OT:Book Recommendations

[Banquo]

Hi Everyone,

 

I am currently reading Philip D. Caine's "Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Warm Beer" and wondered if any of you could either recommend any helicopter orientated material or any other books you might think are essential non-fiction reading.

 

All the best :)

[urze]

Check this link:

http://astore.amazon.com/rotorwashmaga-20/105-1171390-0270830?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=1

[Sundowner.pl]

Robert Mason "Chickenhawk"

 

Simply the best out there.

I will soon order "Low Level Hell" by Hugh Mills, it looks to be a good read too.

[britgliderpilot]

Two more recommendations - Armed Action, by James Newton; and Snake Pilot, by Randy Zahn.

 

The first is an account by a Royal Navy Lynx pilot of his time flying in the Iraq invasion, the second is an account of an AH-1 Cobra pilot's tour in Vietnam.

 

Both fascinating, and of very different wars.

 

Bits of both have been applicable to Black Shark so far - of course complete exhaustion, PTSD, tragedies and watching your friends get killed for something you don't believe in has thankfully not been part of the experience

 

They do cover that side of war.

[Geier]

Hi Everyone,

 

I am currently reading Philip D. Caine's "Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Warm Beer" and wondered if any of you could either recommend any helicopter orientated material or any other books you might think are essential non-fiction reading.

 

All the best :)

Wow, is it interesting? Can you write me where I can find it?

[VMFA117_Poko]

Bob Munro's books. He was also a co-writer of Jane's publishions

[Kusch]

Yes Robert Mason "Chickenhawk" is in first Place. Great real story. Another god book is:

 

Gerry Carroll ''North SAR''

 

Book Description

In this searingly realistic novel, Gerry Carroll, one of the most decorated naval aviators since Vietnam, brings us the dramatic story of attack bomber pilots and helicopter pilots flying combat Search and Rescue (SAR) in the war against North Vietnam.

 

Lt. Mike Santy flies attack bombers over the Gulf of Tonkin, catapulting from the deck of the carrier Concord. He is determined to serve heroically despite a fierce clash of wills with his squadron commanding officer. His closest friend is Lt. Tim Boyle, who flies a SAR helicopter and uses his considerable skills to go in fast and low, rescuing downed pilots. Neither Boyle nor Santy can foresee the harrowing mission ahead.

 

When an attack staged across the entire width of North Vietnam requires a SAR operation, Boyle's rescue helicopter crashes in mountainous "Indian country" - and Mike Santy flies in, circling overhead, desperately hoping his best friend is still alive. Together, both men will face the ultimate test of endurance and courage - on the ground in North Vietnam.

[MBot]

I recently got "Iran-Iraq War in the Air 1980-1988" by Tom Cooper & Farzad Bishop. I only just started reading it but it looks very good so far. It features some excellent insight about that forgotten war, which actually had an air campaign the size of the Vietnam war. It is illustrated with very interesting photos (including some high quality recce shots). I can defenetly recommend that book.

 

http://www.acig.org/pg1/about.php

 

 

By the same authors are:

 

Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S7875

 

and

 

Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S6585

 

 

Both are very well written with a wealth of informations. Both books are among my favourites.

[Banquo]

Thank you all very much for your suggestions - I look forward to some great reading :)

 

Geier - I was actually in the local library and picked it up as it looked interesting. It is the story of an American Pilot, Leroy Gover, who joins the Second World War flying for the RAF before the US were officially involved.

 

It reads a little like a diary and recounts his time flying different aircraft and his experiences during that time.

 

I enjoyed the personal angle and the very matter of fact way the book was written.

 

Here is a link to the book on the publishers site:

 

http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=89762

[thereminqblank]

Stephen Coonts - Flight of the Intruder (it´s a novel but Coonts was a Vietnam A-6 pilot himself)

 

Why read the book when you can watch the awesome movie:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_intruder

 

haha! :P

[Sundowner.pl]

The book is better :smartass:

[leafer]

The year is 1967. The air is hot and humid. The place is South East Asia. The enemy comes in beaucoup. The F-105Ds drill the unfriendly skies over Vietnam. The SAM ain't the timid and mild-mannored next door neighbor you once knew. And they never met a VC like this before.

 

Pak Six

 

I have very little interest in war story and pilot's account, but Pak Six blew me away.

[britgliderpilot]

Counterquestion:

 

Why watch the movie when you can fly the awesome sim:

 

http://www.migman.com/ref/1990_combat/FOTI/FOTI.htm

 

hoho! :P

 

First man to suggest Iron Eagle . . . . :D

[Nordic]

Robert Mason "Chickenhawk"

 

Simply the best out there.

I will soon order "Low Level Hell" by Hugh Mills, it looks to be a good read too.

Thx for the tip- tomorrow i will get my copy :smartass:

[Rikus]

Do you know books in Spanish, but no helo, just planes.

 

Greetings