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The best WWII book I
ever read is "The Big Show" by Pierre Closterman. Pierre was a French fighter pilot with the RAF. The book was written from his journal and letters to his parents back in France. ( I don't think he mailed them, he just wrote to them)
Very good read. |
PRESS ON- YEAGER
THE FLYING TIGER'S DIARY- CHARLIE BOND GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME !!!!!! |
Best aviation book
"West With the Night", Beryl Markham
A very poetic book about a young aviatrix flying in east africa in the 1930's. Hemmingway commented that the quality of writing in this book is superb. |
Slide Rule & Round the Bend
I just finished reading "Round the Bend" by Nevil Shute at 4:20 in the morning while my wife sleeps peacefully and I will join her soon. I read "Slide Rule" a week ago. I read both Nevil Shute books after learning about them here. I was able to get them through abebooks.com and they were a pleasure to read. Thanks.
Robert Buck died recently. He wrote "Weather Flying" and "North Star Over My Shoulder" which I enjoyed reading and I have in my library. "Weather Flying" is knowledge acquired through his exposure to weather passed on to the reader in a personal way. "North Star Over My Shoulder" is his fascinating autobiography. He was written up in Time magazine but I have seen nothing in the aviation press that I receive - seems a little surprising. Bob Axsom |
Bob
I must get my copy of "Round The Bend" out and re read it. As with your recent experience, Neville Shute's books are a delight. Whilst arguably a bit old fashioned now, he wrote gentle, uplifting and very readable novels. John PS Isn't "abe" a great source? |
For the testosterone challenged....
....or anyone whose passion in aviation focusses on small, uncontrolled GA airports and the communities around them, I vote for Zero 3 Bravo (Mariana Gosnell) . I just finished it today (thanks, Pardue!) and loved it. No flash or brash, just extraordinarily well-written prose about general aviation as I have experienced it.
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Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg
Into the Silk: True Stories of the Caterpillar Club by Ian Mackersey- Incredible tales of people whose lives were saved by parachutes. Out of print and hard to find. FYI - check WorldCat to locate books in a library near you. |
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The Few
Story of the 8 servicemen from the USA who not only fought in the Battle of Brittain, they violated the USA's strict neutrality laws for doing so!
In other words they pretty much signed away their US citizenship to fly Spitfires. One of the guys after becoming an ACE pilot in a Spit was killed in a CFIT accident...As I was doing my IFR training at the time it struck home pretty hard..I mean there is this guy who describes whatching cannon shells pass through his cockpit ...survives all that figthing day after grueling day and then smacks into the ground in cloud! Woah! Frank |
Fate is the Hunter
:) My vote is for "Fate is the Hunter" too. :) I also look forward to reading some more of the great list compiled by fodrv7 from this thread. Thanks, George
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Favorite aviation book?
My favorite book ?
Hmmm, there are so many good ones, and most are mentioned above. (What a literate group we are, n'est ce pas?) I'll mention a title about which likely few aviation readers have heard. Flying in Northern California, by Tom Parker (Yep, I wrote it.) It was fun collecting information for the book, and writing it was even more so. It's now way out date, and I no longer sell it. For a while, it was listed on the Amazon site, as an out-of-print title. (I think I was dead last on their sales ranking.) So, I have actually authored a rare book. Regards all - - Tom |
CHICKENHAWK -Robert Mason
Not mentioned often here, but in my top 5 aviation stories ever read. Everyone whom I recommended it to could not put it down till it was finished. EJ |
In addition to the fine examples already noted, I?ll add these:
?The Untouchables? by Brian Shul ?Once a Fighter Pilot? by Jerry W. Cook ?The Black Watch? by Ernest K. Gann ?Because I Fly? edited by Helmuth H. Reda ?Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane? by Greg Brown ?100 Missions North? by Ken Bell (B.Gen. USAF, retired) ?When Thunder Rolled? and ?Palace Cobra? by Ed Rasimus ?Bury Us Upside Down? by Rick Newman and Don Sheppard ?We Seven? by the Mercury Astronauts ?and finally, a story about a truly heroic pilot, Lance Sijan, that I think every person on the planet should read: ?Into the Mouth of the Cat? by Malcom McConnell. Prepare to have your outlook on life changed by this book. |
Yeager; Forever Flying; George Preddy-Top Mustang Ace; Flight of Passage; Return with Honor; A Flying Fighter, The Wild Blue by Stephen Ambrose, & Billy Mitchell... Thanks to this thread, my next read will be Doolittles "I could never be so lucky again."
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Not yet available
If this thread goes on long enough, perhaps I will see "Empty Skies," the story of the destruction of all the aircraft after WWII. Hmmmm.. Don't think that would be my favorite either. But I am writing it. If anyone has any pics/info that you think would be helpful, let me know. It is a tough research project.
A good book I haven't seen mentioned is "Stuka Pilot." I did get to fly with a couple of Luftwaffe aces, so it held a lot of interest for me. Bob Kelly |
It Is This Way With Men Who Fly
I'd like to add this little gem to the list. Written by the late Frank K. Thomas, it is a collection of all sorts of short stories, notes, and oddities about aviation. "Five Dollar Frank", as he was known, was my first introduction to "small" planes. As the name implies, he was known for giving $5 airplane tours of the New River Gorge. Frank gave these tours in his 172 and was based at the Fayetteville International Airport, which he built in his backyard. Frank was one of the most unique people I've ever met, and anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him would likely agree. At the time of my ride, approximately 9 years ago, he was in his 80s and could hardly hear a thing, even with his hearing aid. His preflight included checking the fuel with a stick he picked up off the ground. Anyhow, it would make a great little bathroom book, and you can pick it up on Amazon.com for cheap.
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I first read Slide Rule ( a Christmas present to my father) as a boy; Dad's copy is now by my bed, and it really hasn't dated. "Fate is the Hunter" - also first read as a boy - completely gripping. Read "Bomber" by Len Deighton. The BBC did a "real time" reading a few years ago. Those of us who have never been to war should read this and be grateful to have been spared the experience.
Two WW1 reads that are also gripping but that I haven't seen mentioned are "Sagittarius Rising" by Cecil Lewis and "Winged Victory" by Victor Yeates. Other recent good reads which may not have reached the US yet are: "First Light" by Geoffrey Wellum (WW2 battle of Britain and Malta); "Vulcan 607" by Rowland White (Falklands) "Hostile Skies" by David Morgan (Falklands) But my all time favourite - what a shame it was made into such a dire movie - "Flight of the Intruder". Chris |
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My wife is from that area, and all the locals knew of Five Dollar Frank. I never got the opportunity to meet him as he had passed away before I met Debbie, but I wish that I had. |
Favorite read
Another vote for Fate is the Hunter - a must read! Also Bach's Biplane is very entertaining. Also another vote forYeager, which I read a dozen times in high school and loved every word.
Some others that may not be the best of all time, but worth reading: No Visible Horizon - Josh Ramo (non-fiction story about the author as an aerobatic competitor - current) Fire and Air - Patty Wagstaff (interesting life story) Lost Moon - Jim Lovell (Apollo 13 mission) |
The Sky Beyond.
I have just read The Sky Beyond, which I found on my bookshelf, a book probably unknowingly inherited from my father.
Since this post came out I have read some fabulous recommendations. In particular ?Thunderbolt!?- by Robert S. Johnston & ?Carrying the Fire? by Mike Collins Thank you to whoever recommended them. The Sky Beyond is as good as anything I have read. It is a Biography of P. G. Taylor (Also known as Gordon Taylor and Sir Gordon Taylor) describing his life from WWI fighter pilot through epic pioneering flights with Kingsford-Smith in the thirties and establishing air routes across the Pacific in 30hr flights in PBYs. There iis also a glorious description of flying the Spitfire. He is an author who's description is both beautiful and real. It is as if you are with him in the cockpit. There are a couple of copies available a Amazon. Be quick. SKY BEYOND, THE (Air and Space Series, No 19) by Gordon Taylor (Mass Market Paperback - Nov 1, 1991) 2 Used & new from $44.95 For those who's wives and girlfriends did not give you a supply of books for 2008 at Chrsitmas, attached is a list of recommendations since I last updated the list. For those who want the complete list, sorted by both author and title email fod@bigpond.net.au Pete. ![]() |
Reading
Have to say that Tex Hill Flying Tiger was a great read that I did not want to put down. That guy was a real American Bad !@#
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Mike |
"Wager with the wind" The Don Sheldon story. I'm an Alaska and bush pilot study. Don Sheldon was landing on glaciers on "Denali" as high as 14,000 ft. as long ago as 1955. In a basically stock PA 18.
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ANOTHER GOOD ONE
The English have a heritage of adventure.
Sir Francis Chichester has written many great books of his adventures in the Air and Sea. His book, Flight of the Gypsy Moth, for me was inspiring. The story of his flight starting in Auckland and ending in London in a no gyro open cockpit biplane is a good read. He did many interesting adventures, some were first time things. |
A friend brought back "Heroes of the Horizon" from a recent trip to ANC (he recommends Title Wave Books in town). It's a great collection of stories about the early bush pilots in Alaska, from the 30s through 50s.
Log of the Liberators is still at the top of my list, though. TODR |
These are not necessarily my 'favorite' (which is your favorite child?) but I didn't see them posted (after a quick scan of the thread; apologies if I missed something) and I feel they're worth the reading anyway.
For non-fic: We by Charles Lindburgh, Fighter Combat by Shaw, and Frequent Flyer by Bob Reiss. For Fiction: Airframe by Michael Crichton and The Nemesis Mission, The Ransom of Black Stealth One, and Butcher Bird all by Dean Ing. By the way, I think the Bach books may be my real favorites with top honors going to Jonathon Livingston Seagull. I was flying model sailplanes at the time and slope soaring with the gulls near Carmel kinda made a connection. |
Border Pilot
'Border Pilot' by M.W. Bourne is not well known but one of my favorites. A collection of short stories about the author's time spent as an ag-pilot on the Texas-Mexico border during the 70's. Writing style is incredibly down-to-earth and deceptively humorous, but really affecting. Can be read online or bought in paperback:
http://www.borderpilot.com |
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As Bob said, "North Star Over My Shoulder" is really an amazing read. I recommend it to anyone is interested in "the flying life".
Mike |
Bluenoser Tales
Punchy Powells book Bluenoser Tales is great! All about the 352nd FG during WWII. Very good read:D
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"Fate is the Hunter" is scripture.
"Hard Landing" for airline buffs. But my sentimental favorite, "Pilot Jack Knight" by A.M. Anderson. It was written for elementary school kids and is quite dated, but this is the book who a kindly third grade teacher gave to me when she saw a seed of passion about flying in a dazed and confused little boy whose father had just passed away. Over 16k flight hours owe themselves to the first hour spent reading that book. |
Lindberg and Scott
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"30 Seconds over Tokyo" was an early life read for me and I have loved it ever since, along with "God Is My Co-Pilot" By Gen Scott. I also love one of Scott's other books, but cannot recall the name. Maybe it was "Damned To Glory." At one point in the book he realizes how dangerous coombat and flying is, and basically tells God "thanks for the great ride!" Sometimes when I'm flying, I get that same feeling. If it all ended here and now it was great to be alive and experience all the things I've been lucky enough to experience! The other two books in the 5-star category are "I Could Never Be So Lucky Again" (Doolittle) and "Kill Devil Hill." The former shows what a person of character can achieve, and the later was great for the insights into the Wright Brothers investigated and solved problems. I have lent it to several other engineers who loved the book even if they did not have a particular love for aviation. Others have already mentioned a lot of my favorites: Illusions Thud Ridge Rolling Thunder Flight of the Intruder Kill Devil Hill Any and all on bush pilots, especially in Alaska. I have quite a few - I'll try to add them in later. |
Stranger to the Ground by Richard Bach
The book that set the aviation hook in me... the first paperback I ever bought (and still have), in 1964. It's one of several favorites, most already mentioned.
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"Stick and Rudder," of course. I also liked "Cleared for the Approach" by F Lee Bailey.
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Jans-Joachim Marseille
If it hasn't been mentioned, I really got into this book:
German Fighter Ace - Hans-Joachim Marseille by Franz Kuroski There also are quite a few films of his exploits on U-Tube. He did not live past age 23 but had quite a full life with parties, women, American jazz and not the least, he was an outstanding fighter pilot. He was not killed in combat but came to his end when a new BF109 experienced an engine failure and the bail out a was delayed too cross enemy lines. This is a well written book on life on the other side during those terrible days. |
My favorite
I read " Round the Bend " as a fifth grader and gave a book report on it in class( 1949 ), and know I would enjoy reading it again today.
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"Orbit" by John Nance
I just read "Orbit". I think it was a best seller last year. Outstanding read. It's about a space tourist who gets stuck alone in orbit on a future-generation Yeager ship, when a micro-meteor puts a hole in the pilot's head.
The aviation stuff is all pretty accurate and it's a real page-turner. |
Big Friend, Little Friend: Memoirs of a WWII Fighter Pilot
Big Friend, Little Friend: Memoirs of a WWII Fighter Pilot by Richard Turner.
Perused the listings here and didn't see this one listed. It was one of the first aviation books I read, oh, about forty years ago. (age of ten, or so). I couldn't tell you if it's my favorite because it's been so long since I read it, but it had a profound affect on me at a young age. |
Since one of my flight instructors was a German ace (Rolf Prigge, ace in 109's and 262's,) I have always had a fascination about that side of the war. "Stuka Pilot" was an interesting read and I haven't seen it mentioned here. 2500 plus missions is a record never to be exceeded. Or at least I would hope!
Bob Kelly |
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