REQUEST: Good aviation/military books

[webmaster]

Seems that quite a few of you have recommended in scattered threads and posts a variety of books that you have read about aviation and the military. I would like to put them all the recommendations in one place (like the Best Threads, About and OPSEC) link on the home page.

I ran a search, and outside of one Marine thread on some good books, really couldn't find anything (though I do recall one way back when, but no luck finding it).

Anyways, if you have the time, please post:

1. Title
2. Author
3. Any comments you have on the book

POSTING RULES: I do not want this to become a book discussion thread, I just want to consolidate the forum member's recommendations. I will delete any post that isn't offering a recommendation.

Thanks,

John

 

[TheBubba]

Bravo 2 Zero by Andy McNabb. Its about an SAS team that got found in Iraq during the first go-round.

Generation Kill by Evan Wright. The story of the 1st Recon Batt. during the push to Baghdad (sp?)

 

[mmx1]

In the Company of Heroes by Mike Durant

Not Navy or Marine Corps but talks about his helo career and of course, his time in captivity.

Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
Historical fiction about the battle of Thermopylae; good read on the warrior ethic.

 

[xmid]

"Fields of Fire" by James Webb.
James Webb was a huge hero of mine and he actually came to speak to my class during plebe summer. I just about crapped in my issued whitie tighties. I wrote in my thought of the day that it would be awesome (not my exact words) if I could meet Mr. Webb. My squad leader got it sent all the way up to the Supe and he gave the okay. I was pulled out of some brief and run up to my room to shave and put on a fresh uniform. In 5 minutes I was showered and shaved, and was wearing a brand new uniform. I was told to stand at attention in the VIP area where they had food and everything for guests. When Mr. Webb arrived the regimental commander shook his hand and said, "sir this plebe wrote in his thought of the day that you were his hero and wanted to meet you." Mr. Webb, who was about 5 feet in front of me said that he didnt have time and turned and walked away. He then talked with some big wiggs and munched on the finger foods before going in to the auditorium, the whole time I was standing at attention in the corner. Many times when you meet your hero they will let you down. I still like his books, but I dont think I will ever look at him as a person the same again.

 

[xmid]

If you ever wondered what the air force's training pipeline is like for tactical aviation types "Eye of the Viper" by Peter Aleshire is pretty good. It follows a group of aviators all the way from UPT through their version of FRS for the F-16.

And even if you have never dreamed of becoming a Navy SEAL, warrior elite is an awesome book. It follows a BUDs class all the way through to graduation.

 

[A4sForever]

All available @ Amazon.com:


The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway ..... and ..... The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 , both by John B. Lundstrom .... both a masterpiece of research and writing ....both excellent and detailed. Pay attention ... not a "light read" but you will learn about the WW2 history of Naval Aviation -- carrier-style.



Sunburst: The Rise of Japanese Naval Air Power, 1909-1941 , Mark R. Peattie ... the best book about the Imperial Japanese Naval airforce in english --- operations and equipment --- strengths and weaknesses of Japan's Naval Air arm.

Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam , by Zallin Grant .... centers on VF-162 and the USS Oriskany ... excellent account and the "real deal". A couple of these guys were my instructors in advanced and VT-4.

On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War over Vietnam , by John B. Nichols (ret CDR) and Barrett Tillman (award winning aviation historian). What it was like to fly from Yankee Station from 1964-1973; including tactics, policies, politics, and statistics. Extremely readable ---- and CDR Nichols is right on in all of his judgements and calls .... just my opinion, but believe it.

 

[NFOKP]

"The Circle" by David Poyer
I read this was required reading at the Academy. The moral courage of the main character Dan Lenson is inspiring. It takes place during the cold war, and focuses on Dan having a rough time as a new Divo.

 

[Sly1978]

Here are a few good reads:

Flyboys: A True Story of Courage by James Bradley
A no-holds-barred view of Naval Aviators and the War in the Pacific

AIR WARRIORS : THE INSIDE STORY OF THE MAKING OF A NAVY PILOT by Douglas Waller
Perhaps a tad outdated and dramatized, but gives a fairly accurate depiction of primary

Bogeys and Bandits : The Making of a Fighter Pilot by Robert Gandt
Not sure how accurate it is, but you strike-types should find it to be an interesting read.

 

[TurnandBurn55]

To Rule The Waves
Arthur Herman

Great history of the English/British Navy in the good old days of wooden ships and sails... reads almost like an adventure story.

Flyboys
James Bradley

Surprised nobody mentioned this already. YES, it is a leftist slant on history. Take it with a grain of salt, it's a great look at the brutality of war when our existence (or theirs!) is on the line. Ask yourself reading this book what would have happened if Anderson Cooper were reporting in 1943...

Decision at Sea
Craig Symonds

Fascinating account of 6 naval battles from Yorktown (Battle of the Capes) through 1989 (Operation Praying Mantis) which shaped the US of A. Can't put it down... although the end is really annoying because he starts preaching leftist BS about the war in Iraq. Still an entertaining history...

 

[SteveG75]

In A-4's style, but I used Barnes and Noble since they have all these books:

The Blond Knight of Germany
by Raymond F. Toliver, Trevor J. Constable. Erich Hartman went into comabt with the Luftwaffe in 1942, he was twenty years old. By 1945, he had 352 kills. After spending 10 years in a Soviet POW camp, he returned to Germany in 1955. A great story about a great pilot.

Believed To be Alive by John W. Thornton. John Thornton was a Navy LTjg helo pilot captured in Korea in 1951. His experience makes for an incredible story.

Midway : The Japanese Story by Mitsuo Fuchida, Masatake Okumiya. The story of what most people consider the turning point of the Pacif War told by the other side. Fascinating reading. (BTW: Mitsuo Fuchida led the air attack on Pearl Harbor and commanded the air group of the carrier Akagi at Midway. Masatake Okumiya, one of Japan's pioneer dive-bomber pilots, served aboard the Ryujo.)

Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors by James D. Hornfischer. OK, so it about SWO's. But, what a story. Attacking Japanese battleships and cruisers with destroyers and destroyer escorts. Worth the read.

 

[gaijin6423]

"The Root: The Marines In Beirut, August 1982-February 1984" by Eric Hammel (Not the easiest to find, but well worth it.)

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. Laugh if you want to, but it's on the Commandant's suggested reading list (or used to be). It's also a great commentary on leadership.

 

[Fly Navy]

This is a paste from an email I wrote, so please bear with me if anything is repeated:

"Fly Boys" by James Bradley - True account about Naval Aviators who are shotdown and captured by the Japanese on the island of Chichi Jima during WWII. Not a fun book to read, pretty brutal. Very educational and interesting.

"In The Company Of Heroes" by Michael Durant - Autobiographical account of Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant's shootdown and capture in Mogadishu, Somalia. The "Blackhawk Down" incident told from his viewpoint.

"The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe - Duh.

"Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage" by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew - Absolutely amazing book about US Navy submarines during the Cold War. The stuff unveiled in this book about what we did to spy on the Soviets during the Cold War will blow you away.

"We Were Soldiers Once... And Young" by Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway - The story of the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam. What the movie "We Were Soldiers" was based on. Fantastic book, and more graphic and detailed than the movie.

"Blackhawk Down" by Mark Bowden - Duh.

"Flags Of Our Fathers" by James Bradley - Account of the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII and the story of the 6 flag raisers shown in the photo and memorialized on monument in Washington, DC.

"Band of Brothers" by Stephen E. Ambrose - Duh.

"The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara - The Battle of Gettysburg written from both the Union and Confederate sides. Very engaging and well done book. What the movie "Gettysburg" was based on.

"Red Storm Rising" by Tom Clancy - World War III between the USA and Soviets during the 1980s. Scary book, scared the Pentagon. Very realistic, fictional portrayal of how a conventional war would have been fought between the two. Includes all elements... Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force. On the Navy's recommended reading list.

 

[MarineAir]

I have few books although non aviation related. My aviation books have already been listed above. I couldn't copy the images on here from amazon.com so I just have the links. http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0...ow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
One tough Marine by Major Bruce Norton.USMC(ret) and 1st Sargeant Don Hamblen. USMC. (ret). This is the story of 1st Sgt. Don Hamblen, USMC. A Force Recon Marine who lost a leg on a parachute jump but stayed in the Corps as a recon marine operating on one good leg and a prostetic for the other. Very good book I'd recommend.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0...ow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Sargeant Major, U. S MarinesThe personal story of Sargeant Major Maurice Jacques. USMC(ret.) by Major Bruce H "Doc" Norton, USMC(ret.) about life in combat as an infantryman in Korea and a recon Marine in Vietnam.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0...ow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Against All Odds by Major Phil Ashby. The story of Royal Marine Major Phil Ashby and how, while on a UN peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone during their burtal civil war far inside rebel territory, his UN unit was overran by the rebels. The book chronicles how he and two other British Peacekeepers escaped into the thick west africa jungle for several days and nights, to avoid capture by blood thirsty rebel soldiers to get back to UN lines.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0312859414.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Distant ValorThe story of U.S involvement in Beirut as seen through the eyes of a young marine.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0553714015.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Panzer Aces by Frank Kurowski. The gritty exploits of some of the German military's best tank commanders during WWII. Mostly on the eastern front. I haven't seen a lot of books about tank combat during WWII from the perspective of a tank crewman so I found this to be a fasinating read.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0140269940.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Sabre Squadron by Cameron Spence. The story of the longest SAS mission behind Iraqi lines during the first Gulf War. Six long weeks. If you've read Bravo two zero, this is a good complement to that story.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images...ow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
The One That Got Away by Cpl. Chris Ryan. ex SAS. The story of the only member of the SAS's Bravo two zero unit that actually escaped on foot into Syria during the 1st Gulf war.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0760320888.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
McCoys Marines: Darkside to Baghdad by John Koopland. The story of the Marines of 3rd battalion. 4th Marines from the pre invasion to the fall of Bagdhad in OIF.

 

[bch]

not aviation related, but something I think every military officer should read.

"American Soldier"
General Tommy Franks

and also

"My American Journey"
Colin Powell

 

[KBayDog]

Acts of War: The Behavior of Men in Battle
Richard Holmes

Relatively well-researched book about the psychological/physiological effects of war on the average man.

"But you don't have to take my word for it..."