Combat Aviation discussion

What is everyone currently reading?

I'm not reading anything on combat aviation right now, but this year I've read Pleiku, Apache, In the Company of Heroes, and Black Hawk Down. I highly recommend all of them to anyone interested in helicopter warfare

Right now I'm reading 'Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and his American Volunteer Group'. Just finished 'Black Aces High', 'Thud Ridge', 'When Thunder Rolled', and 'Cheating Death'. All are highly recommended. For what that's worth. I grabbed 'Scream of Eagles' today from the library, and will post a review on that as well as 'Flying Tigers' in the next few days.

Not reading any aviation books right now. Read few months ago Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds. Good read! My review
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Olds' memoir was great!

Wrote reviews for 'Scream of Eagles' and 'Flying Tigers'. The former much better than the latter, but both worthy of reading. I'm on to 'Wings of Fury' now, another one written by Robert Wilcox. He's 2 for 2 so far in my book, so I have high hopes for this next one.

Just finished Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator and I thoroughly enjoyed it



I've bought quite a few combat aviation books recently so hopefully I'll have a chance to get to read them soon.

I just finished up last night and loved it. Today I'm starting

I enjoyed and would recommend it for military aviation buffs

Already checked out Dave Baranek's (BIO) short stories? This is his *newest*
http://topgunbio.squarespace.com/harp...
Lovely stories! #recommend

Dustin wrote: "Right now I'm reading 'Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and his American Volunteer Group'"

Oh, great choice!

For my part, I am pecking away at Christopher Shores's great tome about the Mediterranean air war, and having fun comparing his more realistic accounts with those of Colin Heaton in "The Star of Africa" about Hans Marseille. I am always puzzled by the adoration of British writers for Luftwaffe pilots, who after all were in the business of killing Englishmen in the service of the worst regime ever seen. Does Marseille get a pass because he didn't believe in the Third Reich but was more or less killing people for the fun of it?

- Dan Ford

Amelia Earhart's Daughters: The Wild And Glorious Story Of American Women Aviators From World War II To The Dawn Of The Space Age.

AV8R wrote: "Amelia Earhart's Daughters: The Wild And Glorious Story Of American Women Aviators From World War II To The Dawn Of The Space Age."

I have that book at home on my shelf, but have yet to read it unfortunately. I'd be interested in knowing what you think of it when you finish.

Roger.

WOW. What a book. What man. Who? John Boyd!

Robert Coram's book 'Boyd. The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War' (2002). My review: http://jeand99.blogspot.nl/2013/11/to...

Recently read and enjoyed it

Daniel wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Right now I'm reading 'Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and his American Volunteer Group'"

Oh, great choice!

For my part, I am pecking away at Christopher Shores's great tome about..."

If you have not read my book, The Star of Africa: The Story of hans Marseille, I suggest you do so. Soldiers (even pilots0 fight because their governments send them to do so. It is how they personally prosecute the war that matters. Marseille went above and beyond the excepted code of chivalry, which was widely accepted and conducted by the Luftwaffe officers and men. Remember the the British were fighting to maintain an Empire that enslaved millions in India, Africa, and always conscripted their subjects for wartime service. As a former warrior myself, we may not agree with our political leadership, but we fight for each other, not a politician.

Just finished and would consider it required reading for aviation enthusiasts.

Chrissy wrote: "Just finished and would consider it required reading for aviation enthusiasts."

"A Vision So Noble: John Boyd, the OODA Loop, and America's War on Terror" is a study of how Boyd's counter-guerrilla theories (he wrote at length about insurgency, inspired by his AAF service in Thailand during the Vietnam War) might have been applied to the Afghan war.

I just finished reading Lone Survivor, a a true story by Marcus Luttrell, about the worst encounter the Navy Seals ever had. Five Seals were surrounded on a mountain in Afghanistan. A Night Stalker helicopter was sent to help and the ?Taliban shot it down with the lost of all aboard. He was the Lone Survivor and was hidden by a village for five days until his distress signal was picked up and an Army special Forces team of twenty men made their way to rescue him.

Chrissy wrote: "Just finished and would consider it required reading for aviation enthusiasts."

Boyd was a true pioneer in modern aerial combat. In my novel Hamfist Out, Hamfist uses his knowledge of the OODA Loop in a dogfight with a MiG.

Daniel wrote: "A Vision So Noble: John Boyd, the OODA Loop, and America's War on Terror" is a study of how Boyd's counter-guerrilla theories (he wrote at length about insurgency, inspired by his AAF service in Thailand during the Vietnam War) might have been applied to the Afghan war."

I'll have to look into that, thank you. I do plan on reading Science, Strategy and War: The Strategic Theory of John Boyd when I can find the time

G.E. wrote: "Boyd was a true pioneer in modern aerial combat. In my novel Hamfist Out, Hamfist uses his knowledge of the OODA Loop in a dogfight with a MiG."

Yes, he was. That's pretty cool

Just finished reading . Very good book detailing the P38 Lightning from inception through the end of WWII. Recommended for all WWII aviation enthusiasts

Several days ago, I finished reading "A Few Great Captains: The Men and Events That Shaped the Development of U.S. Air Power" by Dewitt S. Copp, a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force.

This book, in terms of research and attention to detail, offers the reader a comprehensive history of the uphill struggle that took place within the U.S. Army and Congress between the wars to establish an Army Air Corps as an essential and indispensible element in national defense. (This was a struggle not unlike what advocates of the aircraft carrier faced during the same era against the established "battleship minded" senior naval officer ruling class in the U.S. Navy.)

I loved that book Komet. It was very informative while also being readable that kept my interest and attention throughout

I just finished reading 'A Nightmares Prayer', written by a AV-8B Harrier pilot. I see that Crissy has read it. I personally endorse the hell out of it, if that means anything. Figured I've been away from the good stuff for a while, so I'm checking back in and spreading a little Harrier gospel.

Finished up On Silver Wings. Good book that I learned a lot from

Here's an interesting book about the Spitfire I read recently that can be perused over a few hours ---

Spitfire Aces of Northwest Europe 1944-45 by Andrew Thomas

Currently reading Enemy Coast Ahead: Uncensored by Guy Gibson VC. What a magnificently irritating read....

I am currently reading Violence if Action by Marty Skovland Jr. An awesome account of the 75th Ranger Regiment fighting the GWOT. All reviews are 5 star. Amazing reviews, check it out!

I am reading the SR-71 REVEALED The Inside Story

Book on the fastest flying aircraft in the world.

Sometime back I read the "Eagles over Bangladesh"

About the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Ajay wrote: "I am reading the SR-71 REVEALED The Inside Story

Book on the fastest flying aircraft in the world."

How are you liking it?

Here are 3 aviation books that I'm now reading ---

1) French Strategic and Tactical Bombardment Forces of World War I by Rene Martel



Not many people (I suspect) know of the contributions the French made, as pioneers, in the area of strategic and tactical bombing with their air force in World War I.

2) The First Eagles: The American Pilots Who Flew With the British, Became Aces, and Won World War I by Gavin Mortimer



3) Dogfight: The Greatest Air Duels of World War II ed. by Tony Holmes

Read
1. Rudel/ Stuka Pilot
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

2. Mike Hammond/ The Mind of War
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

3. Mike Shaw/ From the cockpit Harrier GR3. Not on Goodreads booklist yet.

My bookreviews on these 3 books:
http://jeand99.blogspot.nl/2014/01/an...
and more from me on Rudel:
http://jeand99.blogspot.nl/2012/11/de...

@Chrissy it's fantastic read, quite a detailed account of the aircraft covering a range of topics from crews, aircraft, missions.

Though I am still reading it but it's quite promising.

Also read Martin van Creveld's book 'The Age of Airpower' (2011)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/...

Reading right now (in German);
Rolf Stünkel/ Mach 2: Meine Jahre im Cockpit des Starfighters
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Chrissy wrote: "Ajay wrote: "I am reading the SR-71 REVEALED The Inside Story

Book on the fastest flying aircraft in the world."

How are you liking it?"

@Chrissy it's fantastic read, quite a detailed account of the aircraft covering a range of topics from crews, aircraft, missions.

Though I am still reading it but it's quite interesting.

Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds, Chickenhawk (again) and Lions of Kandahar.

Chrissy wrote: "Just finished Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator and I thoroughly enjoyed it



I've bought quite a few combat aviation books recently ..."

That's a fantastic book!

Dustin wrote: "Wrote reviews for 'Scream of Eagles' and 'Flying Tigers'. The former much better than the latter, but both worthy of reading. I'm on to 'Wings of Fury' now, another one written by Robert Wilcox. He..."

Scream of Eagles was great, especially all the tales of their scrounging for equipment, and borrowing aircraft from VF-124. I found it interesting how they were forced to train ACM on the sly with their missle-centric platforms pre-Vietnam War.

Erik wrote: "Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds, Chickenhawk (again) and Lions of Kandahar."

The first two are great books. The third I still need to get around to reading. As always the TBR piles up faster than I can read :)

I'm reading "Germany's Fighter Competitions of 1918" by Jack Herris.

A very readable, revealing book. At one of the competitions in January 1918, a prototype fighter was flown, which later in the Spring and Summer 1918 would become one of the top fighter planes of the First World War, the Fokker DVII.

Battle Ready by Mark Donald!

Not to long ago I read:

"A Higher Call" by Adam Makos

and

"The Dog Who Could Fly" by Damien Lewis

Both were very good.

Adam's book is good, and he is a friend. Look for his next work, "Devotion" as I read the manuscript. Good book.

Yesterday, I finished reading the combat memoir ""Flyboy": Memoirs of a P-47 Pilot" by Kenneth Lane Glemby, who, during the War, flew P-47 Thunderbolts with the 406th Fighter Group (9th Air Force) in Europe between November 1944 and August 1945.

I was wondering if anyone knows of any good nonfiction books about deHavilland aircraft? I love all of the deHavilland airplanes that I know of, and I really want to learn more about them.

Also, I'm currently reading
"The Wright Brothers" by David McCullough

Earlier this week, I finished reading "I Chose the Sky" by Leonard H. Rochford. It's a First World War combat memoir in which the author relates his experiences as a fighter pilot on the Western Front with 3 Naval Squadron (later No. 203 Squadron of the Royal Air Force) during 1917 and 1918.

Originally published in 1977, I Chose the Sky had been out of print til it was republished this year. It's a fantastic, highly readable book with lots of photos.

Zonfran wrote: "I was wondering if anyone knows of any good nonfiction books about deHavilland aircraft? I love all of the deHavilland airplanes that I know of, and I really want to learn more about them.

Also, I..."

How is "The Wright Brothers"?