Ultimately awesome book thread
 

We dont have one dont we? :hmmm:

Soo, how about starting one then? :DL 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. :salute:

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

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

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

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:
http://normandieniemen.free.fr/R_Sauvage.jpg
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.

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! :rock: 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. :o

I recommend this one. :yeah:

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

yep.:O:

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

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

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

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"....

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 :yeah:

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.

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.

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