It's just been rereleased in paperback for $15.
http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Black-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254084788&sr=8-1
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REQUEST: Good aviation/military books
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It's just been rereleased in paperback for $15.
http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Black-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254084788&sr=8-1
Great find. Book is quite popular these days due to interest in turboprop light attack and announcement that Boeing is proposing to restart the Bronco production line. Their OV-10X offers new engines and avionics/sensors as well as modern weapons along with tried and true ordnance.
Got two I've read lately and found quite interesting; they're on the dry side, but if you want to know how we got to where we are today, it helps to go back to the beginning:
1) Admiral William Moffett: Architect of Naval Aviation
I'm not usually one for biographies, but this one is pretty interesting - it always struck me as odd that US naval aviation really got going in the 20s, when you would figure there would be little budget or interest in such things. Turns out it was pretty much through Moffett's force of personality, skill at political maneuvering, and cleverness in working The Hill. He was also the first Naval Aviation Observer, thereby making him a kindred spirit...
(Interestingly, he was also a huge ridgid airship fan, which would lead to his death. I guess you can't be right all the time.)
2) Revolt of the Admirals
This one covers the whole USS UNITED STATES vs the B-36 debate, and is a great segue into how and why we still don't get along well with our pals over in the Air Force. Again, a bit dry, but provides a very useful historical baseline.
Both books are great to take along on those long TRANSLANTs.
1) Admiral William Moffett: Architect of Naval Aviation
I'm not usually one for biographies, but this one is pretty interesting - it always struck me as odd that US naval aviation really got going in the 20s, when you would figure there would be little budget or interest in such things. Turns out it was pretty much through Moffett's force of personality, skill at political maneuvering, and cleverness in working The Hill. He was also the first Naval Aviation Observer, thereby making him a kindred spirit...
(Interestingly, he was also a huge ridgid airship fan, which would lead to his death. I guess you can't be right all the time.)2) Revolt of the Admirals
This one covers the whole USS UNITED STATES vs the B-36 debate, and is a great segue into how and why we still don't get along well with our pals over in the Air Force. Again, a bit dry, but provides a very useful historical baseline.
Both books are great to take along on those long TRANSLANTs.
It has, but it's such a classic that it deserves mentioning again along his sequel: Going Downtown
Cron
Yankee Uniform Tango
Personally I didn't think it was as good as Ken Bell's "100 Missions North"; I was really surprised how much detail must have been remembered/written down by the author. Makes you really feel like you are there.
Personally I didn't think it was as good as Ken Bell's "100 Missions North"; I was really surprised how much detail must have been remembered/written down by the author. Makes you really feel like you are there.
I'm going to second this book, really an outstanding read.
Crowbar,
Just finished "Utmost Savagery" about Tarawa. Excellent book.
Just finished "Utmost Savagery" about Tarawa. Excellent book.
It's about the Americans who broke the law and went to fly for the RAF during the Battle of Britain.
Again, excellent book!
This book is not aviation themed however I am thoroughly enjoying it at the moment. If you have ever wanted to go a little more in depth about German expansion in the beginning of WWII and learn about the development of the blitzkrieg tactics, then I'd recommend this book.
Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk
http://www.amazon.com/Blitzkrieg-Ri...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254532320&sr=8-1
Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk
http://www.amazon.com/Blitzkrieg-Ri...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254532320&sr=8-1
Great aviation Memoirs/ Novels
So I imagine like most aviators, I've read a ton of aviation memoirs, and I'm looking for some good new stuff. I really loved The Jolly Rogers by CAPT Tom Blackburg, Cleared Hot by Bob Stoffee, and a bunch of others. I'd be interested to hear about some other good books.
Also, I just read Punk's War. It was great. Good read for any J.O. Anybody have an idea where I can find Punk's Wing or Punk's Fight? They're not available on amazon anymore by any seller that looks reliable.
Thanks.
So I imagine like most aviators, I've read a ton of aviation memoirs, and I'm looking for some good new stuff. I really loved The Jolly Rogers by CAPT Tom Blackburg, Cleared Hot by Bob Stoffee, and a bunch of others. I'd be interested to hear about some other good books.
Also, I just read Punk's War. It was great. Good read for any J.O. Anybody have an idea where I can find Punk's Wing or Punk's Fight? They're not available on amazon anymore by any seller that looks reliable.
Thanks.
I just got it this week and next month I'll be ordering “Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Anytime baby….!” by Dave Parsons.
Recently have read and would recommend:
Testing Death: Hughes Aircraft Test Pilots and Cold War Weaponry - awesome account of flight testing radar and weapon systems for Hughes out of the Culver City plant throughout the 1960's and 1970's. Included is the author's experience in the F-4D, A-3B, RB-66, F-111B, and even taking the first Tomcat to Miramar for bouncing following a company test hop evaluating the AIM-54. Covers AIM/ACEVAL (sp) testing, as well as some other notable points in military aviation history. Author also has another book about his experiences as an AF Sandy pilot in Vietnam.
Bogeys and Bandits Good overview of students going through the Hornet FRS
Air Warriors Surprise! Actually still a pretty good read over 10 years later. I found it to be pretty accurate, as the book pretty much follows the path I have taken through flight school (right down to dets in El Centro and CQ on the Stennis......though they were in Key West in this book).
Testing Death: Hughes Aircraft Test Pilots and Cold War Weaponry - awesome account of flight testing radar and weapon systems for Hughes out of the Culver City plant throughout the 1960's and 1970's. Included is the author's experience in the F-4D, A-3B, RB-66, F-111B, and even taking the first Tomcat to Miramar for bouncing following a company test hop evaluating the AIM-54. Covers AIM/ACEVAL (sp) testing, as well as some other notable points in military aviation history. Author also has another book about his experiences as an AF Sandy pilot in Vietnam.
Bogeys and Bandits Good overview of students going through the Hornet FRS
Air Warriors Surprise! Actually still a pretty good read over 10 years later. I found it to be pretty accurate, as the book pretty much follows the path I have taken through flight school (right down to dets in El Centro and CQ on the Stennis......though they were in Key West in this book).
Very surprised none of the P-3 guys have mentioned "Adak, The Rescue of Alfa Foxtrot 586" by Andrew C. A. Jampoler, a former P-3 skipper.
Phenominal book which recounts a real life event from 1978 about how a crew handled a #1 engine fire hundreds of miles from land, had to ditch in 20 foot seas northwest of the Aleutian Islands, try to survive for hours in the slowly sinking life rafts while U.S. rescue ships were hindered by weather, only to be picked up by a Soviet fishing vessel and that took them back to USSR. Only 200 pages, but a great read.
Also "Lone Survivor," by SEAL Marcus Luttrell, about a firefight between a 4 man seal team and over a hundred Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan in 2005. A real life book written by the only survivor himself, about the firefight, and the following week on the run, hiding in an Afghan villiage, and finally his rescue. Excellent book about modern warfare and the a first hand view of the war on terror from someone whose career has been spent on the front lines.
Phenominal book which recounts a real life event from 1978 about how a crew handled a #1 engine fire hundreds of miles from land, had to ditch in 20 foot seas northwest of the Aleutian Islands, try to survive for hours in the slowly sinking life rafts while U.S. rescue ships were hindered by weather, only to be picked up by a Soviet fishing vessel and that took them back to USSR. Only 200 pages, but a great read.
Also "Lone Survivor," by SEAL Marcus Luttrell, about a firefight between a 4 man seal team and over a hundred Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan in 2005. A real life book written by the only survivor himself, about the firefight, and the following week on the run, hiding in an Afghan villiage, and finally his rescue. Excellent book about modern warfare and the a first hand view of the war on terror from someone whose career has been spent on the front lines.