Hi all. As there seems to be a lot of members here who are interested in aircraft, I was wondering what are the best books you have read on aerial combat in the Second World War. One of the best for me is 'The Most Dangerous Enemy by Stephen Bungay'. It's a history on the Battle of Britain.
Grrr what a question!! It all depends upon type, format, whether aut/biography, specific history, general history, aircraft specific. But if the house was on fire and I had to save one book.........probably Buffaloes over Singapore (just because it is about my favourite aircraft) (but I would also grab Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm 1939-45 because it cost me nearly hundred quid)...and and and bugger, all my signed books
Well hear is one of my favorites, "FLYING LEGENDS" by John M. Dibbs. The book has a P-51 Mustang with my favorite thing " Black and White Checkers!!!:band1: When on this websitew someone asks a question about planes that I don"t know where do I go to my book " FLYING LEGENDS",:hand::music:layball:
Quality photos too, WH. I have that book sitting on display in the lounge room along side a couple of Phil Makanna's Ghosts books. Gage, by aerial combat, do you mean overall examinations of a campaign such as the BoB book you mention, or anything to do with aviation during the war? I loved Max Lambert's Night After Night as mentioned numerous times on here. This details the contribution of New Zealanders in Bomber Command and is beautifully written.
"Goodbye to Some" by Forbes. Naval Institute Press, I believe. Action related to PB4Y-1's in the Pacific and written in a wonderful style - my number one choice. I've read it several times and usually laugh each go-around.
Welcome aboard, Fixel. There can't be too many books written about the Navy Libs in the Pacific (or anywhere for that matter).
Anything Andy from Campaign history, Unit history or personal recollection. I'm hoping there is stuff that I haven't read that I can go to in the future. I do like the Martin Middlebrook books. I've just got 'The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission'.
I think its between two i read, Luck and a Lancaster by Harry Yates, his personal story as a Lanc pilot, and Last FLight of the Luftwaffe about the suicide attack by selected volunteer luftwaffe pilots on the USAAF in a last ditch attempt to turn the war back in their favour. Quite stunning.
Excellent, here's some of my favourites of the recent past or so (what I can remember without prompting!): Alamein to the Alps by Mark Lax (454 Sqn) Hurricanes over Burma by MC "Bush" Cotton DFC (includes the memoirs and artwork of W/C "Bunny" Stone. The Biggin Hill Wing 1941 - From Defence to Attack by Peter Caygill Against All Odds by Lex Macaulay (RAAF pilots over Malta in 1942) A Gremlin on My Shoulder by Ron Cundy DFC DFM MiD is simply brilliant (mainly Kittyhawks in North Africa). Silently into the Midst of Things by Atholl Sutherland Brown DFC (177 Sqn Beaus over Burma) War in a Stringbag by Charles Lamb DSO DSC which I tend to go on about a bit. Not Peace but a Sword and Torpedo Leader by Patrick Gibbs DSO DFC* The Armed Rovers by Roy Conyers Nesbit (great intro/summary of anti-shipping etc strikes by Beaus and Beauforts in the Med. I've already mentioned Night after Night which is simply brilliant. Others that spring to mind are The Rats of Rangoon by W/C Lionel Hudson and Mosquito: Menacing the Reich by Martin Bowman which is a good summary of ops with excellent crew memories. Don't read much American stuff any more but Into the Teeth of the Tiger by Don Lopez stands head and shoulders over anything I've read by an American. In My Sights by Morehead and Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Warm Beer by Phil Caine are also good. One day I'll read Three Engines, Half a Wing and a Prayer which has been sitting on my shelf for years but it has to compete against many more unread titles!
Thank you for the welcome, A.A. There are a few books related to the PB4Y-1: Going Back by Charles Furey; Low Level Liberators by Paul Stevens; Junior, about Alan Carey's father; and another very good tome, I Took the High Road by Hugh Cave (about Cmdr. Miller's career, one amazingly aggressive pilot). I have learned of two books related to the Privateer: Crew One by Scranton and Crew Six by Ken Sanford (I have as yet to obtain these two). I am writing from memory at the moment, so I hope that the above information isn't too flawed. I was thinking, as I wrote earlier, of my second choice, but opted to offer only my #1 until I saw Kitty's post. Coincidentally, Luck and a Lancaster by Yates is number 2 - I've read it twice and was moved to model AA N (Lancaster in 1/48th scale) featured at the end of the book. Cheerio......
Luck and a Lancaster by Harry Yates and Mosquito: Menacing the Reich by Martin Bowman both sound good. The best book in my view has to be 'The Hardest Day by Alfred Price'. Or ATBs Battle of Britain.
If you can get passed some dodgy editing and the occasional repetitve sentence in the same paragraph Gage, you'll be very happy with the Mossie book.
It's certainly got that but also PR and anti-shipping work. Despite the title, it also has a very welcome chapter on the Far East.
Hello, all. A discussion of books on WWII airwar gets my juices flowing. I made a huge gaffe earlier: perhaps tied with my number one, above (Mr. Forbes's book on PB4Y-1 ops), is Don Charlwood's "No Moon Tonight." My brain is slipping. I've read the book numerous times; thank you, Mr. Charlwood, for creating such a lyrical, emotive, and brilliantly woven story of your experiences. Intruder ops: I found "Terror in the Starboard Seat" to be quite a little book. An enjoyable read. Ciao, Fix
