Good book recommendations?

MASTERS OF THE AIR

1. Stuka Pilot

2. Stuka Pilot

3. Stuka Pilot

4. Stuka Pilot

5. Stuka Pilot.

If you have to read just one aviation book in your lifetime, Stuka Pilot should be it.  I've read 50+ aviation books and no other books come close to Stuka Pilot.

The best book I can recommend is called flak, exellent book, that. It is about this man who interviews RAF and RAAF pilots that served during ww2

Another idea for one from the Axis side is Danger's Hour, which tells the story of the kamikaze who struck the Bunker Hill.

'The Star of Africa', about the German fighter pilot Marseille.

Not to hijack (too much), There are some excellent books on the ground war out there as well. 'The forgotten soldier' is one of my favorites.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone.  Originally I was asking for book suggestions for my boss but now I'm going to look for some of these books for myself the next time I'm at the book store.  I've always read books about the air war but never from the "other" perspective.  It'll be really interesting to see what it was like through their eyes.

Eric

Shattered Sword, is the Japanese side of the Battle of Midway

I have read Samurai, by Saburo Sakai, one of the top Japanese aces.

Stuka Pilot, by Rudel is interesting

John

I have been reading this book and highly recommend it.

"KG-26", and "Horrido" are two books written from the Luftwaffe perspective. The first chronicles that unit from formation until the end of the war. The second covers the various phases of the air war mainly thru the top scoring experten in those theaters.

I love the suggestions.  Keep 'em coming!  Are there other books out there which detail the accounts from the "other" side of things?  In other words, any books about WW2 written from the perspective of the Japanese or German pilot?  The Korean air war written from the perspective of N. Korean or Russian pilots?  (Etc.)

Eric

God is My Co-Pilot by Robert L. Scott is a classic about the transition of the AVG into the US Army Air Corp.

Scott also has several other books about more recent eras.

It is. Just imagine the neophytes of the RAF or USAAF thrown into the early war frays in the Battle of Britain or the Phillipines. Only now they are flying top of the line FW-190Ds and Me-109Ks with less training and up against guys with even more combat experience led by Johnny Johnson, Fred Schilling, and all the other late war Allied aces. Who can also make up any combat losses with replacements who have reasonable training hours in the air in their top of the line machines. I don't know how I  forgot about that one...

Oooo... that sounds like a good read, stik. Gotta find that book. LOL!

"Bodenplatte" reminds me of another book. "To Win the Winter's Sky", the story of the air battle over the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. A very well detailed look at the air war in Northwest Europe in the late Fall and early Winter of 1944/1945.

They should make a movie out of James Holland's "Dam Busters," it read that well.

"Masters of the Air" by Donald Miller has been one of my favorites.

"The Monuments Men" was really well written (didn't see the movie.)  And the second book, "Saving Italy," also by Edsel was very good.  Both books really enlightened me on the looting that took place in France (and western Europe) and Italy.  Unbelievable.

"The Most Dangerous Enemy" by Stephen Bungay is an excellent source on the Battle of Britain.

"Bitter Victory" by Carlo D'Este is a phenomenal read on the invasion of Sicily.

I took a shot at "Boddenplatte" by Ron Putz and was highly impressed.  After reading it I got the feeling he chronicled EVERY plane/pilot that took part in the battle.

"And the Walls Came Tumbling Down," by Jack Fishman was a great story on Operation Jericho.

"Flying American Combat Aircraft of WW" was a great read on what it was like to actually fly the planes I've been modeling.  Admittedly, the book wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be, but it surprised me and is a wonderful resource.

Lucky's Bridge (IIRC)  one of three by the author (Wilson?)  Thuds in Vietnam, flying out of Korat.  Looking for the other 2, have seen on Amazon.

Thank you John!  Believe me, I just jotted down several of these titles.  They sound great!

Eric

There are so many.

The First Team

The First Team at Guadalcanal

The Black Sheep

Shattered Sword

Fire in the Sky

The Dam Busters

Such Men as These

Zemke's Wolfpack

The Jolly Rogers

Roar of the Tiger

Enjoy!

John

Raid on the Sun....relatively quick but excellent read about the events leading up to, the planning of, and actual mission of the Israeli air strike on the Osirak reactor in 1981.

Well I am a firm believer any aviation enthusiast should be required to read Chuck Yeager's autobiography. "I Could Never Be So Lucky Again" Dolittle's autobigraphy, is also pretty good. Slow at times, but it makes up for its self. And might I suggest "Cheating Death," a pilots recount of flying Sandy missions in A-1 Skyraiders over Vietnam/Laos.

Cdn Colin

Anything by Steven Ambrose is great, too.

not always... His book about George McGoverns wartime service, "The Wild Blue", or whatever it was called was not very interesting. Perhaps it was the subject choice, but compared to "Band of Brothers", or "D-Day", it was a rather mundane tale.

Anything by Steven Ambrose is great, too.

Tom, youth is, indeed, wasted on the young.  The stuff I was ambivalent towards in high school I now relish.  I think it's because now I see it on a much more human and tangible level.  Before they were nothing more than words on a page.  What 16 year old kid can relate to what grown ups did 200 years ago?  But now that I'm in my 40s, I am fascinated how this country and the world was formed by people my age or younger.  

In 1776, George Washington was 44 years old.  That's exactly how old I am right now!  My biggest worry of the day is "Did my grade school kids get their homework done?" and "Do I need to pick up some cheese slices the next time I'm at the store?"  I take care of my family during the day and, if I'm lucky, I can spend a few minutes at the end of the night down in my man-cave.  I can't even fathom being the commander of an entire army freezing my giblets off while the fragile hopes and dreams of a new nation rest in my hands.

History is fascinating stuff!

Eric

Eric. Both of those are excellent books. Good taste! Since you like history, you may look into Shelby Footes three book civil war set. Or at least his book on Gettysburg 'stars in their courses'. But I digress, there was no air war. (unless you count the occasional balloon)

Thanks to all for the great suggestions!  There were even some in there that I completely forgot that I read years ago.  Lately I've been reading books about the stuff that I found "boring" back when I was in high school.  I just finished "Undaunted Courage" about the Lewis & Clark expedition and now I'm currently reading the John Adams biography by David McCullough.

Thank you again for all the book suggestions,

Eric

"Flying Fortress" and "Air War" both volumes by Edward Jablonski.

Definitely get  A Higher Call.

Unbroken

Fighter Boys - The Battle of Britain

Big Week

Bomber Boys

German Aces Speak

German Aces Speak II

The list goes on....

Do a search in Barnes & Nobles website. Search WW2 Aviation and you'll find plenty of choices.

MiG pilot: The final escape of Lt. Belenko

Chickenhawk

Into the Mouth of the Cat: the story of Lance Sijan, hero of Vietnam

Enola Gay

Get Yamamoto

One Day in a Long War

We Were Soldiers Once... And Young

The Bridges At Toko Ri (yeah it's fiction, but fact inspired and superbly written)

Black Thursday

The Cactus Air Force