Need a Read

a few of interest

“To War in a Stringbag” by Charles Lamb; Swordfish pilot in the Med., very very good read. He was the last pilot to land on HMS Courageous, as she was torpedoed moments after. His accounts of flying through the Stuka attack on HMS Illustrious in Malta and the Taranto raid make great reading.

“We band of brothers” by Peppy Blount; B-25’s in the Pacific with the 345th BG.

“Warpath Across the Pacific” by Lawrence Hickey; pictorial encyclopedic history of the Air Apaches 345th BG, with lots of crew stories & first-hand reports etc. The photos are absolutely amazing! Most are taken from B-25s during actual combat missions; you can count the heads of the sailors on the ships they are skip bombing… This book will keep you entertained for hours on end. Here’s a link:

http://www.irandpcorp.com/currentrelease2.html

“The Big Show” is a must read classic, as is “The First and the Last”.

for fiction, try “A Piece of Cake”, if you haven’t read it already…

also fiction, “Gray Eagles” by Duane Unkefer is a worthy fire-side companion.

good luck

greg v

Non-Linear Thermodynamic Expansion at High Mach Numbers Vol 1- 2
Dr W Cardigan-Fitzbadly C.B.E

Don’t bother with volume 3, it gets a bit heavy.

Aviation related:

Swordfish
A history of the Taranto raid, the events leading up to it and the aftermath

Catch 22
One of the best 20th century novels, period

Non aviation related:

Use of Weapons
By Iain M. Banks – fantastic read, exciting and intellectually stimulating, though you may need a strong stomach

Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer: An American Fighter Pilot Over Europe by Philip D. Caine.

Excellent factual account of an American who joined the RAF and fought the Hun whilst his colleagues were still dithering over isolationism. Eventually transfers to the USAAF, hence the change of equipment. Beautifully written and enjoyable.

Moggy

Of recent-ish publications, First Light by Geoffrey Wellum.

Of older titles, how about Sagittarius Rising by Cecil Lewis or Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K. Gann ?

1000 destroyed – Grover C Hall.

Life and times of 4th FG based at Debden. The best contemporary account of a WW2 fighter squadron, bar none.

Bruce

Thanks all !!!!

Keep em’comming !

Cheers

Night Fighter by C.F. Rawnsley and Robert Wright. Basically the story of Gp Capt John Cunningham’s exploits during WWII. Arguably my favourite all time book.

Under an English Heaven – Robert Radcliffe. 8th AF in Suffolk fiction

Tuesday’s War – David Fiddimore. Bomber Command fiction

After Midnight – Robert Ryan. Fiction set partly around Liberators and Mosquitos out of Foggia, partly present day

Moggy

If I have one recommendation, it would be:

One Man’s Window – Denis Barnham

I’ve become engrossed in this since starting it last weekend – reading just a little bit each night so I don’t go through it too quickly.

Barnham flew ops from Malta, flying the first Spitfires to the beleagured island, putting up with daily air-raids, a lack of available aircraft….

Simply excellent reading.

Ive just enjoyed reading Michael Palins around the world in 80 days.
Failing that Chuck Yeagers autobiography.

Hi Ollie

good question….anything considered, although prefer aviation based.

Ta !

ChickenHawk is always good for a (re)read, gritty Vietnam Huey Pilot drama, and technically pretty good as well.

Does it have to be aviation based?