For those interested in the testing of a lot of the FAA/RN developments (such as a rubber flexible carpet flight deck, for a/c equipped with no u/c!), I'd recommend "Wings on my sleeve", the autobiography of Captiain Eric "Winkle" Brown, RN Just finishing it, and it's a good read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_%22Winkle%22_Brown
He also tested a lot of captured German kit including the ME262 and 163, so there are loads of good tales in there.