MissedApproach From Canada, joined Oct 2004, 713 posts, RR: 2 Posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 7515 times:
I thought I'd ask about military aviation books. Specifically, there are some books that, while being good books, are not good aviation books. Case in point: Micheal Durant's In the Company of Heroes. A good book, but the aviation stuff is too vague. Into the Mouth of the Cat is another book that isn't really aviation specific.
Then there are books that are aviation specific, but fall a little flat because they're mainly military history. Over the Beach, On Yankee Station & Alpha Strike Vietnam fit into this category. They're also good books, but a bit dry since it's kind of a dry citing of facts.
I want a book with the kind of aviation minutiae that someone who would post (or lurk) here would like to read. So, here's my "A" list:
Phantom Over Vietnam, John Trotti- USMC F-4 pilot, Vietnam
Chickenhawk, Robert Mason- US Army UH-1 pilot, Vietnam
When Thunder Rolled, Ed Rasimus- USAF F-105 pilot, Vietnam
A Trepid Aviatior: Bombay to Bankok, WW Frazer- RCAF B-24 pilot, India (WW2)
War in the Air, Stephen Coonts- collection of stories from various pilots, various wars
Starfighter, David Bashow- collection of RCAF F-104 stories
Now, is one of your favourites missing from this list? Let us in on the secret! I can't spend all of my time staring at a computer screen.
NightHawk117 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 175 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 7434 times:
As for non-fiction; I would have to recommend Tom Clancy's Fighter Wing and Every Man A Tiger
Also, Stephen Budiansky's Air Power, The Men, Machines, and Ideas that revolutionized war, from Kitty Hawk to Iraq
[Edited 2005-11-14 01:30:56]
Team Stealth...when it absolutely, positively HAS to be taken out overnight!
KBFIspotter From United States of America, joined May 2005, 729 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 7419 times:
If you want technical books, try reading the Aerofax Series, published by Midland Publishers. They have a wonderful collection of books on the B-58, KC-135, F-22. A-12/YF-12/SR-71, Saab Grippen, V-22, F-15, IL-76, ect. Also published by the same company is the RedStar series, about Soviet era military aircraft. There is also the Military Tech series, published by Specialty Press, the US distrubutor for Midland. There is over forty books int he Military tech series on every thing from the ME-262 to the C-17.
AeroWeanie From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1601 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 7420 times:
From the bookshelves in my house:
Thud Ridge by Jack Broughton - opinionated USAF F-105 pilot
Going Downtown by Jack Broughton - opinionated USAF F-105 pilot
Fox Two: The Story of America's First Ace in Vietnam by Randy Cunningham and Jeff Ethell - USN F-4 Ace
Air America by Christopher Robbins - Vietnam War stories
MiG Alley by Larry Davis - Korean War air combat
...And Kill MiGs by Lou Drendel - Vietnam War air combat
Reach For the Sky by Paul Brickhill - Douglas Bader's bio (WWII UK pilot)
The One That Got Away by Kendal Burt and James Leasor - German pilot and PoW escapee
Nine Lives by Alan C. Deere - WWII UK pilot
Wing Leader by J.E. Johnson - WWII UK pilot
Fulcrum by Alexander Zuyev adn Malcolm McConnell - MiG-29 defector
MiG Pilot by John Barron - MiG-25 defector
Operation Overflight by Francis Gary Powers and Curt Gentry - U-2 pilot
Lost Black Cats by H. Mike Hua - Taiwanese U-2 pilots
Dragon Lady by Chris Pocock - U-2 stories
The U-2 Spyplane by Chris Pocock - U-2 stories
Sled Driver by Brian Shul - SR-71 pilot
The Untouchables by Brian Shul - SR-71 pilot
SR-71 Revealed; The Inside Story by Richard Graham - SR-71 pilot
SR-71; The Secret Missions Exposed by Paul Crickmore - SR-71 stories
Fire in the Sky by Amos Amir - Israeli ace
No Margin For Error by Ehud Yonay - Israel Air Force stories
Israel's Best Defense by Eliezer Cheetah Cohen - Israel Air Force stories
On Eagle's Wings by Ezer Weizman - Israel Air Force stories
Air War South Atlantic by Jeffrey Ethell and Alfred Price
Spitfire; A Test Pilot's Story by Jeffrey Quill - WWII UK pilot
Sigh For a Merlin by Alex Henshaw - WWII UK pilot
Design for Flight; The Kurt Tank Story by Heinz Conradis - Fw 190 designer
Eagles of Mitsubishi; The Story of the Zero Fighter by Jiro Horikoshi - Zero designer
Forever Flying by R.B. Bob Hoover and Mark Shaw - WWII and more..
Doolittle; A Biography by Lowell Thomas and Edward Jabolonski - WWII and more
Yeager; An Autobiography by Chuck Yeager - WWII and more
KBFIspotter From United States of America, joined May 2005, 729 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 7395 times:
Quoting AeroWeanie (Reply 4): Fulcrum by Alexander Zuyev adn Malcolm McConnell - MiG-29 defector
MiG Pilot by John Barron - MiG-25 defector, Dragon Lady by Chris Pocock - U-2 stories
The U-2 Spyplane by Chris Pocock - U-2 stories
Sled Driver by Brian Shul - SR-71 pilot
The Untouchables by Brian Shul - SR-71 pilot
SR-71 Revealed; The Inside Story by Richard Graham - SR-71 pilot
SR-71; The Secret Missions Exposed by Paul Crickmore - SR-71 stories, Spitfire; A Test Pilot's Story by Jeffrey Quill - WWII UK pilot, Forever Flying by R.B. Bob Hoover and Mark Shaw - WWII and more..
Doolittle; A Biography by Lowell Thomas and Edward Jabolonski - WWII and more
Yeager; An Autobiography by Chuck Yeager - WWII and more
Wow, I guess that great minds think alike (I own all of those)! While technically not on aviation, but related, I am currently reading "Titan II, a History of a Cold War Missile program" by David Stump.
I have also read and will highly recommend:
"Magnesium Overcast" by Dennis Jenkins - the story of the B-36 Peacemaker
"Hypersonic" by Dennis Jenkins and Tony Landis - the story of the X-15
"Valkyrie" by Dennis Jenkins and Tony Landis - the story of the XB-70
"The Wild Blue" by Stephen Ambrose - about the men who flew the B-24
"Skunk Works" by Ben Rich - an inside acount of the Skunk Works from Kelly Johnson's replacement
"Fighter Pilot's Heaven" by Donald Lopez - a pilot's account of flight testing the early jets
"To Fly and Fight" by Bud Anderson - the autobiography of Bud Anderson, a WWII triple Ace and squadron mate of Yeager
"At the Edge of Space" by Milton Thompson - a pilot's account of the X-15 program
"Flying without wings" by Milton Thompson - a pilot's account of the lifting body program
"Wingless Flight" by Dale Reed - an account of the lifting body program from the lead engineer and designer of the M2F1-3
"First Blue" by Robert Wilcox - the Biography of Butch Voris, founder of the Blue Angels.
I also have an extensive collection of books on spaceflight that I would love to recommend if that topic interests you.
Ooh, quite a few of those are out of print now & a little pricey to get ahold of. Payday tomorrow though, I may order a couple from Amazon. I read Six Days of War by Michel Oren & The Yom Kippur War by Abraham Rabinovich, so the Isreali books would be interesting counterparts to those.
Quoting KBFIspotter (Reply 5): I also have an extensive collection of books on spaceflight that I would love to recommend if that topic interests you.
Hey, if there's anything you think is good enough to be worth mentioning, feel free!
I've got Rockwell: The Heritage of North American by Bill Yenne. It provides a pretty good overview of everything from the Yale & O-47 to the B-1 & Space Shuttle. That stuff on lifting bodies sounds interesting, which one did Steve Austin fly?
Oh, I got Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag on DVD a week ago. I would be disappointed if I rented it. It's got a bunch of crappy Hollywood gasoline explosion, planes in tight airshow formations, & fake computer cockpits superimposed on the low-level footage.
Cadet985 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 1408 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 7314 times:
If you're into Vietnam, check out "Dustoff" by Mike Novosel...he flew B-29's in WW2, then rejoined the Army after the JFK assassination to fly helicopters. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam. REALLY good book.
AGM114L From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 7309 times:
Quoting Cadet985 (Reply 7): If you're into Vietnam, check out "Dustoff" by Mike Novosel...he flew B-29's in WW2, then rejoined the Army after the JFK assassination to fly helicopters. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam. REALLY good book.
Great book! This guy spoke at my Army flight school graduation at Fort Rucker. Couldn't understand a word he said, but it was cool to meet the guy.
May I also recommend Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills, an OH-6 pilot in Vietnam. By far my favorite Military book.
KBFIspotter From United States of America, joined May 2005, 729 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 7287 times:
Quoting MissedApproach (Reply 6): Hey, if there's anything you think is good enough to be worth mentioning, feel free!
Okay, so now for a selection of books from my space shelf:
"The Race" by James Schefter - "The complete story of how America beat Russia to the moon."
"Moon Lander" by Thomas Kelley - the development of the LEM
"Chariots for Apollo" by Charles Pellegrino and Joshua Stoff - The untold story behind the race to the moon
"Moon Shot" by Alan Shepard, Deke Slayton, Jay Barbree, and Howard Benedict - the space race as told by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton
"Lost Moon" by Jim Lovell - the Apollo 13 story as told by the mission commander, Jim Lovell
"Space Shuttle" by the Astronauts - The astronauts experiences in their own words.
"Space Shuttle" by Dennis Jenkins - the complete story of the Space shuttle from initial design concepts to the 100th mission (a must read!!!)
"At Home in Space" by Howard Benedict - an interesting look at the space program from Explorer 1 to the latest space shuttle missions
"Saturn" by Alan Lawrie - a complete history of the Saturn V rocket, includes the history of each booster segment made
"Rocket and Space Corporation Energia" by the RCS Engergia Company - a history of the Russian space company Energia, founded by Korolev
"US Space Gear" by Lillian Kozloski - a history of US space suit design
"Shuttle 1,2,3" by Nigel Macknight - a British look at the Space program. Shuttle 1 was the first edition, 2 was the second, and 3 was the third and final
"Atlas" by Chuck Warner - a History of the Atlas missile and space launcher
Cadet985 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 1408 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 7269 times:
Quoting AGM114L (Reply 8): May I also recommend Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills, an OH-6 pilot in Vietnam. By far my favorite Military book.
I'll have to look for that book...trying to learn more about the OH-6 and its use in Vietnam.
Ulfinator From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 311 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 7232 times:
Here are some others I didn't see above:
"My Secret War" by Richard S Drury - A1 Skyraider pilot in Vietnam (Pretty Good)
"Apache Sunrise" by Jerome M Boyle - Cobra pilot in Vietnam (Pretty Good)
"Firebirds" by Chuck Carlock - Huey gunship and slick pilot in Vietnam (Okay. Not as good as "Chickenhawk")
Cadet985 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 1408 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (7 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 7221 times:
Quoting Ulfinator (Reply 12): "Firebirds" by Chuck Carlock - Huey gunship and slick pilot in Vietnam (Okay. Not as good as "Chickenhawk")
That was okay...nothing to really write home about.
I've got that actually. I had an earlier paperback printing of Chickenhawk that I lent to one of my brothers in the '80's & never got back. When I ordered a new one from Amazon a couple of years ago they recommended Firebirds too, so I added it to get the free shipping. It's okay though, I don't feel like I got ripped off.
Great feedback- I'll probably only be able to buy a few of these each month, but I ought to have lots of reading material for the next year.
Keep 'em coming if you know any more.
FXramper From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 7029 posts, RR: 93 Reply 16, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 6740 times:
Thousand Mile War, by Garfield was a good read!
Picked it up at the Admiral Chester Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg.
Any recommendations for more recent reads...Ie. Desert Storm or Iraqi Freedom?
I read Jarhead and Shooter. Looking for a new one to pick up!
F4wso From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 974 posts, RR: 13 Reply 17, posted (7 years 4 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 6732 times:
Quoting MissedApproach (Thread starter): Into the Mouth of the Cat is another book that isn't really aviation specific.
I liked this book because I later flew with one of the pilots briefly mentioned in the book.
Walt Boyne and Mark Berent have fiction novels worth reading. I have enjoyed reading Walt Boyne's Wild Blue and Eagles series. Mark Berent's five novels on Southeast Asia cover the gamut of USAF airpower.
Gary
Cottage Grove, MN, USA
Seeking an honest week's pay for an honest day's work
CX747 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4385 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 6702 times:
"Vipers in the Storm" Desert Storm F-16 pilot.
#1 all time aviation book..
"Fate is the Hunter" Ernest Gann.
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
NightHawk117 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 175 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (7 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 6667 times:
My favorites...
Every Man a Tiger Tom Clancy non-fic Raid On the Sun Israeli raid on Osirak nuclear reactor Vipers in the Storm Account of Viper pilot during Desert Storm Fighter Wing Tom Clancy non-fic(about the FW at Mountain Home AFB[my base]) Eye of the Viper F-16 training course at Luke AFB Bandits over Baghdad F-117s during Desert Storm
Team Stealth...when it absolutely, positively HAS to be taken out overnight!
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 5908 times:
Quoting AeroWeanie (Reply 4): Sled Driver by Brian Shul - SR-71 pilot
Has anyone managed to find a copy of this anywhere for less than $250?
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
I've picked up quite a few of these books over the last...has it been 4 years? Sea Harrier Over the Falklands, Vulcan 607, 100 Missions North, Fire in the Sky, & best of all, Dustoff. I've also gotten some others- Low Level Hell by Hugh Mills- scout pilot in Vietnam. None Braver by Micheal Hirsh, about USAF Pararescuemen in Afghanistan. Black Aces High by Robert Wilcox, F-14D's of VF-41 over Kosovo.
Jackonicko From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2008, 472 posts, RR: 11 Reply 22, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 5812 times:
3: You Are not Sparrows by SJ Carr
2: F4 Phantom: A pilot's story by Robert Prest
1: Wild Blue by RJ 'Chick' Childerhose
If you read only one aviation book it should be 'Wild Blue' - if you can't find it, some of the stories are in the same author's The F-86 Sabre (Famous Aircraft Series)
Sprout5199 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 1779 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (4 years 10 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 5810 times:
One that I would recommend is Flying Fortress by Edward Jablonski. A lot of in depth stories about the crews and the raids. Plus some very good technicial stuff, and drawings.
GPHOTO From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 818 posts, RR: 27 Reply 24, posted (4 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 5761 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW DATABASE EDITOR
How about 'Feet Wet - Reflections of a Carrier Prilot' by Rear Admiral Paul Gillcrist?
From N-3N and SNJ-5's through Corsairs and Phantoms to a final trap in an F-14 Tomcat, a fascinating career!
Regards,
Jim
Erm, is this thing on?
25 Oly720man: Vulcan 607 about getting the plane of the title to the Falklands during the 1982 war. Amazing how close they came to not making it and the logistical
26 N328KF: This is completely bizarre. It's a widely-quoted book and yet is impossible to obtain.
27 Oly720man: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0929823087/ref=dp_olp_2 Some at $175 here
28 Kaitak: I've just finished reading Vulcan 607; great read. It's a fitting testament to what must have been a very stressful mission for the crews; that's a gr
29 BilgeRat: Agreed! It's a very good read from start to finish. I would also recommend "Wings On My Sleeve" - the memoirs of Captain Eric Brown RN. He joined the
30 Jabs: It's even more expensive: http://www.sleddriver.com/
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