Baa Baa Black Sheep - Gregory "Pappy" Boyington

Boyington is a very famous character, and his adventures, from his time in China with the Flying Tigers to the end of the war are very colourful. Some historians have perhaps found "mistakes" in this book, but it remains nevertheless essential reading. Boyington's personality makes it a... "different" book.

Bantam Books; ISBN: 0553263501  List Price: $6.99  Amazon Price: $5.59  Order Here!

Ace! - A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II - R. Bruce Porter, Eric Hammel

Bruce Porter's war in the Pacific, at first as a fighter pilot in the Samoa and Solomon Islands, downing three Zeros, and then, after a brief return to the United States, as a night-fighter pilot and squadron C.O. when he achieved ace status. Read an excerpt, click here to read what other Marine aces have to say about this book, or visit Bruce Porter's homepage here. You can also read an interview of Col. Porter in the WS Interviews section.

Motorbooks International; ISBN: 0935553312   List price: $19.95  Amazon price:  $15.96  Order Here!

To Fly and Fight : Memoirs of a Triple Ace - Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson, Joseph P. Hamelin

« Bud » Anderson is one of the top aces of the 357th Fighter Group, and relates here not only his two combat tours with this outfit, but also his postwar career. Of interest for me is the fact that he gives a detailed account of how to operate the P-51 during a combat mission. Recommended by Laurent Boulestin (P51d20na@club-internet.fr) - Visit www.cebudanderson.com

Pacifica Pr; ISBN: 0935553347   List Price: $29.95  Amazon Price: $20.97   Order Here!

The First and the Last - Adolf Galland

A classic book written by a man who could not have been more involved in the evolution of the Luftwaffe throughout the war. Describing the German Air Force reconstitution and its involvement in Spain until the development of the first jets and final days of World War Two, as well as Galland's personal career, becoming an ace and taking high responsibilities within the Luftwaffe.

Buccaneer Books; ISBN: 0899667287   List price: $37.95  Amazon price: $26.57   Order Here!

The Last Enemy - Richard Hillary

The diary of a young pilot who was shot down during the war. Very emotional.

Burford Books; ISBN: 1580800564  List Price: $14.95 Amazon Price: $11.96   Order Here!

Wing Leader - Air Vice-Marshal 'Johnnie' Johnson

This is the story of the official top-scoring allied pilot of World War Two. He served in the RAF until 1966, but this book is about his wartime, from him joining the
RAF in August 1940 to the end of the conflict. He is describing his operations with 616 Squadron, part of Bader's Tangmere Wing, as well as his time in command
of 610 Squadron. He then led the Canadian Spitfire Wing and was the first allied pilot to land in France after D-Day.

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 The Blond Knight of Germany  -  Raymond F. Toliver, Trevor J. Constable

The biography of Germany's ace of aces Erich Hartmann. He scored 352 kills but this is not only a book about air fighting, it tells as well extremely well about the feeling of the German soldiers being defeated. A brilliant book about a brilliant pilot.

Tab Books; ISBN: 0830681892  List Price: $21.95 Amazon Price: $17.56     Order Here!

Mustang Ace : Memoirs of a P-51 Fighter Pilot  - Robert J. Goebel

A very well written autobiography by a Fifteenth Air Force fighter pilot. Robert Goebel gives a vivid account of his combat tour with the 31st Fighter Group during the spring and the summer of 1944, as he relates not only the missions he flew, but also his spare time with his comrades around the base.  Recommended by Laurent Boulestin (P51d20na@club-internet.fr) - Read an excerpt here

Pacifica Pr; ISBN: 0935553037    Amazon Price: $24.95   Order Here!

The Big Show -  Pierre Clostermann

France's World War Two ace of aces is providing here very spectacular recollections of his time with the RAF. The spirit of the Free French pilots fighting over occupied France and the aerial action make this book one of the best WW2 pilots biographies of all. Breathtaking... This book is highly recommended.

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Zemke's Stalag : The Final Days of World War II  - Hub Zemke, Roger A. Freeman

The 56th Fighter Group's commander's end of war: Zemke is telling how he got shot down, captured and his life in a German camp.

Smithsonian Institution Press; ISBN: 1560980184  Amazon Price: $26.00   Order Here!

The Jolly Rogers : The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron Vf-17  -  Tom Blackburn, Eric M. Hammel

Navy ace Tom Blackburn tells in own story as well as his squadron's one. The Vf-17 Jolly Rogers is the Navy's most famous squadron, and Blackburn provides here a lively account of living and fighting in the Pacific. Read an excerpt here.

Pacifica Pr; ISBN: 0935553193  Amazon Price: $29.95  Order here!

Gabby : A Fighter Pilot's Life  -  Francis Gabreski, Carl Molesworth

Francis Gabreski was ETO's top ace in WW2, but was as well an ace during the Korean war. His telling of his missions with Zemke's wolfpack is breathtaking.

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; ISBN: 0764304429   Amazon Price: $45.00   Order Here!

A-Train : Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman - Charles W. Dryden

A different aviation book, because it does not simply tell of aerial action and combat heroics, but takes as well an important look at the human side of things, and at the segregation in the USAF at the time. Highly recommended.

Univ. of Alabama Press ; ISBN: 0817308563  List price: $29.95  Amazon price: $20.97   Order Here!

Enemy Coast Ahead - Guy Gibson

Guy Gibson became famous during the war mostly because he led the 617 Squadron's Lancasters during the famous Dambusters mission. But this young Victoria Cross winner did not survive the war, he was shot down in a Mosquito in 1945. This is a very hard book, but it shows brilliantly the spirit of this young hero.

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Lindbergh - A. Scott Berg

A slightly different subject from the other books featured on this list. Lindbergh was a true legendary hero, a model and an inspiration for many pilots-to-be. This new and massive biography is unique in the way that for the first time, the author was allowed by Lindbergh's wife to access the couple's personal papers.

Putnam Pub Group; ISBN: 0399144498  List price: $30  Amazon Price: $21    Order Here!

Yeager : An Autobiography - Chuck Yeager, Leo Janos

"General Chuck Yeager, the greatest test pilot of them all -- the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound . . .the World War II flying ace who shot down a Messerschmitt jet with a prop-driven P-51 Mustang . . .the hero who defined a certain quality that all hotshot fly-boys of the postwar era aimed to achieve: the right stuff." Yeager tells his own story, and it's trully gripping. Highly recommended!

Bantam Books; ISBN: 0553256742   List price: $7.50  Amazon price: $6.00   Order Here!