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REQUEST: Good aviation/military books

CommodoreMid

Whateva! I do what I want!
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Recently finished "Troubled Water" by Gregory Freeman. It covers the race riots on the Kitty Hawk in the 70s and is a quick read.
 

Pags

N/A
pilot
Just finished "Matterhorn" by Karl Marlantes, which was a great read about Marine Infantry in Vietnam. While it is a work of fiction, it's backed up by the author's own experiences, that included earning a Navy Cross, in Vietnam. I can't speak to the realism of infantry combat that it portrays, but it was a page turner that I couldn't put down.
 

HvrNavy

New Member
pilot
The Night Stalkers by Michael Durant/Steven Hartov, excellent book about the 160th.

About to start Seawolf 28 by A.J. Billing, Vietnam era Navy helo pilot
 

Lawman

Well-Known Member
None
Low Level Hell: by Hugh Mills

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Goes into a huge bit of detail on the employment of the OH-6/AH-1 Hunter Killer Scout teams. Its done from the point of view of a Young Commissioned guy who went scouts and his experience as a platoon leader during some of the hairiest parts of the fight with the NVA. Had it recommended to me by an IP that actually flew them in Vietnam and you'd seriously have to clank when you walk to do this mission.
 

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
There is only one book about the Phrog out there that I know of:

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"BONNIE SUE" by Marion F. Sturkey. Of course, I didn't pay for my copy - and it had the added benefit of the author's signature. He was our guest of honor at a mess night, and I was tasked with escorting him around J-actionville all day. Great guy, and at the end of it all - he gave me an autographed copy!
 

Pags

N/A
pilot
There is only one book about the Phrog out there that I know of:

51BNTK30SWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg


"BONNIE SUE" by Marion F. Sturkey. Of course, I didn't pay for my copy - and it had the added benefit of the author's signature. He was our guest of honor at a mess night, and I was tasked with escorting him around J-actionville all day. Great guy, and at the end of it all - he gave me an autographed copy!
Matterhorn has phrogs on the cover and features them briefly but heroically.
 

Deere1450

Well-Known Member
pilot
Fate Is the Hunter by Ernest K. Gann was a solid read. Autobiography about the early days of commercial aviation and air transport in WWII (no relation to the movie with the same title). Mr. Gann describes the adventures and terrors he experienced, and all the raw type of flying that went on back in the day.
 

HvrNavy

New Member
pilot
[About to start Seawolf 28 by A.J. Billing, Vietnam era Navy helo pilot[/quote]

Not recommending this book unless you're really curious about his story. I've only read about 50 pages. Tons of spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, lots of "I'm a badass" type of writing, really bad syntax, and almost too over the top to believe.
 

usmarinemike

Solidly part of the 42%.
pilot
Contributor

SteveG75

Retired and starting that second career
None
Just finished a "A Dawn Like Thunder" about VT-8. Everyones knows about the guys off the Hornet but this book also covers the VT-8 Avengers that flew off Midway as well as what happened after the Battle of Midway. Hint: Cactus Air Force. Definitely a good read.
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brownshoe

Well-Known Member
Contributor
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Not a book about aviation but still very worth reading (I’ve just finished). “Armageddon” fascinating read about the last year of WWII. All are welcome to borrow it but Ron gets it first. And if you haven’t seen the movie “Downfall” it’s really great and of course about the end of the war (German with English subtitles). Ron the movie and the book go into the mail tomorrow, enjoy.

Steve

(John, dumb me finally figured out how to resize photos.:) Thanks again for all you do.)
 

scoolbubba

Brett327 gargles ballsacks
pilot
Contributor
Just finished a "A Dawn Like Thunder" about VT-8. Everyones knows about the guys off the Hornet but this book also covers the VT-8 Avengers that flew off Midway as well as what happened after the Battle of Midway. Hint: Cactus Air Force. Definitely a good read.
3477684.jpg
I was literally about to post this. I'm about 350 pages into it and I started on Saturday. I found out that Midway was a huge clusterfuck, and Guadalcanal was also a giant clusterfuck. Only because the Japanese made a bigger shit show of it than we did were we able to come out on top. Great read.
 

TheBubba

I Can Has Leadership!
None
It's in another thread, but "With The Old Breed" has come highly recommended (apologies if its already in here).

I also recommended "Churchill's Secret Agent" by Max & Linda Ciampoli. It details Mr. Ciampoli's exploits in the European Theater as a British agent, personally tasked by Mr. Churchill.
 

MIDNJAC2

New Member
pilot
Just finished the following kindle books:

"When Penguins Flew and Water Burned": outstanding first-hand account from an AF Nav of his years in the BUFF, among other things, standing nuclear watch in the late 80's, and participating in the opening days of Desert Storm. Big takeaway....WTF was Boeing thinking not putting dumps on that thing? For the love of god....

"Jets, Vettes and Sex": fictional memoir written by a former Hornet guy about his nugget tour, including his experience in the opening shots of OEF. Very honest, lots of good bar stories, and the guy pretty much writes in the spirit of full frontal nudity (literally and figuratively speaking).

"Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Post Vietnam Years": Good account of the changes in tactics and weapons in the final years of Vietnam, and particularly the work the AF Weapons School @ Nellis did in the 1970's, pretty much laying the groundwork for modern day smart weapons and the types of tactics we use today. Well researched and written, though at times it was dumbed down a little more than I would have expected coming from an experienced AF F-4/F-15 guy.
 

John R. Gibson

Hornet Guru
A signed copy of Maj. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington's autobiogrphy... BAA-BAA Blacksheep is an awesome read.
 

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