Book about Military Aviation

[Port Strobe]

I'm after a recommendation of a book that explains what military flying is all about. I don't know if any of you guys have read "Flying the Big Jets" by Stanley Stewart but that's the kind of style I'm after, it explains how things are done in the working environment by describing a typical flight in a Boeing 744 from planning to shutdown. Is there an equivalent for a Tornado etc anybody knows about?

Thanks very much for your time.

[BluntM8]

I recommend these:

1. Combat Ready, David Mason
Airlife Pub, 1999
ISBN 1-84037-070-X

2. Tornado, Lake/Crutch
Midland Pub, 2000
ISBN 1-85780-96-6

They are both truly excellent books, especially the Tornado one.

Blunty

[Jackonicko]

I'm sure that the authors of the Tornado book would appreciate your plug, but I know them both and I'm equally sure that they'd describe it as a fairly pedestrian (but comprehensive) plod through that aircraft's political and industrial history, and through the aircraft's combat record and deployment history. It's great if you want to know about the Tornado, but not if you want to know what it's like to be a modern military pilot.

David Mason's book isn't a bad description of what is involved in becoming a fast jet pilot, and I'd add the following recommendations.

'Combat Missions from the Cockpit' by Ken Delve (A&AP, 1990). Delve was a nav, himself, and briefly describes sorties in the Jag, Harrier GR5, Tornado GR1, Tornado F3, Chinook, Hercules and Nimrod.

'Elite Flyers' by Andy Evans (not THAT Andy Evans) (A&AP, 1995) is perhaps better, and covers the Jag, KC-135, MH-53, AH-1, Lynx, EC-130, A-10, HC-130N, AV-8B, F-16, AH-64, F/A-18D, AV-8B Plus, AC-130, Harrier GR7, OH-58, MC-130H, HH-60 and E-3D in a similar fashion.

'Flying Modern Fighters' by Robert Jackson (PSL, 1986) looked at the Harrier GR3, Tornado GR1, Hawk, F-14, F-111 and F-4 from a similar viewpoint.

If you want similar books which describe a single aircraft's mission, Harper Collins produced a 'Jane's At The Controls' Series, whose appallingly titled range included: 'How to Fly and Fight in the F/A-18 Hornet', 'How to Fly and Fight in the F-117A Stealth Fighter' and 'How to Fly and Fight in the MiG-29', as well as titles covering the Spitfire, B-17 and F-14. These describe a typical mission from brief-to-debrief, working in the aircraft's background history. Some of the books are heavily based on first hand interviews - including the MiG volume, which included contributions from USAF F-16 and F/A-18 pilots, from the Canadian F/A-18 pilot who was the first Westerner to fly the aircraft, and from Russian and East German MiG-drivers, and even from John Farley!

Richard S Drury (a Vietnam vet who flew A-1s) produced a broadly similar book describing 'USAF Close Air Support' missions (Airlife, 1991) but concentrated more on the aircraft than the nitty gritty of their missions.

In my opinion, arguably the best way of getting the true 'flavour' would still be by reading Bob Prest's superb 'F-4 Phantom, a Pilot's Story' however.

[Port Strobe]

Cheers guys, I'll take a look into these recommendations on amazon etc and see what comes up. Thanks very much for taking the time. Might get back to you if I have any further questions. Thanks again.

[Matoman]

IMHO the best book ever written about flying is - The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. Great story, excellent annecdotes about life in the military and superbly written.

[tony draper]

I agree with Mr Jackonico, Bob Prests book is a fine read, been out of print for a long time now I suspect, if you cannot find it I have a copy,pop me a email if yer stuck, and I will send it to you, twill only finish up in a skip when Drapes pops his clogs anyway.

[Jackonicko]

Most of these books are out of print, so I'd try Simon Watson at the Aviation Bookshop (0207-272-3630) or JP and JA Keegan (Keegan's) in Reading.

[A Civilian]

:uhoh: I have quite a few of the 'How to Fly and Fight...' books *waits for the laughter to end* and they are well written and make a welcome addition instead of the endless picture (which we've all seen before), technical (which we all know but dont understand) & history (which you are never sure if its fact or fiction) books that you usually find on these aircraft.

[tony draper]

As a outsider in this kind of thing,I think Pablo War, by Pablo Mason was one of the best about actually doing the biz.
Got it out the library have never been able to find it since.
Again speaking as a outsider, I thought Team Tornado by the Two Johns was also a good read.

[scran]

I'm part of the way through a book:

Phantom over Vietnam (Fighter Pilot USMC) by John Trotti. (Presidio Press) Quite good so far, as he is (Chapter 3 at present) working through a mission. Chapter two was preparation etc - now he is flying it.

If you want a technical type book - a lot of the guys around here might recommend:

Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvring by Robert Shaw. (Naval Institute Press) Tlks about a whole range of 1 v 1, 2 v 1 etc, and has loads of diagrams.

[Woff1965]

Nothing beats "Thud Ridge" by Col. Jack Broughton - a description of F105 ops over Vietnam.

One of the interesting things about the book is that Col Broughton and several of his pilots used to carry small tape recorders on missions which no doubt contributed to the vividness of the writing. I am still haunted by the description of the failed attempt to recover a downed pilot.

Brilliant read. Highly recommended

[henry crun]

I agree with Wolf1965 on Thud Ridge.

If you want something a little different try The Wrong Stuff by John Moore.
Mostly about test flying the early jets in the US told with plenty of humour.

[ChristopherRobin]

Try "Yeager" by Chuck Yeager (speaking tonight at the Smithsonian) - his accounts of flying in WW2 and Vietnam as well as little things like breaking the sound barrier etc are a great read.

And of course, "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason is a must if you're interested in Vietnam helicoper operations.

"Chariots of Fire" by Michael Collins (apollo 11 CM Pilot) and "Last Man on the Moon" by Gene Cernan are worth a look, although not military, they are good.

Mind you, I'm thinking of writing one myself called

"South Armagh: Choking the Ostrich"

...if you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.

[teeteringhead]

Oh Drapes!

if you knew Pablo like we know Pablo .........;)

[Woff1965]

If you are looking for preowned books try out -

http://www.abebooks.com/

I have used them and they seem to have everything.

Jack Broughtons "Going Downtown" which covers some of the other aspects of F105 ops over North Vietnam is also quite interesting, the coverage of his court martial is an interesting study of how military justice operates in the USAF too. I got my mint 1st edition secondhand copy from Abebooks for £9.98 + postage, which was actually cheaper than buying it new.

[Port Strobe]

Thanks a million for all those recommendations. I've pretty much found what I'm after in Combat Ready by David Mason I think. Thanks very much again for all the other books, they'll be useful in the future for any more reading.

Cheers.

[27mm]

Recommend any of Mark Berent's books: Steel Tiger, Eagle Station, for example. Great flying writing from someone who knows what he's talking about.