REQUEST: Good aviation/military books

[Rasczak]

If you like On Killing I would also recommend On Combat which is also by Lt. Grossman. Here is a small excerpt called On Sheep, Sheepdogs, and Wolves, which I believe may have been posted on the forum previously, but is worth another look.

-BB

At a recent get together with the OSO and OSA, they handed all of us a copy of that excerpt.

I gotta say it was damned good. Read it if you haven't. I gave that to my mom to read. Since then, she has no longer tried to dissuade me from joining.

+1 for Lone Survivor. It's good.

Reluctant Warrior is also really good.

Currently reading The Battle for Fallujah by Vincent Foulk. It's not too bad..

 

[Flash]

I thought I had recommended this book before but I guess not, Clashes: Air Combat Over North Vietnam, 1965-1972, published by the Naval Institute.

http://www.amazon.com/Clashes-Combat-North-Vietnam-1965-1972/dp/1557505853

It is a bit of a dry book and does not include any names (only aircraft callsigns), but it is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a very clinical and precise look at how air to air combat evolved in Vietnam, including what the Air Force and Navy did to try and correct their shortcomings early in the war during the bombing halt from 1968 to 1972.

Everyone knows the story of Top Gun but the book provides a bit more background info on the Ault Report and its effects. More importantly the author also outlines what the Air Force did to try and correct their deficiencies, attempting technical fixes instead of institutional and training fixes. The result was obvious in May 1972, when the Navy cleaned house and the USAF broke even.

The author details why the F-8 had such a good kill ratio and how it affected Navy thinking after the bombing halt. He also describes several unglamorous but key supporting parts that generally aren't covered, including the legendary Navy controller who contributed to many killls in 1972 and the support aircraft that played a part in the air war.

The great irony to this is that the author was a USAF fighter pilot in Vietnam.

All in all, an excellent read. Good for history fans and people who want to understand how an air war should, and should not, be conducted.

 

[FastMover]

Your Signal is Charley

Any of you fellas ever read or heard about this book? The reviews look pretty good and I was thinking of picking it up.

 

[Achilles]

Recently I've realized my knowledge of the battle of Fallujah isn't sufficient, so I've decided to increase my knowledges. Anyone have a good book to recommend? I'm debating between these three:

No True Glory
House to House
We Were One

So far I'm leaning towards House to House.

 

[HeyJoe]

Any of you fellas ever read or heard about this book? The reviews look pretty good and I was thinking of picking it up.

Hmm, even though it is pronounced the same, I thought "my" signal was always "Charlie".....

 

[bunk22]

I didn't look through the list but just in case, just read "The Unknown Battle of Midway" by Alvin Kernan. A very easy read, only about 130 pages but a good breakdown of the machines, weapons and men of the Navy's VT squadrons at Midway. Main emphasis is on VT-8 who lost all but one aircraft (6 Avengers launched out of Midways were part of 8 as well, 5 of 6 shot down by Zero's). Matter of fact, we lost 44 of 51 torpedo planes that day, the majority, if not all, shot down by the Zero's. Also goes into detail of how CHAG (Hornet CAG) completely blew it that day, lost all of VT-8, ran all his fighters out of fuel and never got close to combat that first day but was still awarded the Navy Cross. LCDR Waldron, CO of VT-8, who broke off from CHAG after arguement and led his men to the slaughter was awarded the same though he engaged the enemy as he was supposed to that day. He also argued for the fighter cover to stay low but lost that arguement as well. The author goes into what he believes the reason for that as well. A more modern day of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans (the 700 or so others as well). Anyway, I highly recommend it.

 

[a_m]

I just finished a book call "Woodbine Red Leader" by George Loving. It's his memories of being a P-51 pilot in the Mediterranean during WWII. It's a pretty good synopsis of aviation in that time, but it seems that a good bit of the memories are "enhanced" by age.

 

[phrogdriver]

Two I've read recently. Not aviation-related, but eye opening. "Once an Eagle," by Anton Meyer and "Carnage and Culture," by Victor Davis Hanson.

 

[phrogpilot73]

Air Vagabonds is a great read. All about the ferry pilots during the heyday of GA. It's one of my personal favorites.

 

[brownshoe]

Added to my list.

I’ve just finished “Vulture’s Row Thirty Years in Naval Aviation” by, Paul Gillcrest USN, Ret. Got it yesterday about noon and finished it today about the same time. I thought it a nice read. It read like the 1st person stories from the older “Approach” issues. Some really funny stuff, however some very sad stuff as well. It brought back some great memories to me about Cecil Field (BTW, chapter eleven was very interesting)

Next few on my list are also by Admiral Gilcrest, “Crusader! Last of the Gunfighters.”, “Tomcat! The Grumman F-14 Story.”

I’m also ordering “Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Anytime baby….!” by Dave Parsons.

Steve

 

[Swanee]

Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors OK, so it about SWO's. But, what a story. Attacking Japanese battleships and cruisers with destroyers and destroyer escorts. Worth the read.

Just finished it. Really good book about the Battle off Samar. And it had stuff about the CVE's and the fighters and torpedo bombers that participated in the battle.

Definite recommendation!

 

[brownshoe]

Just finished it. Really good book about the Battle off Samar. And it had stuff about the CVE's and the fighters and torpedo bombers that participated in the battle.

Definite recommendation!

Thanks! You two have convinced me. I'll add it to my list.

Steve

 

[Harrier Dude]

I’m also ordering “Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Anytime baby….!” by Dave Parsons.

Steve

Everybody on this site should by this book!

 

[HeyJoe]

I just finished a book call "Woodbine Red Leader" by George Loving. It's his memories of being a P-51 pilot in the Mediterranean during WWII. It's a pretty good synopsis of aviation in that time, but it seems that a good bit of the memories are "enhanced" by age.

Concur, I read it right after it came out and wondered the same thing. So many of the leaders, being older, have passed away so there has been a wave of books in past few years from the younger pilots who are still around. Amazing how much they contributed that was not noticed by historians.

In fact, a couple of them at least have been proven to be embellished quite a bit if not outright fraudulent in their claims. Thanks to the InterNet, that usually comes out quicker then it used to; just check Amazon.com reviews and you'd be surprised what comes out sometimes.

 

[a_m]

Concur, I read it right after it came out and wondered the same thing. So many of the leaders, being older, have passed away so there has been a wave of books in past few years from the younger pilots who are still around. Amazing how much they contributed that was not noticed by historians.

In fact, a couple of them at least have been proven to be embellished quite a bit if not outright fraudulent in their claims. Thanks to the InterNet, that usually comes out quicker then it used to; just check Amazon.com reviews and you'd be surprised what comes out sometimes.

Nice to see that someone else feels the same way.