Warbird Information Exchange

I'm currently reading Samuel Hynes' Flights of Passage, his own personal account of his training and time as a Marine Corps diver bomber (SBD) pilot in World War II. His descriptions and insights about flying are very good and his writing is too - because, I would assume, after the war and his military service was done, he became a professor of literature at Princeton University.

In Fights of Passage, he talks about growing up in MN, going to primary civilian flight training in Stearmans in TX, introductory military ground shool in GA, intermediate flight training in BT-13's at NAS Memphis, and then finally advanced flight training flying SNJ's (T-6's) at and then graduating from Pensacola. After being commissioned as an officer, he was sent to Deland, FL for operational training in the SBD Dauntless - and that's as far as I have gotten in the book so far, but it is a very interesting book.

I bought Flights of Passage off of Amazon.com specifically because I had recently been given another of Samuel Hyne's books for a Christmas present and finished reading it not so long ago. It was called The Unsubstantial Air - American Fliers in the First World War and it was his account, based on research and in particular on the personal accounts of the actual pilots involved, as derived from their very own dairies and journals, letters written home, and on their own accounts or books written either during or after the war. It too was very well written, but the tone was somewhat different than the book I am currently reading. First because of the perspective, Hyne's accounts of flying in World War II were his very own whereas in the WW1 book he was recounting and relating the experiences of others. Secondly because aviation itself was so much different after the intervening span of only 20 or so years. One of the significant aspects early in the book on WW1 was the fact that military aviation was something so completely new and unknown, or at least undefined at the time that WW1 broke out, and that had a big impact on the pilot's various experiences with it.

In between, just as a break, I read some fiction - Tom Casey's Stranger's Gate. It too was a good book but something completely different. The protagonist ("hero") of the story spends almost as much time discussing his personal philosophies of life and love as he does talking about flying or having aviation-related adventures, but Casey's description of what flying means to a pilot are as good as any that I have seen. That being said, I thought that his descriptions of the more amorous encounters of the main character with various women were IMHO a bit over the top - almost as mind-altering and psychedelic as I would imagine an LSD "trip" would be.

He doesn't put it that way, but what would be the aviation equivalent of "street cred?" Sky cred? Casey's discusses that subject by way of the "respect" that the protagonist got from a new employer for the fact that he had flown Ag-cats and seaplanes and owned a Twin Beech that he had flown in across the country and even up to Alaska and back, and as a result knew his way around round engines for example. All of that reflected my own personal values in regard to aviation, so it was meaningful to me.

Tom Casey by the way is a (I believe) retired airline pilot who besides writing novels now also (and for the last 20 years or so I guess) has owned and flown a restored Grumman Albatross, which he calls the Candlewood Clipper (it's registered as N7026C.) Both the Albatross and the Virgin Islands also feature prominently in the book, so as another Grumman waterbird fanatic who has spent numerous vacations in the USVI (and also once got a chance to fly on a Goose and a Mallard that belonged to Antilles Air Boats) all of that "spoke" to me as well. I only wish that the seaplane airline in south FL and the Virgin Islands for whom the "hero" worked in the book was a reality!

So, I am now curious what other, not-so-much "classic" (i.e. Ernest K. Gann books for example) aviation related books or stories other members might have read recently or would recommend to the rest of us. I highly recommend all of the books that I have mentioned; so what other books should I or the rest of us who are so inclined read if we get the chance? Please share with the rest of us!

_________________
“To invent the airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything!” - Otto Lilienthal

Natasha: "You got plan, darling?"
Boris: "I always got plan. They don't ever work, but I always got one!"

Remember, any dummy can be a dumb-ass...
In order to be a smart-ass, you first have to be "smart"
and to be a wise-ass, you actually have to be "wise"

I strongly recommend Stephen Bungay's "The Most Dangerous Enemy" a thorough and highly entertaining account of the Battle of Britain. Best account I ever read.

I just finished "I could Never Be So Lucky Again" James H. Doolittle autobiography. Excellent book.

I don't really have a "best". I like 'em all.

I did just finish reading "Forever Flying", R.A. "Bob" Hoover's autobiography. Very enjoyable read!

A while back I read "Roseanna's Reply". I loved it. I've heard some people say they thought it was "cheesy", but I couldn't put it down. I also love cheese.

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K Gann-have to re-read it every so often.

If I narrowed it down to just one as a favorite aviation book, I'd add a second vote for Fate Is The Hunter.

Randy

"First Light" by Battle of Britain pilot Geoffrey Wellum is fantastic.

https://www.amazon.com/First-Light-Beca ... 047142627X



For WW1 one of the best is "Sagittarius Rising" by Cecil Lewis.

https://www.amazon.com/Sagittarius-Risi ... B004SBR794



-

_________________
http://www.biplanerides1.com/

Everything But The Flak https://www.amazon.com/Everything-But-Flak-Martin-Caidin/dp/B000GWZTQ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491857959&sr=1-1&keywords=everything+but+the+flak

Grey Eagles https://www.amazon.com/Gray-Eagles-Duane-Unkefer/dp/0380702797/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491857920&sr=1-1&keywords=grey+eagles

The Raft https://www.amazon.com/Raft-Three-Thousand-Adrift-Uncommon/dp/1507672160/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1491858018&sr=1-3&keywords=the+raft

_________________
Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

What a great idea for a thread!

I'd second (or third, or fourth...) Fate is the Hunter, and also Jimmy Doolittle's autobiography mentioned above.

One that doesn't get as much play, however, is "No Parachute" by Arthur Gould Lee. I happened to pick up a copy at an estate sale, and found it to be one of the better books I've read in the aviation category. It's essentially a diary of an English WWI fighter pilot. But the language holds up now, 100 years later. It's exciting and really puts you right in the middle of everything.



Of course, a good read is Saburo Sakai's "Samurai!"

Thanks for all of the great replies (and suggestions for more books to read) so far...

However, please note that I did say "what other, not-so-much "classic" (i.e. Ernest K. Gann books for example) aviation related books or stories other members might have read recently or would recommend to the rest of us."

I said that because they (meaning Ernie Gann's books) are the "no, duh!" obvious answer to anyone interested in aviation!

It would also be nice if in addition to plain, simple, basic "nominations" you guys say something about what in particular you liked about the books that you nominate - if that's not too much to ask as well....

Thanks again!

_________________
“To invent the airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything!” - Otto Lilienthal

Natasha: "You got plan, darling?"
Boris: "I always got plan. They don't ever work, but I always got one!"

Remember, any dummy can be a dumb-ass...
In order to be a smart-ass, you first have to be "smart"
and to be a wise-ass, you actually have to be "wise"

I recently read "A thousand shall fall" by Murray Peden.
It was excellent.
It is a first hand story of flying Stirlings and Fortresses with the RAF.
I highly recommend it.

Andy

Hands down for me, from all the aviation books that I have read in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German or French, it is a book titled in Spanish "Cadenas del Aire"

This is the personal account of a medical student in Spain, with his brother being one of the pilots of the "Jesus del Gran Poder" a Breguet XIX that flew across the ocean, from Spain to Latin America.

When the Spanish revolution begins, he leaves his life as a student and the son of a Major General, and goes to first to exile to France, then smuggles himself and others, back into Spain, carrying medical equipment. This in turn, has him serving as a medical aide (given his medical studies) at a first aid hospital, treating grievious combat wounds. He makes a deal with his brother, where if he is ever called to serve in another unit, his brother will request his transfer to aviation. His "quinta" or military age-grup is ordered into service, and this is how he notifies his brother, who requests his transfer to aviation training.

He ends up as a student pilot and goes to the military aviation school to learn the way to fly military aircraft the military way. British, German, Italian, French aircraft of the period are used.

But the title of the book, "Cadenas del Aire" (Aerial Chains) refers to the Heinkel (51) Aerial Assault Chain, that this pilot eventually joins. His descriptions of not only combat flying, but flying in general, his travels through a Spain at war with itself, equipment, life when not flying, and so on, have been my favorite reading since around 1980 when I first bought this book.

I read it at least once a year, and every time, I find something new, something interesting.

He flew He-46s, He-51s, Bucker Jungmann and Jungmeister, Tiger Moth, He-100, Me-109, the He-112, Ju-52s, Breguet XIX, and others.

Sadly for people from other countries and languages -in my opinion- if this books is translated it will lose the rich and descriptive use of the Castillian language, which -again in my opinion- makes it a unique and truly enjoyable book.

The pilot's name, Jose Luis Jimenez-Arenas. He eventually is discharged from the service, goes back home to dig up his father's remains, and gets for him a funeral with full military honors, his father having been the Military Governor of Catalonia before the Republicans arrested him, and summarily executed him.

Jimenez-Arenas finished his studies, and became a doctor.

If you can read Spanish, this book is highly recommended by yours truly.


Saludos,


Tulio

Image: the book front, shows a He-51 in flight.

_________________
Why take the best part of life out of your life, when you can have life with the best part of your life in your life?

I am one of them 'futbol' people.

Will the previous owner has pics of this double cabin sample

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Sooooo, how am I going to know to press 1 or 2, if I do not speak English????

"First light" "Price of cake"

_________________
GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Press "1" for English.
Press "2" to disconnect until you have learned to speak English.

Nanette by Edwards Park This is a fascinating little book by a P-39 pilot in the SWPA. He really captured the day to day reality of flying in that time and place and some of his descriptions of flying the Airacobra are truly beautiful.
https://www.amazon.com/Nanette-Her-Pilo ... 039305618X

_________________
"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Another one I really enjoyed, was this one:



I now know why Brown was such a great test pilot. It wasn't that he was just a great stick, he was great at explaining to other pilots what flying each aircraft was like. He gives the context of how he came to each plane, and then describes them in detail which is both technical yet engaging and truly conveys the unique characteristics of each aircraft. He does a character study on them, not just any old pilot report.

Further, the subject matter of course, is dealing with planes of types which either are exceedingly rare or have ceased to exist altogether. On top of that, none (or exceedingly few) are likely to fly them in the future simply because so few exist. So reading Brown describing flying them is literally reading about a walk among the (aviation) dinosaurs. Very compelling in this regard - it's as close as we'll get to flying these rare birds.

Too many to list.
There is not "one" rather 2-3 in each category...
Aircraft, WW II operations, Developmental history, aviation in general, general aviation, etc.

In aviation history/biography I'll go with Fate is the Hunter, but don't forget Serenade to a Big Bird, Fall of Fortresses and many others.

WWII ops: Freeman's "Mighty Eighth" trilogy.
And for another revealing look at US forces in the UK, Martin Bowman's little-knownWe're here to win the war for you, a collection of reminiscences by 8th AF personnel on their recreation, romances and life in the UK. A lot of info on the non-flying lives of the men, which gives you a better insight on them for the next time you read about their missions.
In short all the stuff Freeman didn't tell you.

If anyone here is interested in General Aviation...(light aircraft as opposed to general aviation if you get my drift)...I have many suggestions...after all there is more to aviation than warbird (yes, I know that's heresy here ) and it's GA that enables most of us to fly.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.