Book suggestions

[Devil 505]

If you want to buy something beyond the standard "noble heroes of the air" stuff, try two books by Johannes Steinhoff himself:

Messerschmitts Over Sicily: Diary of a Luftwaffe Fighter Commander

From a review:
"War in the air: no knights in shining armour
Great book! Not only did Steinhoff write a lucid account of the desperate struggle of a shrinking air force against overwhelming odds, he also proves to be a engrossing writer who is able to convey the increasingly cynical thoughts of the fighter pilots and to bring home the pressure of the daily missions with an almost statistical certainty of death or captivity in the end.
(...)
Steinhoff shows how the fighter pilot is always alone in his battle, no-one at his side and how this grates at the nerves. Not fear, but anxiety is the word he uses for this state of mind."


The Final Hours: A German Jet Pilot Plots Against Goering

A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II by Adam Makos
http://www.amazon.com/Higher-Call-Incredible-Chivalry-War-Torn/dp/0425255735

Yes. All three of these are must reads.

[MrGeezer]

I realize it's WWI...but.

"The Day The Red Baron Died"  By Dale Titler.   

Read about the pilot that all the WWII pilots dreamed to be like....and he was the one that took "Boelke's Dicta" and added to it when he ran the Jagdgeschwader.

[Hetzer7]

[230G]

  If you like reads about WW2 air combat, then these three books:

  First and foremost: I Flew for the Fuhrer

  I found this book at the RAF Museum in London about 15 years ago. I've ben a WW2 aircraft buff for 40+ years and it's hands-down the best I've ever read. Written from a first hand, very personal level.
 
   Next, take your pick: Aces Against Germany and Aces Against Japan.

[pipz]

Horrido! Fighter aces of the Luftwaffe. 

http://www.amazon.com/Horrido-Fighter-Luftwaffe-Toliver-Constable/dp/B002NEAETS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1409015746&sr=8-3&keywords=Horrido+fighter+aces+of+the+luftwaffe

[Guppy35]

Visit the Schiffer books website and go through the Luftwaffe section.  181 books to choose from.  I like the unit histories myself

http://www.schifferbooks.com/military-catalog-959/military-aviation-history-693/aviation-german-luftwaffe-ww-ii-715/?zenid=886d91a4f8ec872487cfdce99b6b2ae1

Or you could go to Eagle Editions and do the same thing

http://www.eagle-editions.com/library-of-eagles.html

[MiloMorai]

Did I miss someone mentioning Lipfert's bio book?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Diary-Hauptmann-Helmut-Lipfert/dp/0887404464

[Flench]

WOW ! ok where do I start , lol .

[Ratsy]

Surprised at the pan of Amadio's book on Rall.

Having met Rall briefly back in the 90's, I got a sense that he was less about war stories and more about character.  His force of will in conversation was almost a physical thing.  Because of that, I think Amadio simply wrote the book that Rall demanded - less operations and more about his life and family.

I liked Knocke, Rudel, and Galland books.

Thanks for the tips on the other titles.  Adding to read list.

 

[USCH]

Blond Knight of Germany, the autobiography of Eric Hartman. By to toliver and constable and By Colin  d Heaton and anne-marie  Lewis. The star of Africa. The story of Hans Marseille. The 2 best 109 pilots I can think of..
And great reads..

[branch37]

A Higher Call or Messerschmitts over Sicily by Steinhoff are both excellent.

[shotgunneeley]

I'm currently reading Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. They're making a movie based on it, shaping up to be a good one.

Others I've read:

1) the Bomber Boys by Travis L. Ayres
2) the Faustball Tunnel by John Hammond Moore
3) Four Came Home by Carroll V. Glines (autographed by Robert Hite)
4) a Higher Call by Adam Makos
5) to Kingdom Come by Robert J. Mrazek
6) Masters of the Air by Donald L. Miller
7) Night of the Intruders by Ian McLachlan
8) Spitfires Over Malta by Paul Lovell (dang near was able to get this one autographed as well, but he was out on "holiday" when my sister picked this up for me while visiting Dover Castle in England).
9) the Victors by Stephen Ambrose
10) the War in the Air edited by Gavin Lyall

Edit: oh yeah, and American Sniper by Chris Kyle

My next read will be Leading with Honor by Lee Ellis (autographed at an ACF convention in Savannah, GA)

[Obie303]

GUNS UP . It's about a machine gunner in Vietnam . Very good read . I know it's not what your looking for but you should check it out .

I enjoyed this book so much, I joined the Corp and asked for that MOS.

[Flench]

I enjoyed this book so much, I joined the Corp and asked for that MOS.

Yeah , it's a killer book . I mite have to read it again . Been a long time .

[Getback]

I don't have any suggestions but wow, 23 years is great! Congratulations!