Best flying book I've read in a long time

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Best flying book I've read in a long time

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 1:41 PM

Hey everyone - I wanted to say hello since i'm new here - and I also wanted to say that I just read the most interesting book on flight history - I heartily recommend it!

The Unwelcome Assistant: Edward C. Huffaker and the birth of Aviation. It's groundbreaking new material that was lost in an old barn for decades. I got an advanced copy, but I think it should be out in time for Christmas - definately keep it in mind for presents if you know other people who love airplanes!

PS - The F/A-18C is absolutely gorgeous...

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 15, 2003 1:54 PM

Welcome to the forum! Hope you enjoy the myrth and wisdom of our little gathering of minds.
Thanks for the advice about the book. I'll be sure to keep a look out for it. And yes, the Hornets are pretty sweet, but nothing compared to the Tomcat.

demono69

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stinger

Member since
January 2003
From: Everywhere

Posted by stinger on Monday, September 15, 2003 4:14 PM

Hello and welcome! As Demono has hinted, you're sure to find this to be an enlightening, entertaining, and friendly forum (but definitely not normal).
I'll keep your book suggestion in mind.
Here's a title that I really liked: "The Hunters" by James Salter. It's about flying F-86's in Korea, but it's more than about flying. It really touched my soul, and the moment I finished it, I sat and thought for a long while.
F-18's are the best!

May an Angel be your wingman, and the Sun be always at your six

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, September 15, 2003 6:32 PM

Welcome aboard!
Thought i would throw in my 2 cents as i just picked up a copy of an old favorite at the used bookstore today.
check out Ernest K. Gann's "Fate Is The Hunter".

great stuff. my best friend's dad (who was a B-17 pilot in WWII) turned me on to Gann some years ago. this is one of his best.

can you post the author for "Unwelcome Assistant" ?

thanks & welcom,
ed.

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dkmacin

Member since
January 2003
From: Upper left side of the lower Penninsula of Mich

Posted by dkmacin on Monday, September 15, 2003 8:22 PM

For my money I like "Cuckoo over Vienna" by Claude Porter
B24 Pilot and crew shot down after a Polesti raid in 1944. They are "rescued" by partisans and then betrayed.
Fascinating read and it is all true!
F14 was good when it had the Phoenix. . .Super Hornet is the way to go.

Don

I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it.

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wroper11

Member since
February 2003
From: Back home in Blanchard

Posted by wroper11 on Monday, September 15, 2003 8:54 PM

HA!!! I knew we couldn't go a week without a best a/c post!!! F-15's rule and nuthin else compares!!! "talk amongst yourselves......go"
Wroper11

USAF PRIME BEEF ENGINEERING READY...ANYTIME...ANYWHERE! HOORAH!</font id="blue">

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 15, 2003 9:02 PM

On the subject of books, may I recommend "To Fly and To Fight
memoirs of a triple ace" by Clarence "Bud" Anderson
loaded with some pretty good pics of "Old Crow" as well as other aircraft. I did a Tamiya mustang D in Brit colors as described in the book, it won me a second prize ribbon in a local show. Cool [8D]

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Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Monday, September 15, 2003 10:21 PM

I am reading "An Ace of the Eight" by Bud Fortier. He was a pilot inthe 354th FG in WWII. Good read.

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

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Butz

Member since
February 2003
From: Niagara Falls NY

Posted by Butz on Monday, September 15, 2003 11:54 PM

Hey flygirltn,
Welcome to the forum. Not only will you learn a lot from these guys and gals but you'll also have fun Tongue [:P]

Another great read is a book called "Target of Opportunity" Tales & Contrails of The Second World War by LtCol R.A "Dick" Hewitt.
He flew w/ the 78thFG, 82ndFS and has over 400 combat hrs,having flown 144 missions.
Not only is he a good friend of the family but a awesome person over all.
So again welcome to the show and looking forward to hearing from you.
Flaps up, Mike

If you would listen to everybody about the inaccuracies, most of the kits on your shelf would not have been built Too Close For Guns, Switching To Finger

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 16, 2003 12:13 AM

Not exactly a book on flight per say, but a truly enjoyable read is John Steakley's "Armour." It really gets inside the psychology of a soldier during a war set in the future.
So many recommendations, I may have to start a new library!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 16, 2003 6:05 AM

Yo there flygirltn...

Thanks for the recommendation... Hornets may be nice but I do prefer Tomcats and Flankers!!! Welcome to this wonderful place!! The guys here are fantastic and very helpful!! Hope you enjoy your stay... Feel free to ask help!! Keep those questions coming.. Just like me! Big Smile [:D]

Cheers,
Nandakumar

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TEISE

Member since
January 2003

Posted by TEISE on Tuesday, September 16, 2003 9:40 AM

I'll have to agree(again?)with WildWilliam that Ernie Gann's "Fate is the Hunter"is THE best book ever written about flying.I've read it 4 or 5 times over the years and will read it again. As an example of his writing there was an instance where Ernie had to run his engines on a C47 at full power for several minutes which caused his flight engineer concern on harm done asked Ernie what he should write in the engine logs and Ernie responded"how about I love you?"Great book.
Teise

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 11:02 PM

Not sure if you can get this one over in the States, but yesterday I finished reading an autobiography and it feels like an old friend has left forever.
First Light, by Geoffrey Wellum. Published in the UK by Penguin, ISBN 0-141-00814-8
From schoolboy to Fighter pilot in a matter of months. In 1939 He was posted to 92 squadron and was soon in the thick of the Battle of Britain.
The whole book is so open, his doubts, loves, thoughts on others, life, God, & human failings that it makes it so easy to be there in the cockpit with him.
This is one you will not want to put down, and, as I say, you will be sorry when you finish it.
Jets are okay, but there's nothing like Supermarines finest!

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TEISE

Member since
January 2003

Posted by TEISE on Thursday, September 18, 2003 7:59 AM

Reading albertsponsons remark about Spitfires compels me to offer my opinion that if it don't have a propeller on it ,it's not an airplane.
teise

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 12:59 PM

The absolute best WW-II air combat book that I have EVER read (and I have approx. 25 books on the B-29 alone) is Over and Under by Col. John Misterly. It is the most accurate, exciting, and historical account to date in my opinion! You can find out more by visiting www.20af-b29.us

Bill Howe
www.444thbg.org

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cassibill

Member since
February 2003
From: Indiana, USA

Posted by cassibill on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 1:20 PM

most recent plane book for me is flyboys, best was a book on lucky lindy from the uni.'s library, lindbergh alone

cdw My life flashes before my eyes and it mostly my life flashing before my eyes!!! Big Smile The 1/144 scale census and message board: http://144scalelist.freewebpage.org/index.html

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 2:48 PM

flygirltn,

Hello!! Welcome to the forum. How long have you been modeling? What are you currently working on?

As far as books go, anything by Coonts, or Dale Brown, is a good read. I actually have a signed copy of "To Fly and To Fight" by Bud Anderson. It's an EXCELLENT read!! I started a thread in this forum a few months back asking what everyone's favorite military reads are. You might want to go back through the past posts to read that one, and maybe pick up some ideas for your next read. Good luck to you in your modeling endeavors!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 3:55 PM

Wings and Warriors by Donald Engen. Follows his career from WWII NAVCAD at 18 to Director of Air And Space Museum after retiring as 3 star Admiral. Flew almost anything and everything from 1944 to 1960's, Captain of USS America. Unfortunately died in glider accident at age 76. Complete history of naval aviation in that era by someone who flew, not an arm chair historian.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 10:56 PM

Hello Flygirltn!
Welcome to the forum.
Since we are on the subject of books, if you pick up a copy of 'Terror in the Starboard Seat' I guarantee you won't put it down. It is an autobiography of a Mossie navigator.

In a similar vein and just as good a read is 'A Thousand Shall Fall' by Murray Peden. He was a Stirling pilot, later moved over to pathfinder and ECM Fortresses in the RAF.

Regards,
Bruce

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 2:08 AM

Just finished Flyboys and found it a little depressing. Some good info in there about how the US and Japan's relations were from Perry up to WW2 though. Not really much in there as far as first hand accounts of air missions.

I really enjoyed a book called The Lucky Bastards Club. Also recommend The Wild Blue.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 2:26 AM

Ernie's book is the best. I also like Bah Bah Black Sheep by Pappy Boyington (he autographed it for me when i met him at an airport where i was a fueler back in the day.)FLAPS UP MILITARY POWER FULL THROTTLE EYES WIDE OPEN

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ridleusmc

Member since
July 2003
From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Posted by ridleusmc on Thursday, December 18, 2003 3:12 AM

Keyworth

An Ace of the Eighth is a great book. I learned alot about the Jugs and the Mustangs from that one. Another good one is "The Wild Blue" by Stephen E. Ambrose, which is for B24 fans.

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Thursday, December 18, 2003 7:24 AM

There are a lot of great flight combat books out there.... if anyone is interested in one not involving combat (which I usually am not)-- I just finished "Flight of Passage" by Rinker Buck. It tells the story of two high school boys who rebuild a Piper Cub in 1966 and fly it from NJ to CA over the course of 5 July days.....great story-- kind of like "The Wonder Years" meets the Wright Brothers.

Mike

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 19, 2003 10:20 PM

Thanks for that recommendation Mike:
I have a son who is getting into flying and if I can find it I'll have it under the tree (after I've read it of course).
Regards,
Bruce

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 21, 2003 2:05 PM

"Night Flight" by Saint Exupery.
It is a classic.

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chasblake99

Member since
December 2002
From: Boise ID

Posted by chasblake99 on Sunday, December 21, 2003 5:49 PM

One of the better books on flying and all around inspiration is "Reach for the Sky"
The atory of Douglas Bader, an Ace of the Battle of Britain by Paul Brickhill. Bader lost both legs in a crash prior to the war and resolved to get back into the air, made Ace and was shot down over Germany. He even escaped a few times until the Germans took his 'legs' away. A great story of human determination and flying.

Charles

NKAWTG (My KC-135R at RAF Fairfird during Allied Force) Pilots without crew chiefs are nothing but pedestrians with nice sunglasses and a cool jacket. Crew Chiefs RULE!

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