AH book club

[Tracers]

Hey all,

Just finished reading "The big show" for the second time. From the WWII fighter autobiographies I have read this still stands out as the best. Pierre Clostermann faced many terrifiying situations and still escaped with a sense of humour.

Taken from his diaries he wrote at the time. A man who even decades after the war has nothing but respect for his former enemies.

Can anyone reccomend a really good WWII biography that will better this?

[Flench]

Well have to check it out . There is a very good read about a machine gunner in Vietnam called Guns Up by Johnnie M. Clark you should check out .

[Guppy35]

Wing Leader by Johnnie Johnson if you want an RAF focus.  But there are many others as well.


Although my all time favorite fighter pilot book is "Nanette" by Edwards Park.


I've read Closterman's book many times.  There are some factual inaccuracies in it, but it's still a good read

[Oldman731]

I've read Closterman's book many times.  There are some factual inaccuracies in it, but it's still a good read

Closterman is controversial, if I recall correctly; I think his contemporaries doubted his claims.  Read somewhere that Johnnie Johnson spotted Closterman at some ceremony wearing a ribbon he hadn't actually been awarded.

Book is supposed to be almost poetry.  Haven't had a chance to read it yet.

- oldman

[Tracers]

He does state in the intro that there may be inaccuracies that he didnt know of at the time but he didnt change them for the book, and just kept it as his old diaries had it recorded. A damn good read though.

[Tracers]

Well have to check it out . There is a very good read about a machine gunner in Vietnam called Guns Up by Johnnie M. Clark you should check out.

I'll track it down and have a read   

[Guppy35]

Closterman is controversial, if I recall correctly; I think his contemporaries doubted his claims.  Read somewhere that Johnnie Johnson spotted Closterman at some ceremony wearing a ribbon he hadn't actually been awarded.

Book is supposed to be almost poetry.  Haven't had a chance to read it yet.

- oldman

At one point he's describing covering the remnants of the Schweinfurt bombers on thier return.  This of course is October 43.  He mentions landing at a coastal base and parking next to the red nose Mustang of Major Beeson.  Since the 4th FG didn't get Mustangs until 44 and didn't get red noses until late March 44, that doesn't fit at all.  That's just one example

[mbailey]

If you want to read Nanette Tracers, I'd be glad to lend you my copy.

[MrKrabs]

Yesterday I was at the flea market and found "Inside The Third Reich" that is on my bucket list...

So far I've carefully read up to part 1 chapter 4. I have found that even the foreword is a rich read and the desire to have a purpose can truly be a blessing and a curse.

I am looking forward to reading on and will share what other broad morals come up "at leasts one that don't get ruled"

[Muzzy]

Got a new copy of The Big E for Christmas and read it voraciously and immediately.  I'd forgotten how good Stafford 's writing was. Still the most dramatic telling of life aboard the Enterprise.

[RufusLeaking]

Only partially about World War II, and a bit of dry read, but the subject is the greatest pilot of all time.

[RufusLeaking]

A good read from the losing side. A lot of the book is about the Eastern front.

[RufusLeaking]

There are a lot of good books on the Battle of Britain. This is the most recent that I read.

[Oldman731]

A good read from the losing side. A lot of the book is about the Eastern front.

And a lot of it is probably fiction.

- oldman

[SkyRock]

Although my all time favorite fighter pilot book is "Nanette" by Edwards Park.

Great book, and thanks again Dan... how's the little one doing?