fighter pilot: Some crazy stories in there too, besides the aerial combats, like Russian mechanics drinking glycol (or something like that) to fight the cold in winter and so on. Last edited by Mikhayl; 09-03-09 at 04:58 PM.

09-03-09, 04:14 PM	#3
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,005 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Yeh, it might suitable for them younger ones. Task Force! You there? We got a book for you!

09-03-09, 08:16 PM	#5
Captain Birdseye Watch Officer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sat behind my desk at BdU tapping away on my Enigma machine. Posts: 339 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	First Light. This follows the RAF pilot Geoffrey Wellum from training, to the outbreak of the BoB, all the way through the trials and stresses until him leaving the airforce after being posted to Malta in '42. A very very moving book. He quotes some poems in there that almost bring a tear to the eye.

09-04-09, 01:16 AM	#8
PeriscopeDepth Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,894 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	It's not WWII era, but James Salter's The Hunters is amazing. A novel set during the Korean War written by an F-86 pilot. Also, his God's of Tin is worth a read. PD

09-04-09, 04:47 AM	#9
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	War in a Stringbag - Charles Lamb A Swordfish pilot in the Med, took part in the Taranto, was on board Courageous when she was sunk, and captured by the Vichy French. http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Stringba.../dp/030435841X The Hardest Day: Battle of Britain 18 August 1940 - Alfred Price A superb detailing of one days worth of raids, including the high-low attack on Kenley (which you can play as a scenario in BOBII), with extensive eye-witness accounts. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hardest-Day-...ref=pd_sim_b_3 Apache - Ed Macy An outstanding look at the British version of the Apache, told by one of the men involved in the rescue mission on Jugroom Fort. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6386331.stm http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apache-Ed-Ma...2057233&sr=1-1

09-04-09, 02:49 PM	#11
Captain Birdseye Watch Officer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sat behind my desk at BdU tapping away on my Enigma machine. Posts: 339 Downloads: 44 Uploads: 0	I have just ordered I Flew for the Fuhrer, for twenty pence. It follows the story of a Luftwaffe fighter pilot from the outbreak of the war to the end. You can't lose for 20 pence

10-05-09, 04:34 PM	#12
SgtPotato Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: In your ocean, sinking your ships Posts: 721 Downloads: 96 Uploads: 0	http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wings-Like-E...4778266&sr=1-2 With Wings like Eagles - Michael Korda bought it for my dad as a father day's gift. BTW, I have a book, Semper Fi in the Sky, with me and I can't find it. it seem that I might lost it or left it at my home during the christmas break.

10-05-09, 06:20 PM	#13
Lieste Soundman Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 142 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Most probably have or have seen a copy - Shaw, Robert: Fighter Combat - Tactics and Manoeuvring; Naval Institute Press, 1985. ISBN 0-87021-059-9 Good solid text on fighter tactics, with discussion of all sorts of limitations and opportunities for 'the shot' and disengagement. Written by a Naval Aviator, in response to the dearth of material available to him. Has good (but simple) chapters on aircraft performance characteristics. If anyone is interested in aero-engineering/aerodynamics/stability I can suggest several good titles, and point at interesting NACA/NASA papers online.

10-05-09, 08:45 PM	#14
Stealth Hunter Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Y'ha-Nthlei Posts: 4,262 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Aces Falling- Peter Hart http://www.amazon.com/Aces-Falling-A.../dp/0753824078 MANNOCK: The Life & Death of Major Edward Mannock VC, DSO, MC, RAF - Norman Franks http://www.amazon.com/MANNOCK-Death-...ref=pd_sim_b_5 BLACK FOKKER LEADER: CARL DEGELOW - Peter Kilduff http://www.amazon.com/BLACK-FOKKER-L...ref=pd_sim_b_1 Malaula! The Battle Cry of Jasta 17 - Leutnant Julius Buckler http://www.amazon.com/Malaula-Battle...ef=pd_sim_b_20 Der Rote Kampfflieger - Hauptmann Manfred Frhr. von Richthofen http://www.amazon.com/rote-Kampfflie...4793051&sr=1-1 KNIGHT OF GERMANY: Oswald Boelcke, German Ace - Johannes Werner http://www.amazon.com/KNIGHT-GERMANY...4793139&sr=1-1