Good Air Novels??
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Recently read 'Northern SAR' by ??? 'bout US Sea King combat sar during 'Nam. Fiction but very factual and the Sea King stuff is spot on. The story line is a little predictable and as to a FJ jocky and chopper pilot being best buddies..... not in a million years. But still a good read!!
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Sorry to bang on guys, but this is simply one of the best books I have ever read. The Hunters by James Salter. It's now re-printed. It even made me respect fighter pilots. It's that good.
Get it through Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...848093-1098225
Get it through Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...848093-1098225
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What an absolutely superb thread this has been. I am a new chum on this BB and am just getting to grips with its features. Ventured onto this forum merely to reminisce among chums of my past. Having started on the Rumours and News forum, this is like a breath of fresh air!
There has been one post that, IMHO, let us all down. It was offered up by one “Up Very Gently” (UVG) who, for some obscure reason, chose not to commend to us his better reading (if he in fact does any) but to bucket a book written by a good friend of mine (also a fellow PPRuNer), Dave McMullon. He did so in the following terms:
Shame on you UVG. Though not a best-seller, this book has sold many copies and has been enjoyed by many thousands of readers, including myself. As to your opinion on the author’s writing ability, the very sentence you constructed to denigrate that ability illustrates very clearly your own lack thereof. What’s wrong with you, lad? Don’t you have a grammar-checking facility on your PC? Didn’t anyone ever advise you that, where you have nothing nice to say, it is often best to say nothing at all? Or is it that you are one of those who did not like reading the truth about facts surrounding the aftermath of the Lockerbie Disaster?
[ 13 August 2001: Message edited by: Holt CJ ]
There has been one post that, IMHO, let us all down. It was offered up by one “Up Very Gently” (UVG) who, for some obscure reason, chose not to commend to us his better reading (if he in fact does any) but to bucket a book written by a good friend of mine (also a fellow PPRuNer), Dave McMullon. He did so in the following terms:
For God's Sake, do not even think of reading "Chinook!" by a David McMullen. It is without doubt the biggest pile of pants you will ever have the misfortune to cast your eyes over. The bloke couldn't write if his life depended on it; and it's a shame it isn't.
[ 13 August 2001: Message edited by: Holt CJ ]
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To Tocsin and all othewrs who are keen on modern ! fighter stories, I cannot recommend highly enough the books of Mark Berent. Written by an authore with 3 tours in Vietnam under his belt thay reallly lay out not only what it must have been like flying and fighting in that Campaign but also the creation of many of the tactics we take for granted now. Unfortunately,despite repeated trips to US book stores I cannot track down any more than his first 2 books. They are Rolling Thunder and Steel Tiger. The others, Phantom Leadrer, Eagle Station and Storm Flight seem to be out of print - a real shame.
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Add to the list of those about the Vietnamese air war try "Thud Ridge" by Col. Jack Broughton.
Its a true story about the the F105 bombing campaign, and the trials and tribulations they faced fighting not only the North Vietnamese but also their own high command.
[ 13 August 2001: Message edited by: henry crun ]
Its a true story about the the F105 bombing campaign, and the trials and tribulations they faced fighting not only the North Vietnamese but also their own high command.
[ 13 August 2001: Message edited by: henry crun ]
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Also by Ernest K. Gann (SHACKMAN on Page 2 of this thread) "In the Company of Eagles". WWI French v German grudge match, published by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd in 1966 for a very reasonable 25/-! May well have been reissued?
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Try Ernie Gann's autobiography "Hostage to Fortune" it has more flying stories in it (how about almost taking out the Taj Mahal with a B-24) and they are real.
Seem to recall as a kid finding a paperback anthology editied by Paul Brickhill (maybe) that had lots of different bits of WWII stuff in it including squadron songs and various stuff that doesn't find it's way into official histories.
For modern stuff try Fighter Combat by a fellow named Shaw published by U. S. Naval Institute Press. Best description for intelligent lay person of modern fighter tactics (1 v 1, 1 V many, energy maneuvering, guns offense, guns defense missiles defense etc) I've seen.
"Wings over the Sea" history of carrier aviation can't recall author or publisher, excellent capsule history. Written from British point of view, which is fine cuz they invented the meatball and ejection seat, two indespensible naval aviator tools.
Seem to recall as a kid finding a paperback anthology editied by Paul Brickhill (maybe) that had lots of different bits of WWII stuff in it including squadron songs and various stuff that doesn't find it's way into official histories.
For modern stuff try Fighter Combat by a fellow named Shaw published by U. S. Naval Institute Press. Best description for intelligent lay person of modern fighter tactics (1 v 1, 1 V many, energy maneuvering, guns offense, guns defense missiles defense etc) I've seen.
"Wings over the Sea" history of carrier aviation can't recall author or publisher, excellent capsule history. Written from British point of view, which is fine cuz they invented the meatball and ejection seat, two indespensible naval aviator tools.
PPruners, a first class thread with some titles that I will go and read now and some titles that I already have but there is one glaring ommission from this fine list.....Joseph Hiller and "Catch 22". I thought the film was a complete load of tonk that did not and could do justice to the author and have never watched it again. There are such marvellous characters like Doc Daneeka, Major Major, Nateley, Nateley's Whore, Milo Minderbender (we probably know someone like him) and Yossarian to name a few. How Milo gets the Squadron to bomb it's own base for the "syndicate" or the how the title of the book is described is absolute brilliance. The General Staff come in for some stick just to show that we do not have the monopoly in that department today. For pure irony/cynism/black humour/sardonic humour/sarcasm and the complete futility of war, this is the best book by far and is still good on the fourth or fifth read.
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Agree Most Secret War by RV Jones is awesome.
Have a look at Five Lives by Laddie Lucas - Top Golfer, Journalist, WWII RAF Fighter Pilot, MP and Dog Racing executive - an insight into a full life led.
Other Favourite is Fly Navy - The View from the Cockpit 1945-2000. Recollections and lots of pictures from many Naval Aviators of the bygone age. Carrier mishaps, Jungle ops in the Far East, Falklands, Gulf etc etc. Very good and highly recommended and proceeds to the Fleet Air Arm Officer's Association, a charity.
ISBN 085052 732 5
Have a look at Five Lives by Laddie Lucas - Top Golfer, Journalist, WWII RAF Fighter Pilot, MP and Dog Racing executive - an insight into a full life led.
Other Favourite is Fly Navy - The View from the Cockpit 1945-2000. Recollections and lots of pictures from many Naval Aviators of the bygone age. Carrier mishaps, Jungle ops in the Far East, Falklands, Gulf etc etc. Very good and highly recommended and proceeds to the Fleet Air Arm Officer's Association, a charity.
ISBN 085052 732 5
Dir. PPRuNe Line Service
"Faster than the sun" by Peter Twiss OBE, DSC. Not just an autobiography, it's also a most amazing and compelling story of what it took to break the 1000mph barrier. I've got many of the books already mentioned in this thread and this ranks among the best.
---Mik
---Mik
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One that isn't a novel but rather a superb autobiography with all the colour, pace and verve of a good novel is "Carrier Pilot" by Norman Hanson. It's a superbly evocative account of his flying with the RN during WW2, training in the USA then as a Corsair pilot with the British Pacific Fleet. Probably not in print but get one from the second-hand aviation specialists if you can.
Among the actual novels of air warfare, the two best I've read are Bomber by Len Deighton, and The Professionals by John Harris (ww1). However, the best WW2 combat novel I've read is The Shepherd by CS Forester (the Hornblower author) It's an account of a convoy crossing from the point fo view of a destroyer skipper. Magnificent piece of literature.
Among the actual novels of air warfare, the two best I've read are Bomber by Len Deighton, and The Professionals by John Harris (ww1). However, the best WW2 combat novel I've read is The Shepherd by CS Forester (the Hornblower author) It's an account of a convoy crossing from the point fo view of a destroyer skipper. Magnificent piece of literature.
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Slightly off-topic: Douglas Reeman writes excellent novels, mainly about sea stories (also 18c as Alexandra Kent - Bolitho stories 10 out of 10). One of Reemans novels was about a seafire pilot in the 2nd World War, however all of them are very good.
Also to whoever rated The Penertrators (Cold war Vulcan spoof attack on the USA) - very good book, I found it at Gravity books (another recommendation) and read it cover to cover last week. YWIW senior flew Vulcans about that time so it's going into his X-mas stocking!
This thread has got to be archived - I shall just ask Mrs YWIW to buy books off it for the next couple of years
Also to whoever rated The Penertrators (Cold war Vulcan spoof attack on the USA) - very good book, I found it at Gravity books (another recommendation) and read it cover to cover last week. YWIW senior flew Vulcans about that time so it's going into his X-mas stocking!
This thread has got to be archived - I shall just ask Mrs YWIW to buy books off it for the next couple of years
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Samuel,
slightly off topic but if we are talking about the same "The White Rabbit" it was written by Bruce Marshall and is the wartime biography of Wg Cdr Yeo-Thomas GC, MC.
It tells of his wartime exploits with SOE and the French Resistance and of his capture and imprisonment in Buchenwald concentration camp among other places.
slightly off topic but if we are talking about the same "The White Rabbit" it was written by Bruce Marshall and is the wartime biography of Wg Cdr Yeo-Thomas GC, MC.
It tells of his wartime exploits with SOE and the French Resistance and of his capture and imprisonment in Buchenwald concentration camp among other places.
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Someone mentioned the book FLYING FURY by James MCudden.
Is it actually written by the man himself before he died? Is it a good, interesting autobiography or a messy mish mash of diary extracts? Is it worth £7?
thanks
Is it actually written by the man himself before he died? Is it a good, interesting autobiography or a messy mish mash of diary extracts? Is it worth £7?
thanks
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Gash, you are quite correct, and I had realised my mistake but was waiting for someone to point it out!!I'm surprised at how common this list is however, as I have read most of them at some time or another.
Not about flying, but anything by the late Nicholas Monsarrat is worth reading. The Cruel Sea is now, and always will be a classic. I still have mine won as a book prize at school!
Not about flying, but anything by the late Nicholas Monsarrat is worth reading. The Cruel Sea is now, and always will be a classic. I still have mine won as a book prize at school!
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This has to been the ultimate christmas present thread!!!
Try these:
Dale Brown: Flight of the Old Dog
Any ex V force men will relate, and ex Buff exchangers will love it - good cold war 'what might have been stuff' He has written loads of other novels but IMHO they have become beach novels. Technically excellent though.
Not a novel, but a good account of British engineerring at its best -The Marshall Story - Sir Arthur Marshall's [as in Marshalls of Cambridge] account of how he came to be in aviation -and many c130 crew can be grateful for his work.... ISBN 1-85260 472 7
Falklands - the Air War 1986 - Blackmore Press ISBN 0-85368-842-7 - THE definitive account of all thaat went on, who did what, orders of battle, aircraft etc. Absolute reading for all who plan for the future.
Following on from Samuels mention of Yeo Thomas, Wg Cdr Forest Frederick Yeo-Thomas [aka Tommy] is mentioned often in that most extraordinary of books, [non aviation, and factual but who cares!] 'Between Silk and Cyanide' - Leo Marks' story of his role as chief codemaker to SOE. The return of Tommy at the end of the war from Gestapo captivity is to put it mild tear rending and moving. How lucky we all are to have benefitted from the bravery of such men. Tommy got his GC in '45 from G-VI-R and it referred to Acting Wg Cdr RAFVR ... and in Paris, there is a street, La rue Yeo-Thomas.
Many will know the poem writing skills he posessed and recall the film about Violette Szabo. Indeed the elders will possibly have known 84 Charing Cross Road
Not an aviation book, but in many ways a book that sums up the cameraderie and sense of purpose that serving ones country be it in war or peace can bring about.
[ 29 August 2001: Message edited by: Reheat On ]
Try these:
Dale Brown: Flight of the Old Dog
Any ex V force men will relate, and ex Buff exchangers will love it - good cold war 'what might have been stuff' He has written loads of other novels but IMHO they have become beach novels. Technically excellent though.
Not a novel, but a good account of British engineerring at its best -The Marshall Story - Sir Arthur Marshall's [as in Marshalls of Cambridge] account of how he came to be in aviation -and many c130 crew can be grateful for his work.... ISBN 1-85260 472 7
Falklands - the Air War 1986 - Blackmore Press ISBN 0-85368-842-7 - THE definitive account of all thaat went on, who did what, orders of battle, aircraft etc. Absolute reading for all who plan for the future.
Following on from Samuels mention of Yeo Thomas, Wg Cdr Forest Frederick Yeo-Thomas [aka Tommy] is mentioned often in that most extraordinary of books, [non aviation, and factual but who cares!] 'Between Silk and Cyanide' - Leo Marks' story of his role as chief codemaker to SOE. The return of Tommy at the end of the war from Gestapo captivity is to put it mild tear rending and moving. How lucky we all are to have benefitted from the bravery of such men. Tommy got his GC in '45 from G-VI-R and it referred to Acting Wg Cdr RAFVR ... and in Paris, there is a street, La rue Yeo-Thomas.
Many will know the poem writing skills he posessed and recall the film about Violette Szabo. Indeed the elders will possibly have known 84 Charing Cross Road
Not an aviation book, but in many ways a book that sums up the cameraderie and sense of purpose that serving ones country be it in war or peace can bring about.
[ 29 August 2001: Message edited by: Reheat On ]
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Harry Peacock,
North SAR (ISBN 0 671 85588 3)was by Gerry Carroll, he wrote two others before he died,
Ghostrider One, (ISBN 0 671 85589 1), and
No place to hide, (ISBN 0 671 85590 5)
Unfortunately he passed away after the third novel, and I think Tom Clancy got involved to help publish them.
He was a highly decorated LCDR in the USN and the books are an outstanding read for anyone let alone us Helo drivers.....
Sea Harrier over the Falklands was a good read, they take a while to order but I did manage to get one after about six weeks a few years ago, unfortunately I don't have the ISBN, a mate has the book. Interesting reading from an apparently like him or hate him CO.
Fortunes of War (ISBN 0 75282 476 7) is stephen Coonts latest.
North SAR (ISBN 0 671 85588 3)was by Gerry Carroll, he wrote two others before he died,
Ghostrider One, (ISBN 0 671 85589 1), and
No place to hide, (ISBN 0 671 85590 5)
Unfortunately he passed away after the third novel, and I think Tom Clancy got involved to help publish them.
He was a highly decorated LCDR in the USN and the books are an outstanding read for anyone let alone us Helo drivers.....
Sea Harrier over the Falklands was a good read, they take a while to order but I did manage to get one after about six weeks a few years ago, unfortunately I don't have the ISBN, a mate has the book. Interesting reading from an apparently like him or hate him CO.
Fortunes of War (ISBN 0 75282 476 7) is stephen Coonts latest.
You are spot on YWIW, my wife is going to go harpic when she sees the books I want for crimbo, to add to the list
"Feet Wet" by Rear Adm. Paul Gillcrist. Reflections of an american carrier pilot, S.H.book imho.
"Never in Anger" by Anthony Bendell,brilliant, autobiography by the man who, incidently designed the lightning flash that adorned treble 1's frightnings (only know that 'cos it's in the book!)and then as a Wingco discovered he had M.S. sad or what?
"Airshow" by Graham Hurley, a year in the life of the I.A.T.
And finally "Wings of Fury" Robert Wilcox,american, of course, but a good read about F.J. pilots from Vietnam to the Gulf
regards Dinsdale
"Feet Wet" by Rear Adm. Paul Gillcrist. Reflections of an american carrier pilot, S.H.book imho.
"Never in Anger" by Anthony Bendell,brilliant, autobiography by the man who, incidently designed the lightning flash that adorned treble 1's frightnings (only know that 'cos it's in the book!)and then as a Wingco discovered he had M.S. sad or what?
"Airshow" by Graham Hurley, a year in the life of the I.A.T.
And finally "Wings of Fury" Robert Wilcox,american, of course, but a good read about F.J. pilots from Vietnam to the Gulf
regards Dinsdale
One more to add to the chrissy list should be THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE by Master Sgt Jack Brehm. It is the insiders and True Story that THE PERFECT STORM was based on. By the way DINSDALE if you require any details ie: isbn or publishers of Feet Wet or Airshow I have the books and I would be only to happy to supply them to you. 
