I recommend this book:

[slimm50]

I’m currently reading SAMURAI! by Saburo Sakai. I know many of you have probably already read this, years ago. I don’t know why I haven’t picked this book up much sooner, but…….OMG!   Now, I’ve read several books about/ by pilots and their exploits, but this is definitely one of the most gripping accounts I’ve ever read, in any genre.  For those of you who haven’t read it, or maybe it’s been a very long time since you last did, I highly recommend it. Not only is the author’s story truly inspiring, but the aerial combat descriptions are the stuff some of in here thrive on.

I’d like to hear about other books some of you have read that you would recommend.

[lazs2]

read it... was pretty good except the part where he battled the 100 or so hellcats for 3 days....

No Hellcats were reported lost that day nor were any Hellcats in the area saki claimed this feat took place nor did any Hellcat pilots report such an engagement.

lazs

[oboe]

It was co-authored by Martin Caidin, wasn't it?    An author, God rest his soul, who was never accused of letting the facts get in the way of a good story.    In fact I think there was some controversy or hard feelings between Sakai and Caidin after the book came out, but I cannot recall the details.    But I don't mean to trample on his grave.    He's a credit to aviation history in the way he portrays the excitement and intensity of air combat.

Martin Caidin's "Zero Fighter", published by Ballantine Books years ago, lit a fire in me for WWII air combat that has never been quenched.    I'll never forget his description of Gregory Board's Brewster Buffalo being shot out from under him by a Zero pilot.

[slimm50]

Originally posted by oboe
It was co-authored by Martin Caidin, wasn't it?

Yes, it was. I figgered he did the writing as Sakai did the dictation. So I figgered it was Sakai's story made a little more readable with Caidin's help. But it smacks of truth, to me. Throughout the book I sensed a comfortable mix of pride and humility. But I'll Google the relationship between Caidin and Sakai and see what I can come up with.

Lazs, don't know what to say 'bout your skeptacism, except that records were often shoddily kept, if at all, in many engagements. And I understand there are differing accounts of any story told by two or more people.

[mauser]

Originally posted by slimm50

I’d like to hear about other books some of you have read that you would recommend.

Do non-flying related books count slimm?  

Last read:  "The Battle of Mogadishu: First Hand Accounts From the Men of Task Force Ranger"  edited by Matt Eversman, and Dan Schilling

Reading:  "American Soldier" by Gen. Tommy Franks

On deck:  "Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces"  by Linda Robinson

These books were recommended on other forums, and so far I agree.  The first hand accounts from Mogadishu are quite interesting because you get the picture from people who were in different areas of the battle.  Add in Michael Durant's "In the Company of Heroes," and of course Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down," and you get quite a picture of the events.  

mauser

[mechanic]

i love fiction and historical books.

if you like medievil battles, try a book called 'Heretik' by....er....crap. hes good anyhow.

also, anything by Wilber Smith i find seriously fun to read.

and of course there is Biggles by Capt. W.E. Jones.

[slimm50]

Originally posted by mauser
Do non-flying related books count slimm?  

Last read:  "The Battle of Mogadishu: First Hand Accounts From the Men of Task Force Ranger"  edited by Matt Eversman, and Dan Schilling

Reading:  "American Soldier" by Gen. Tommy Franks

On deck:  "Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces"  by Linda Robinson

These books were recommended on other forums, and so far I agree.  The first hand accounts from Mogadishu are quite interesting because you get the picture from people who were in different areas of the battle.  Add in Michael Durant's "In the Company of Heroes," and of course Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down," and you get quite a picture of the events.  

mauser

Well I had in mind books about flying, in general, but the books you listed all sound interesting, so let's open this up to any books that are supposedly factual accounts of military operations.

[lazs2]

toad recomended "A Better War" and I am about half through it and find it very interesting.

lazs

[Curval]

Beevor's Stalingrad is the best war book I've ever read...and I've read it about 1000 or so times.  (It was my toilet reader for about 6 months )

[slimm50]

Originally posted by Curval
Beevor's Stalingrad is the best war book I've ever read...and I've read it about 1000 or so times.  (It was my toilet reader for about 6 months )

Hard to get reading material on the island?

[slimm50]

Seriously guys, this is great. Keep 'em coming.

[Rafe35]

The Jolly Rogers by John Thomas "Tom" Blackburn - introduction by VAdm. James Stockdale, USN (ret) is great book.  

[G0ALY]

The Endurance : Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition

What these guys went through and survived is amazing.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Try "To War in a Stringbag" by Charles Lamb.  Great book.  Also "Stuka Pilot" by Hans Rudel.  

"Fighter Boys" is a decent book, it starts and stops and jumps around alot until it hits it's stride.  Once it is full on into the BoB, its a great book.  Very much an "inside story" on the guys who fought off the Germans in the summer of 1940.  

"A Proud American:  Joe Foss" is an excellent book, and details his time serving with the "Cactus Air Force" in the PTO.  One quote from his book I have always remembered, "In the air, whoever acts .. smartest .. and fastest is going to be the survivor. As the Red Baron said, ' It's not the crate .. it's the man sitting in it.'

If it were not so .. the Grumman Wildcat would have been a flying coffin. "

[Scherf]

"Terror in the Starboard Seat" by Dave McIntosh. Quite simply the best WWII memoir I've ever read.

I'm serious, don't walk, run to amazon to get this one, then reserve an evening to read it (you won't put it down).