Warbird Information Exchange

In your opinion, what are the must-reads, the classics, the all-time favorite books that you believe anyone interested in all this stuff we talk about here on WIX should not even think about not reading?

What made me think of this question: I just got through reading "Chickenhawk", by Robert Mason, for the third time. It's a Viet Nam account of a Huey slick pilot that's just absolutely riveting. I'm talking about the kind of book you start to purposely read slowly, begin limiting how many pages you blow though of an evening, because you can't stand for it to end.

We got lots of wars to choose from, any one will do , so never mind the header stipulation of WWII. Just trying to get your attention.

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Wing Leader
The Dam Busters
Enemy Coast Ahead
The Big Show
Black Thursday
Ploesti
Fly for your life
Midway
Day of Infamy

"The Big Show" by Pierre Clostermann
"To Fly and Fight" by Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson
"Thunderbolt" by Robert S. Johnson

Nothing else I've read comes even close to these three excellent firsthand accounts.

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Matt

Not WWII per say, but Ernest K.Gann's "Fate is the Hunter" covers his service as a transport pilot in the war. It has to be my all time favorite aviation book.

Amen to that.

"Tale of a Guinea Pig"
"Into the Teeth of the Tiger"

and on another note, has anyone read "Shattered Sword" (the latest Battle of Midway book)? I've been debating whether or not to buy it, not sure what's left to be written about the battle itself though.

I've read a bunch of books that cover the combat end of it but Eugene Fletchers, "Lucky Bastard Club" is excellent. It is split into two halves. I think the first half is best because it covers the from the time he volunteered, takes you through all his training and finally getting assigned to a squadron in England. Not many books cover the training aspect as well.

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

"The Big Show" is the one that started it all for me. The other one I can pick up and read over and over is called "The War In The Air" - it's a compilation of dozens of first person accounts and led me to many of the others listed above like "The Dam Busters" and "Enemy Coast Ahead" (bought a first edition of that one at OSH one year but my dog ate it - seriously). Also to "Night Fighter" by Rawnsley, I think.

Saw a paperback copy of War in the Air in the fly market at OSH this year for only about $5

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Chris

The Sky Beyond by Sir Gordon Taylor RAAF - a great account of flying PBY Catalinas and is well written!

"Ragwings and Heavy Iron" by Martin Caidin....my gawd....funny and inspiring....if ya like warbirds ya gotta at least READ it if not own it...

Mark

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Mark Morris

Serenade To The Big Bird by Bert Stiles...none better! Own and have read Chickenhawk and agree that it is a wonderful read. Nice to see you say what I have thought many times reading an engrossing book...about slowing down because you don't want to finish it too soon...very well put! Duel of Eagles by Peter Townsend is about the finest researched book I've read yet about the RAF in WWII.

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Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

"Whip" by Martin Caiden, B-25 Gunships in the pacific.
For pure Heroism, "Into the mouth of the Cat" by Malcolm McConnell about MoH winner Lance Sijan in Vietnam.
"Fulcrum" by Alexander Zuyev, about defecting in a Mig-29 to Turkey, and why.

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All I did was press this red button here...

It should be noted that "Whip" is a novel and not history.

For great low level B-25 action in the PTO:


WARPATH ACROSS THE PACIFIC
By Lawrence Hickey
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LOW LEVEL ATTACK: THE PACIFIC
By John W. Lambert
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Both of these books offer excellent strike photos shot by B-25 crews operating against the Japanese.

TonyM.

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"Welcome back Mr. Lasky."

Thanks for that, and thanks a million to all of y'all. At the risk of sounding ungrateful, it helps bunches to include a little bit about whatever title you cite; an author, and/or what it's about, really helps me to not only choose, but to *find* the book in question. It's not like I have a library degree or sumpthin'.

"Fate Is The Hunter" is an all-time favorite, you betcha; three reads and counting so far.

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Righto, "whip" is a novel, and therefore exciting unlike most "just the facts" History books. Exciting was what was wanted here. If you're looking for pictures then you're not really reading, are you?
Oh yeah, "the wooden wolf", by John Kelly, basically culminates in a nightfighter duel between a mossie and a german nightfighter ace in a He 219 Uhu. Who wins? you have to read it!

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All I did was press this red button here...