Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: -ammo- on September 24, 2000, 08:15:00 PM
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Hey all, wanting to buy another book and thought I would ask for opinions. Here are some I am looking at.
Any suggestions?
1) Aces Against Japan: The American Aces Speak
by Eric Hammel
2) Dead Reckoning : Experiences of a World War II Fighter Pilot
by Alan K. Abner
3)Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)
by Raymond F. Toliver, Trevor J. Constable
4)Fire in the Sky : The Air War in the South Pacific
by Eric M. Bergerud
5)Gabby : A Fighter Pilot's Life (Schiffer Military History)
by Francis Gabreski, Carl Molesworth
6)I Flew for the Fuhrer
by Heinz Knoke
7)In My Sights : The Memoir of a P-40 Ace
by James B. Morehead
8)German Fighter Ace : Hans-Joachim Marseille : The Life Story of the 'Star of Africa'
by Franz Kurowski, Don Cox (Translator)
9)Luftwaffe Fighter Aces : The Jagdflieger and Their Combat Tactics and Techniques
by Mike Spick
10)Mustang Ace : Memoirs of a P-51 Fighter Pilot
by Robert J. Goebel
11)The Blond Knight of Germany
by Raymond F. Toliver, Trevor J. Constable
12)The First and the Last
by Adolf Galland
13)The Luftwaffe Fighter Force : The View from the Cockpit
by Adolf Galland (Editor), Dave C. Isby (Editor), Hitschhold, David C. Isby
14)To Fly and Fight : Memoirs of a Triple Ace
by Clarence E. Anderson, Joseph P. Hamelin, Chuck Yeager
any of you guys know these or can reccomend these books?
thx in advance, ammo
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just for you ammo:
Bovine Venereal Diseases - Symptoms and Cures.
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OK sorry, let me rephrase.. any opinions from adults about these books?
I gotta learn to be more specific.
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add:
all of the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series.
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"Fire in the Sky" is incredible.
Hooligan
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Hi Hooli, long time no see! hope your doin well (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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I bought "The First and The Last" this summer. Great book.
newguy
The Wrecking Crew
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I have read 3,5,6 and nine in your list.
I would recomend the mike spick book.
Its cheap and a nice over view of lw tactics.
It is a bit basic though.
If i were you i would check out the osprey collection.
Best bang for the buck.
Im currenly going thru the collection.
There are 2 must have books on HJM and hartmann that ive see in the us recently.
They are almost picture books more than bio's.
Im not sure the name but there out there and im geting both some time soon.
Both are must haves for any simers
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Hi ammo.
I've read four on your list. Here's what I thought:
Aces Against Japan:
Awsome. Lots of in the cockpit action. A collection of scattered short accounts. A very quick read that left me wanting more. I want to find the others in this series.
I Flew for the Fuhrer:
Very good. An account of one man's fight in a 109 against endless stream after stream of B-17s. He gets shot down many times and severely wounded a few times as well. He also looses almost all of his friends and squadmates as they get chopped out of the sky. A great story about what it was like flying every single day with not a lot of hope for a happy ending. Pretty brutal book.
Luftwaffe Fighter Aces:
Very good. Mostly about tactics. Not too much first person cockpit action.
Blonde Knight:
Good. His story is amazing and I think this book could have been more exciting. I liked it but there just seems to be something missing. It is also heartbreaking to see how close he came to avoiding capture by the Russians. He surrendered to the US but was turned over to the Russians and ended up spending 10 years in a Russian heavy labor camp. The last half of the book concerns this horrific piece of his young life.
A few of my favorites not on your list:
Stuka Pilot by Hans Ulrich Rudel (I can't remember the spelling of his name)
He destroyed over 500 tanks and flew the ageing Stuka through to the end of the war. Hitler had to design a medal especially for him. He gets shot down, captured, escapes, loses limbs, lands in a tree, etc. An amazing story that should be made into a movie.
Flights of Passage by Samuel Hynes
This is really strange choice because it is a book about an American dive bomber pilot who basically misses the war. He goes on many missions but sees only a little action. But the book is a poetic masterpiece. This man loves to fly and his descriptions of every aspect of his training, flying, and fighting are superb. I kept re-reading passages marvelling at his literary genius.
Fighter Pilot (The First American Ace of World War II) by William R. Dunn
A great book by a grizzled fighter pilot who flew Hurricanes, Spits, P-40s, P-47s, P-51s. He also tested P-39s, P-38s, some others. He gives his frank opions about each plane which is fascinating. His writing style is great. It is the opposite of Hynes (above)- No pretty language or poetry just factual accounts in plain english told with a straight face, most of the time. Parts are quite funny and there is a really great description of his being shot down where he basically resigns himself to Death.
Hope that helps a little. Forgive the length of the post. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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RUST
(http://home.earthlink.net/~rocketace/_uimages/rustsbucketp38small.jpg)
[This message has been edited by rust (edited 09-25-2000).]
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With the introduction of carrier ops in 1.05, some good books to get some info on it include (IMO at least, for what it is worth (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif))
1. No Higher Honor
This is a fabulous book on the USS Yorktown from the beginning of the war to its sinking at the Battle of Midway. Not specificly a book on airplanes and such, but very good in dealing with what it was like to be on a carrier in the middle of a battle.
2. Miracle at Midway
I really like this book. It covers the whole battle, even breaking it down to the minute in a time timetable in one of the appendices. Lots of first hand accounts and some very good analysis.
Some other books that I have found that are pretty good general books:
3. America's Aces in a Day
Covers every single American ace in a day from WW2. Many firsthand accounts and after action report quotes.
4. Messerschmidt Aces
Covers many German 109 aces.
5. The Mighty Eighth
An collection of oral histories from 8th AF pilots, crewmen, ground crew, etc. Kind of a little dry, but still very fascinating.
I know I have several others as well, but they are in a box at my parent's house :-(
-math
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"Any American fighter near Orote Penninsula. I have forty Jap planes surrounded and need a little help."
-Ens. W.B. "Spider" Webb during the Marians Turkey Shoot
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Hi, I've read 1, 9, and 12. Can also recommend Eric Hammel's "Aces against Germany", Johnny Johnson's "Break, Blue Flight", and Pierre Clostermann's book, but I don't remember its name.
Also, if you can locate a copy, a "Double Fighter Knight" by Ilmari Juutilainen offers some nice recollections from the air war in Finland.
2Cool
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Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter (even though its not a WW2 book it still 0wns, kthx.)
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"Citizen Soldier" by Ambrose.
-Westy
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Samurai, by Saburo Sakai
Fly for your life, by Larry Forrester about Robert Stanford Tuck
Sisu
-Karnak
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VMF-323 "Death Rattlers" by William Wolf, currently latest book I've read, I should take a snap shot of my office,you guys would die, I have probably over 700 books both hard back and soft, dealing with WW2 both ground and air units...an addiction I gave up when I stopped running a multi-axis Numerical Control machine (had 8 hours a day to read!)
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I'd have to add:
Herky! by Herschel Green
A triple ace with the 325th FG "Checkertails". He scored kills in P-40's, P-47's and P-51's. Great story-teller and gives you a look at life in the Med theater. This is an often over-looked area of USAAF combat.
Helmut Lipfert's War Diary by Helmut Lipfert
Lipfert scored over 200 kills flying with JG 52 and 53 on the Eastern Front. Deals strictly with accounts of his kills and sorties. Amazing reading. He was shot down at least 5 times but always managed to do it over German lines.
A Bridge Too Far by Cornilius Ryan
On of the best WW2 books I've ever read.
Hell in a Very Small Place by Bernard Fall
Not a WW2 book. Deals with the French Foreign Legion Para's and the siege of Dien Bien Phu. A truly chilling book. Every military historian should read this book. Reading how the Para's would volunteer to jump into the siege, just to be there for their comrades, even though they knew they were going to lose is incredible.
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Lt Col Dune
X.O. 352nd Fighter Group (http://www.352ndfightergroup.com)
"The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney"
"Credo quia absurdum est." (I believe it because it is unreasonable)
- The motto of the Republic of Baja Arizona
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re: 3)Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe (Schiffer Military/Aviation History) by Raymond F. Toliver, Trevor J. Constable
Didn't particularly like this. Supposedly discussed tactics - but wasn't much there. Not very enthralling story either.
Don't spend more than $2 on.
Sour
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It's not aviation, but I notice some other people recommended non-aviation books. I usually am not interested in books covering infantry operations, but this one attracted me because it tells the story of Oliver Stone's infantry company from the view point of the company commander who is also the author. Most people in the book are given aliases including Spec. 4 Stone. The only mention of Stone is in the Forward and Epiloge. It's not a personal attack. I found the day to day operations, planning, and combat very interesting. The dominance of artillary and air support is clear, and the diminished role of armor are no surprise even for a person like me who has little detail knowledge of combat in Vietnam. What was surprising was the professionalism, dedication, and effectiveness of the American infantry units that were portrayed so disgracefully in Stone's movie and many other Hollywood productions. The other side of the coin perhaps. Anyway, it's a good read!
Platoon Bravo Company
by
Robert Hemphill
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Thunderbolt! by Robert Johnson.
Great read - you can blast through it as you blast through it in one sitting.
hehehehe... figure that one out.
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LJK Kratzer
Geschwader Kommodore, LuftJägerKorps
www.luftjagerkorps.com (http://www.luftjagerkorps.com/)
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just read "THUNDERBOLT"! awesome read.
I appreciate all the responses guys. I think i have made up my mind-- i will by several of them (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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Ammo and everyone else;
Let me recommend Paul Gaudette Bookstore in Tucson, AZ. They have an amazing collection of signed works and they are great to work with. I have bought several signed books from them. Their addy: http://www3.imagiconline.com/events/slite/litehome.html (http://www3.imagiconline.com/events/slite/litehome.html)
Here is just a sample of what they have:
THE JOLLY ROGERS: The 90th Bombardment Group in the Southwest Pacific 1942-1944
Atglen
Schiffer Military
1997
Reprint
112 pages
Profuse photos
D.J.
11 1/4 x 8 3/4
Account of the Jolly Rogers, who flew B-24 Liberators in the Southwest Pacific.
Signed by B-24 pilots Perrin, Rehart, Haggerty and Pearson
50.00
THE 56TH FIGHTER GROUP IN WORLD WAR II
Washington, D.C.
Washington Infantry Journal
1948
First
222 pages
Photos
8 1/2 x 11 1/4
A memorandum of some of the operational incidents connected with the 56th Fighter Group while in England and over the
continent during World War II.
Signed by Zemke, Mahurin and 3 other 56th F.G. Aces
350.00
Anderson, Clarence E. 'Bud' with Joseph P. Hamelin
TO FLY AND FIGHT
N.Y.
St. Martin's Press
1990
First
302 pages
Photos
Anderson's memoirs of being a triple ace and the wingman of Gen. Chuck Yeager.
Special Leatherbound edition.
Signed by Anderson and Yeager
90.00
Barbas, Bernd
AIRCRAFT OF THE LUFTWAFFE FIGHTER ACES I
Atglen, Pa.
Schiffer Military
1996
Reprint
263 pages
Profuse photos
D.J.
8 1/2 x 11
Volume I covers: JG 1 Oesau, JG 2 Richthofen, JG 3 Udet, JG 4, JG 5 Eismeer, JG 6 Horst Wessel, JG 7 Nowotny, JG 11
JG 26 Schlageter, JG 27, JV 44, JG 51 Molders and JG 52.
Signed plate by Gunther Rall and Walter Wolfrum (176 victories)
80.00
Boyce, Col. J. Ward, editor
AMERICAN FIGHTER ACES ALBUM
Mesa, Az.
American Fighters Assoc.
1996
Second
550 pages
Profuse photos
9 1/4 x 12 1/4
Signed inside the front cover by 52 American fighter aces.
400.00
- as you can see they have some expensive titles, but they also have signed books for as low as $30.00.
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Lt Col Dune
X.O. 352nd Fighter Group (http://www.352ndfightergroup.com)
"The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney"
"Credo quia absurdum est." (I believe it because it is unreasonable)
- The motto of the Republic of Baja Arizona
[This message has been edited by Dune (edited 09-25-2000).]
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THX Dune! never even considered getting signed copies. will look at them.
ammo
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If ya just read thunderbolt that would explain why every P47 that shoots me down is YOU, ammo... heheh...
I'm the easiest target out there, so you jug-jockeys should line up!
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LJK Kratzer
Geschwader Kommodore, LuftJägerKorps
www.luftjagerkorps.com (http://www.luftjagerkorps.com/)
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An interesting, if not controversial book, is called "The Good War", very interesting perspective of the last "good war" that the US was involved in...
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Hmm, this gets me thinking, anyone want to do a 'Book Exchange" program of some sorts? We could do something like list 10 books that we'd be willing to loan out...then the person interested in reading it would pay for the UPS postage both ways, I assume it would still be cheaper than the original book itself in some cases...just rambling thoughts here...
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I've got one called "The Best War Ever" that I have glanced at, but haven't read yet... it seems like a new perspective... more of an academic thesis than a rippin' good tale though!
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LJK Kratzer
Geschwader Kommodore, LuftJägerKorps
www.luftjagerkorps.com (http://www.luftjagerkorps.com/)
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I would reccomend
Fly for your life : the story of Robert Stanford Tuck by Larry Foresster(sp?)
War in a Stringbag by Charles Lamb
P.S. I quite liked the first and the last but at times it was a little dry and also galland seemed to rationalize with hindsight and gives the impression the LW would have swept all before it but for Goering (which i am sure has an element of truth but not to the extent he suggests)
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Originally posted by jmccaul:
.. and the last but at times it was a little dry and also galland seemed to rationalize with hindsight and gives the impression the LW would have swept all before it but for Goering (which i am sure has an element of truth but not to the extent he suggests)
Agree with your review, although the LW would have been more efficient without Goering, it appears someone forgot to tell Galland that the US industrial muscles and unlimited resources would have still prevailed...
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I read and recommend the books by Hienz Knoke, Eric Hartmman and Saburo Sakai.
Another really good one in a slightly different genre is "Black Thursday" by Martin Cadin (sp?). This thick paperback tells the story of the raids on the ball-bearing factories in Schwienfurt, Germany. Sixty B-17s were shot down by hordes of German fighters.
While telling the story of this raid, it also tells all about the B-17, and what it was like to be a crewmember. After reading this one (years ago) I went out and bought a large plastic model of the G.
Very well written by a respected researcher...and you can find it in librarys.... Gunthr