Must have / read Books
Try SIGH FOR A MERLIN by Alex Henshaw.. .It is about the pilot (author) who flight tested more Spitfires than anyone.. .It is a cracking story <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
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TD, the company who did the Atlas is called Getmapping and their site is:-<a href="http://www.getmapping.com" target="_blank">Atlas</a>
I've visited the site you suggested - its very good, but the Atlas is truely amazing, you can see the Concordes parked at Heathrow and by the way, your gutters need cleaning <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
I've visited the site you suggested - its very good, but the Atlas is truely amazing, you can see the Concordes parked at Heathrow and by the way, your gutters need cleaning <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Not so N, but still FG
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"Edwin's letters", a recently published collection of letters by a 21 year old Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, killed with all of the crew of his Halifax on their second operation in April 1943. Just ordinary letters from and about an ordinary airman, edited by his brother, David Thomas. Reading this short but deeply moving book feels like visiting a war cemetery or memorial.
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Also by Alex Henshaw, "Flight of the Mew Gull". .Try "No Echo in the Sky" by Harold Penrose, test pilot at Wesland Aircraft. The last line is soooo poingant [I hope that's the right spelling]. ."I Flew for the Fuhrer", "Wing Leader" "Fly for your Life" . .Fiction, The Blue Max is a good read, as are Stephen Coonts flying books, Martin Caidin's and Brian Lecomber. Also Gavin Lyal. .we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy
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Pierre Clostermann's "The Big Show" was always one of my top books. I recently discovered that there's a newer version "Le Grand Cirque 2000" - in French unfortunately but I'm struggling through it. There's about twice the material in it than the original "Big Show", including how he joined the RAF, training etc. Plus some rather irate views on the inaccuracy of the 8th Air Force when they were bombing French rail yards surrounded by French civilian housing. I believe it goes on to his post-war flying in Algeria, but I havn't got that far yet. Great Book.. .. .Also try "Rene Mouchotte, mes Carnets" (Rene Mouchottes logbooks) if you want more Free French fighter pilot's stories. Mouchotte commanded the Biggin Hill wing at one point but was killed in 1943.
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Astir, I'm a huge Clostermann fan, and read the first edition of Le Grand Cirque with great pleasure: I can't find the new edition on amazon.fr or anywhere else. Where did you find it?. .. .Clostermann is fortunately very much still with us: a former MP in France and a great internationalist. He was recently defamed on some spotter websites, and went vigorously and splendidly into print to defend himself against various unworthy slurs as to his decorations and victory scores. Vive les Francaises Libres!
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I have just been given a book by a very good PPRuNe friend - "The Years Flew Past" by Roland 'Bee' Beamont. I can't put it down! . .. .Sadly, he is no longer with us but this, his last book, is magic. Some of his stories spanned many moons, but he has managed to capture the moments and the glory in a relatively few short pages. A great epitaph to a great aviator.. . . . <small>[ 24 March 2002, 18:00: Message edited by: PPRuNe Pop ]</small>
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Anyone know where i can buy all these old books that i have heard so much about but never been able to read, like Ernest K Gann, Brian Lecomber (correct spelling?) et al. PLEASE HELP ME!! i cant find them anywhere 'oop 'ere. .. .HJ
"The Fighters" (?) written by Colin Willock, more famous as the producer of the Survival wildlife progs. Traced the fictional history of two pilots Peter Bristow (RAF) and Dieter Reh (Luftwaffe) and their families from meeting as cadets on exchange c1938 through the war. Technically well researched and skillfully mixing the fictional characters with real names such as Udet and Galland. Long out of print.. .. .Also Larry Forrester's "Fly for your Life".
Lotsa good ones mentioned already.. .The Luftwaffe War Diaries by Karjus Bekker doesn't look like its been mentioned yet.. .. .Hugh_J...waddya mean 'old books'. I'm sure my childhood wasn't that long ago(counts on fingers)........oh! sorry......you're right. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />
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FNG - sorry I've been overseas & missed your query about sourcing Le Grand Cirque - go to the website of a French magazine named Volez! They have a very good attached bookshop page which includes the Clostermann & Mouchotte updates. I ordered by email & they arrived within four days.. .. .Enjoy them!
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If you want to read a more philosophical book about flying and flight safety, try 'Inside the Sky' by William Langewiesche (son of 'Stick and Rudder' Wolfgang Langewiesche).. .. .Very good writing, in the style of Ernest Gann.
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I've got a few which I keep turning to periodically:. .. .Robert Prest's "F4 Phantom - A Pilot's Story" (which someone mentioned earlier). .. ."Fighter Pilot's Summer" about Paul Richey and 609 Sqn's sweeps in 1941. .. ."The First of the Many" written during the war about the 8th Air Force. This is a very thought-provoking book, and I can't speak too highly of it. The wartime censor has changed the names of some of the US aircrew who came from occupied Europe, or whose families were of German descent, in order to protect those families during the war. Some of the accounts written in the book are extremely moving, as the author conveys the sense of uncertainty regarding when / if the war will end, and whether the aircrews he writes about will live to see the day. Very moving.. .. .And finally (although I can't remember the title), the story of one of Paul Richey's fellow 609 Sqn members, Jean Offenberg. I'll try and dig it out tonight and post the title.
BeauMan. .I think it was Lonely Warrior...an excellent book.. .. .I used to also have one about 'Pat' Pattle (Ace of Aces?). Covered early Africa and the Greek campaign up 'til his death.. . . . <small>[ 27 March 2002, 03:16: Message edited by: CoodaShooda ]</small>
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Thanks very much astir, I look forward to reading the updated versions (will make a change from trying to struggle through the misadventures of Emma Bovary in French)
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Has anyone ever read the book " Chicken Hawk " by Robert Mason , x- vietnam chopper pilot.Its talks about flying and war and what one has to do with both and how it affects him as a person and how he adapts to flying conditions as a pilot.
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regards
skyking
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Must have / read Books
I have seen this mentioned before by people much more worthy than myself, but couldn't this general heading do with a ' books ' section, there are so many wonderful works out there which can not only remind us of great deeds, but perhaps more importantly pass on a bit of possibly life-saving gen' to any aircrew...
I'll kick off with 'Test Pilot' by Neville Duke, 'Wind Sand & Stars' by A.St.Expury, 'Test Plilots' by Don Middleton...Some if not all of these are out of print but easily available - maybe among the first tests for an aspiring pilot, though one would have hoped he or she would have made that effort before now!
The 'Tartan Terror's' site for Test Pilots is also a salutary lesson, however I digress;
How about a book thread ?
DZ
I'll kick off with 'Test Pilot' by Neville Duke, 'Wind Sand & Stars' by A.St.Expury, 'Test Plilots' by Don Middleton...Some if not all of these are out of print but easily available - maybe among the first tests for an aspiring pilot, though one would have hoped he or she would have made that effort before now!
The 'Tartan Terror's' site for Test Pilots is also a salutary lesson, however I digress;
How about a book thread ?
DZ
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Two of my favorites:
"The Curtiss Aviation Book" by Glenn H. Curtiss - 1912
"Glenn Curtiss - Pioneer of Flight" C.R. Roseberry - 1972
And of course
Fate is the Hunter - Ernest K. Gann
"The Curtiss Aviation Book" by Glenn H. Curtiss - 1912
"Glenn Curtiss - Pioneer of Flight" C.R. Roseberry - 1972
And of course
Fate is the Hunter - Ernest K. Gann