A very good military read
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This is technical background stuff.
Druid's Circle by "Dixie" Dean is a superb account of the engineering, R&D and flying that went into new types and new weapons (canons in thin wings, the amazing story of RPs) by an engineering test pilot. One of the very best, beautifully written and a real page-turner. He even sneaked out on ops in a a Tiffie (strictly against specific orders) to see how his RPs worked in action.
Off aviation, or rather about the recieving end of it "Admiralty Brief" by Capt Edward Terrell describes how the author, a peacetime Barrister, developed armour essentially made of tarmac to protect ships from light shellfire and shrapnel. One of the forgotten miracles of the war. Brilliant, funny, irreverent and a very unusual and quirky aspect of the war. He received the highest financial award of the war for his R & D, deservedly so.
Druid's Circle by "Dixie" Dean is a superb account of the engineering, R&D and flying that went into new types and new weapons (canons in thin wings, the amazing story of RPs) by an engineering test pilot. One of the very best, beautifully written and a real page-turner. He even sneaked out on ops in a a Tiffie (strictly against specific orders) to see how his RPs worked in action.
Off aviation, or rather about the recieving end of it "Admiralty Brief" by Capt Edward Terrell describes how the author, a peacetime Barrister, developed armour essentially made of tarmac to protect ships from light shellfire and shrapnel. One of the forgotten miracles of the war. Brilliant, funny, irreverent and a very unusual and quirky aspect of the war. He received the highest financial award of the war for his R & D, deservedly so.
Keep Your Head Down
Must thank the contributors suggestions on here. Regularly have a look for books of interest and have read quite a few on this forum
One I can suggest, not aviation although helicopters do get a mention:
Keep Your Head Down
Nathan Mullins
Afghanistan from the perspective of a 15 year special forces citizen soldier - who then went back to his day job.
cheers
layman
One I can suggest, not aviation although helicopters do get a mention:
Keep Your Head Down
Nathan Mullins
Afghanistan from the perspective of a 15 year special forces citizen soldier - who then went back to his day job.
cheers
layman
Last edited by layman; 30th Oct 2012 at 22:40. Reason: seplling
"Pegasus Bridge"
Details one of the greatest feats of aviation ---Ever!
Details one of the greatest feats of aviation ---Ever!
Two interesting books in my library are-
Unarmed into Battle, the story of the Air observation Post by Major General H. J. Parham and E. M. G. Bellfield.
Memoirs of an Air Observation Post Officer, by Major Andrew Lyell. DFC
Real flying in both of those. Far lighter but equally readable is-
An Evil Boy, by F/Lt A. H. 'Witt' Wittridge DFC (RAF Retd)
Regarding the Falklands conflict from the 'other side', I have a translated Spanish publication titled 'Falklands Witness of Battles', by J. R. Briasco and S. M. Huertas
This contains a lot of reports and photos from the Argentines, including one chapter detailing the attack on HMS Invincible.
Unarmed into Battle, the story of the Air observation Post by Major General H. J. Parham and E. M. G. Bellfield.
Memoirs of an Air Observation Post Officer, by Major Andrew Lyell. DFC
Real flying in both of those. Far lighter but equally readable is-
An Evil Boy, by F/Lt A. H. 'Witt' Wittridge DFC (RAF Retd)
Regarding the Falklands conflict from the 'other side', I have a translated Spanish publication titled 'Falklands Witness of Battles', by J. R. Briasco and S. M. Huertas
This contains a lot of reports and photos from the Argentines, including one chapter detailing the attack on HMS Invincible.
Regarding the Falklands conflict from the 'other side', I have a translated Spanish publication titled 'Falklands Witness of Battles', by J. R. Briasco and S. M. Huertas
This contains a lot of reports and photos from the Argentines, including one chapter detailing the attack on HMS Invincible.
This contains a lot of reports and photos from the Argentines, including one chapter detailing the attack on HMS Invincible.
I am finishing "The Golden Horseshoe", the wartime career of Otto Kretschmen, WW2 U-boat commander. Really good read!
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Best Lancaster ops book: "The Eighth Passenger" Miles Tripp, flying No.218 Squadron Lancs out of Chedburgh and post war crew reunion and thoughts of the bombing campaign. Look for the revised copy.
Best B-17 ops book : "Dead Engine Kids" John J Briol, diary of ops flown from 457thBG Glatton,UK. Hard to find and expensive but a good read.
"Serenade To The Big Bird" by Bert Stiles flying B-17's from Bassingbourn is a classic on the strain of operational flying.
Best B-17 ops book : "Dead Engine Kids" John J Briol, diary of ops flown from 457thBG Glatton,UK. Hard to find and expensive but a good read.
"Serenade To The Big Bird" by Bert Stiles flying B-17's from Bassingbourn is a classic on the strain of operational flying.
I am finishing "The Golden Horseshoe", the wartime career of Otto Kretschmen, WW2 U-boat commander. Really good read!
After the war, he joined the Bundesmarine and rose to the rank of Admiral.
Viper Pilot has been hard to put down whilst laying on the beach at Batu Ferringgi...
Battled through Max Hasting's "All Hell Let Loose" which was an amazing overview of WW2 that I'd highly recommend.
Battled through Max Hasting's "All Hell Let Loose" which was an amazing overview of WW2 that I'd highly recommend.
Last edited by Gnadenburg; 28th Dec 2012 at 09:45.
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VIPER PILOT
I agree it is a great read.
It has technical stuff that is easy to understand , action stories , lots of little one or two liner gems of info , and probably the best description (to me at any rate) of how the USAF functions. The authors (very brief) thoughts on why these conflicts were fought make for interesting reading .The humour is there too but in the form of sideswipes the author takes at any number of people and nations. I took those as tongue-in-cheek although others may disagree.
If anyone knows of anything else Dan Hampton has written that is readily avauilable please let me know
It has technical stuff that is easy to understand , action stories , lots of little one or two liner gems of info , and probably the best description (to me at any rate) of how the USAF functions. The authors (very brief) thoughts on why these conflicts were fought make for interesting reading .The humour is there too but in the form of sideswipes the author takes at any number of people and nations. I took those as tongue-in-cheek although others may disagree.
If anyone knows of anything else Dan Hampton has written that is readily avauilable please let me know
Love and war in the Appenines
by Eric Newby. Compelling read about E&E in Italy before and after the armistice in WW2. Once you've read it you'll want to read more of his books just to find out what happens to Wanda.
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Currently reading "Misty", first hand stories of the F-100 forward air controllers in the Vietnam War. Very interesting stuff. ISBN 0-7596-5254-6.
Other recommended military reads are:
"In the Service of the Sultan" by Ian Gardiner. A first hand account of the Dhofar insurgency. ISBN 1-84415-467-X.
"By Any Means Necessary" by William E Burrows. America's secret air war, an investigation into America's top-secret air war against the communist bloc, and its cost in human lives. ISBN 0-09-943625-6.
Other recommended military reads are:
"In the Service of the Sultan" by Ian Gardiner. A first hand account of the Dhofar insurgency. ISBN 1-84415-467-X.
"By Any Means Necessary" by William E Burrows. America's secret air war, an investigation into America's top-secret air war against the communist bloc, and its cost in human lives. ISBN 0-09-943625-6.
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T.21. I have just read Miles Tripp's 'The Eighth Passenger'
If you look at my location, you will see that it is relevant to me. In fact, I live on a piece of land that was the wartime WAAF's billets. Very good book.
In the village, we had a 70th Chedburgh Airfield Anniversary this year. Over 400 people turned up, and we had the kind permission of the farmer to drive down the runway, and other parts of the airfield. Very evocative.
If you look at my location, you will see that it is relevant to me. In fact, I live on a piece of land that was the wartime WAAF's billets. Very good book.
In the village, we had a 70th Chedburgh Airfield Anniversary this year. Over 400 people turned up, and we had the kind permission of the farmer to drive down the runway, and other parts of the airfield. Very evocative.
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I haven't gone through ALL the previous pages so don't know if it's been covered.
I'm reading Francis 'Gary' Powers' book Overflight which he wrote after leaving the CIA/USAF. It's utterly fascinating stuff.
I remember the incident when it happened albeit as a kid, but there was always the sense that he'd done something wrong in handling his interrogation.
When you read his account it's really good to see how woefully inadequate his (and the other pilots') briefings were.
It's interesting that he is only recently receiving the acknowledgement that he was due, mainly due to his son's efforts. The contribution made by the U2 guys is inestimable considering this was pre-satellite times.
Downloaded onto my Kindle. ***** star recommendation.
I'm reading Francis 'Gary' Powers' book Overflight which he wrote after leaving the CIA/USAF. It's utterly fascinating stuff.
I remember the incident when it happened albeit as a kid, but there was always the sense that he'd done something wrong in handling his interrogation.
When you read his account it's really good to see how woefully inadequate his (and the other pilots') briefings were.
It's interesting that he is only recently receiving the acknowledgement that he was due, mainly due to his son's efforts. The contribution made by the U2 guys is inestimable considering this was pre-satellite times.
Downloaded onto my Kindle. ***** star recommendation.
Last edited by Dengue_Dude; 31st Dec 2012 at 14:01. Reason: Spelin
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Clashes is a superbly written account of the air war over Vietnam between 65-72. The author flew F4s during the conflict however, it is not a personal account of his tours of duty. Instead, it is a factual analysis of how the war developed and evolved throughout the period. It highlights many areas of clever innovation and equally, some rather disturbing approaches that the USAF made that no doubt cost the lives of some of its aircrew.
Highly recommended. The USAF crews I work with rate the author very highly. I have had the privillege of meeting him several times recently and am always in awe of his humble approach to what was an outstanding career!
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Following on from the Falklands thread, an alternate history series based in a world where the Americans finished WWII using A-bombs and now impose a Pax Americana using B-70 Valkyries.
This volume deals with the UK, operating independently and recovering the Falklands. Bloody good series to read.....
Stuart Slade
This volume deals with the UK, operating independently and recovering the Falklands. Bloody good series to read.....
Stuart Slade
Last edited by ORAC; 4th Jan 2013 at 10:09.
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Right then....Col Mike Mullane's "Riding Rockets" is simply a must. He was a Mission Specialist on the Shuttle for 3 flights. I'm not sure I've ever read a more "warts and all" book. He describes NASA in terms very close to the bone, and even his marriage in fairly eye-opening terms. His honesty in talking about his transition in going from the USAF to NASA, with the gender stereotypes he had, is illuminating, however, his descriptions of flying in orbit, and gazing down are the closest I've ever felt to actually "being there". I highly recommend.
I was so impressed, I dropped him an email, expecting nothing back. But he sent a real nice, personal email. A real gent.
Just read this book!! If you've got ANY inklings of interest in spaceflight, get it!
I was so impressed, I dropped him an email, expecting nothing back. But he sent a real nice, personal email. A real gent.
Just read this book!! If you've got ANY inklings of interest in spaceflight, get it!
Last edited by betty swallox; 4th Jan 2013 at 12:11.
"Growling over the Oceans" by Deborah Lake - the Shackleton, men and machines. 1951-1991
Not a book I'd heard of until I saw it in the library a few weeks ago.Excellent read.Full of anecdotes from air and ground crew. Surely some of PPRuNe readers contributed towards it?
Not a book I'd heard of until I saw it in the library a few weeks ago.Excellent read.Full of anecdotes from air and ground crew. Surely some of PPRuNe readers contributed towards it?
