Books about WW2 Pilots - Your Recommendations

[Mysticpuma]

One of the best books I have ever read was "First Light" by Geffory Wellum. This has been the only book I have read which truly let me imagine what the pressure must have been like to sit in the cockpit of an aircraft, take off into a downpour when no-one would volunteer as it was expected of a higher rank, and not know if he would make it back. The weather deteriorated, the cloud cover increased, the fuel ebbed away and still he had no idea if he would make it back. Just brilliant writing.

Although not about a single person, a book I am currently reading as it fits nicely in with the next TFS update is this book.
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Air-.../dp/1844158179
Packed full of unique images and detail it's a great read especially for any campaign makers or mission builders

Cheers, Mysticpuma

[No.119_Marshy (VK-M)]

have to agree MP, First Light is a wonderful book - I found it very atmospheric

[ATAG_Ezzie]

Ive not read First Light (its on my list) but Fighter Pilot by Paul Richey which i have read and highly highly recoomend sounds very similar.

Ezzie

[ATAG_Marlow]

One of the best books I have ever read was "First Light" by Geffory Wellum. This has been the only book I have read which truly let me imagine what the pressure must have been like to sit in the cockpit of an aircraft, take off into a downpour when no-one would volunteer as it was expected of a higher rank, and not know if he would make it back. The weather deteriorated, the cloud cover increased, the fuel ebbed away and still he had no idea if he would make it back. Just brilliant writing.

Although not about a single person, a book I am currently reading as it fits nicely in with the next TFS update is this book.
20190802_082324.jpg
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Air-.../dp/1844158179
Packed full of unique images and detail it's a great read especially for any campaign makers or mission builders

Cheers, Mysticpuma

Mystic is bang on the money!!!! This is........ THE BOOK OF BOOKS!!!!!

Ezzie you have just got to read 'First Light' by my mate, Geoffrey Wellum! You will NOT regret it!

I have read Paul Richey's 'Fighter Pilot,' too....another very good book......but for my money 'First Light' is in a class of its own! Salute!

[Stormrider]

And for those who do't like reading, there is also a movie made of the book "First Light"I first watched the movie and after that I purchased the book.

[ATAG_Knight]

Mystic is bang on the money!!!! This is........ THE BOOK OF BOOKS!!!!!

Ezzie you have just got to read 'First Light' by my mate, Geoffrey Wellum! You will NOT regret it!

I have read Paul Richey's 'Fighter Pilot,' too....another very good book......but for my money 'First Light' is in a clas of its own! Salute!

Marlows's bang on about 'First Light' , by far the best book on the Spitfire and The Battle of Britain . I've read a few others but else nothing comes close .

[ATAG_Marlow]

Marlows's bang on about 'First Light' , by far the best book on the Spitfire and The Battle of Britain . I've read a few others but else nothing comes close .

Knighty is 'bang on' about me and MP being 'bang on' about First Light!' If anybody in our community hasn't read it yet....I am so jealous....... because they have such a treat in store! Salute!

[Dice]

Just watched this again https://tubitv.com/movies/177797/first_light thanks for the reminder, well worth it.

[ATAG_Scones]

Knighty is 'bang on' about me and MP being 'bang on' about First Light!' If anybody in our community hasn't read it yet....I am so jealous....... because they have such a treat in store! Salute!

Be jealous, Marlow, for I have the book 'First Light' to hand and am about to be taken into battle with the great man, Geoffrey Wellum!

[ATAG_Marlow]

Be jealous, Marlow, for I have the book 'First Light' to hand and am about to be taken into battle with the great man, Geoffrey Wellum!

Ah! Good for you, Sconesy!

Have a great read and report back how you get on. I love the chapter where 'Boy' Wellum takes off into a 300 foot cloud ceiling chasing an illusive radar plot and within seconds is flying on instruments for hours in nil viz! Stunning writing, as MP says.

I have my precious hardback copy of 'First Light,' signed by the great man himself, in pride of place on my 'aviation' bookshelf! I bet everybody in the Community has one of those! Salute!

[Kayo]

Ah! Good for you, Sconesy!

Have a great read and report back how you get on. I love the chapter where 'Boy' Wellum takes off into a 300 foot cloud ceiling chasing an illusive radar plot and within seconds is flying on instruments for hours in nil viz! Stunning writing, as MP says.

I have my precious hardback copy of 'First Light,' signed by the great man himself, in pride of place on my 'aviation' bookshelf! I bet everybody in the Community has one of those! Salute!

Yeah, I have Ulrich Steinhilpers second part of his time as POW in Canada signed by him at the Hahnweide 1995 in my aviation bookshelf.
All 3 books with the first part about his early life and his time in the Luftwaffe until he gets shot down in the Battle of Britain (Spitfire on My Tail / Die gelbe 2) and the 2nd and 3rd (Ten Minutes to Buffalo and Full Circle) about life as POW and all his efforts to escape are excellent reading.

[ATAG_Laser]

I read 'First Light' at the beginning of this year (got it as a Christmas present' and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now reading 'Kamikaze Hunter's' I couldn't help but compare the experiences of the fleet air arm boys during their training with those of Geoffrey Wellum in the Royal Air force. The methods used by both services were basically the same, albeit the Fleet Air arm boys were trained at least partly, and in some cases entirely overseas

[ATAG_Marlow]

Yeah, I have Ulrich Steinhilpers second part of his time as POW in Canada signed by him at the Hahnweide 1995 in my aviation bookshelf.
All 3 books with the first part about his early life and his time in the Luftwaffe until he gets shot down in the Battle of Britain (Spitfire on My Tail / Die gelbe 2) and the 2nd and 3rd (Ten Minutes to Buffalo and Full Circle) about life as POW and all his efforts to escape are excellent reading.

Thanks for this tip, Kayo. I think Ulrich Steinhilper may have escaped my attention up to now......but it's on the list now! Cheers! Salute!

[ATAG_Vampire]

This looks like a good book for the Beaufighter 'buffs'. Me included!

Recently published by Grub Street (August), the author is Air Cdre (Retd) Graham Pitchfork. £20 UKP (hardback), £12.99 UKP (paperback).

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One of the stories in the book reveals the story of Wing Comander Max 'Maurice' Guedj the first Frenchman to win both the DSO and DFC. He completed 150 ops before being killed in January 1945.

07

[Melonfish]

Hello Chaps,
Back from two weeks wonderfully relaxing holiday where I read the fantastic titles:
Scramble by Tom Neill
First Light by Geoffrey Wellum "Boy"
and i'm currently reading "Spitfire pilot" by David Crook.
they're all rather great reads.

being over yorkshire way I was interested in one of my all time favourite planes the Halifax, there was a book in a local pub i've managed to source and thats
In Brave Company the story of 158 sqn RAF by W.R. Chorley, i also managed to pick up "to see the breaking dawn" a signed copy by chorley which is about 76 Sqn.

I do love the personal account stuff a little better, Tom's feelings about the hurricane are something that really stand out in that book as well as the horrible loss of friends which they all seemed to suffer rather terribly.
Are there any recommendations of personal accounts people could make?
thanks
Pete

[DOWNEAST]

There is an interesting story by the first American to shoot down a ME-109 in 1937. The book is "Some Still Live" by Frank Glasgow Tinker (nom de guerre: Francisco Gomez Trejo). The book printed by Funk & Wagnalls in 1938 (ISBN 0-8094-9633-X). It is rare and hard to find. I found an unblemished copy in an antique book store for $80 in 2004.

However you can read about this Polikarpov I-16 pilot from Arkansas on this web site:
http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/Frank_Tinker.html

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A very interesting story on the American mercenaries that flew for the Spanish Republic. Sadly his story is not well known and a cinema effort never launched.

Who do you think could play Tinker in a movie?

[RAF74_Buzzsaw]

There is an interesting story by the first American to shoot down a ME-109 in 1937. The book is "Some Still Live" by Frank Glasgow Tinker (nom de guerre: Francisco Gomez Trejo). The book printed by Funk & Wagnalls in 1938 (ISBN 0-8094-9633-X). It is rare and hard to find. I found an unblemished copy in an antique book store for $80 in 2004.

However you can read about this Polikarpov I-16 pilot from Arkansas on this web site:
http://imansolas.freeservers.com/Aces/Frank_Tinker.html

2019-08-28_10-36-53.png

A very interesting story on the American mercenaries that flew for the Spanish Republic. Sadly his story is not well known and a cinema effort never launched.

Who do you think could play Tinker in a movie?

Great story.

[DOWNEAST]

I have learned that there are reprints of "Some Still Live" available as e-book and paperback on Amazon. Also available hardback at varying prices.

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https://www.amazon.com/Some-Still-Li...ustomerReviews

Great story.

[Roland]

Good for eastern front is Black Cross Red Star series.

I now have number 4 - https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...ban-1942-1943/

[Corto]

Good for eastern front is Black Cross Red Star series.

I now have number 4 - https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...ban-1942-1943/

best books for the east front so far. I own number 3 and number 4 and wait for number 2 and number one!

[Sobilak]

"Skalski: Against All Odds" - Franciszek Grabowski
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[9./JG52 Hackl]

Good for eastern front is Black Cross Red Star series.

I now have number 4 - https://vaktelforlag.se/produkt/blac...ban-1942-1943/

I have one on the way.
I also already have vols 1,2,and 3 but understand these will be heavily revised with new material and republished soon. so I may be on to reorder these again.
Vol 5 also due release in 2020. Looking fwd to it as well

[ATAG_Ezzie]

Just finished 44 days - covers 75 Sqn RAAF in Port Moresby in early 1942.

https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-...-for-australia

[ATAG_Ezzie]

Havent read this book but might be of interest to some, noting its fiction and a cartoon book?

https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval...rpt-stringbags

[Flanker35M]

S!

Got a few new ones. About night fighter pilots, Wolfgang Thimmig - The night prowler(free translation). Flew thru WW2 as night fighter and survived. Interesting tidbit him flying Ju-88G-6. Considered it superb over Mosquito. It had 2 x Jumo engines.

Of course the Black cross / Red star series, having now a few of them, including new revision of Vol. 1. A must for anyone wanting a thorough picture of air war in the Eastern front.

Memoirs of Finnish top aces like Ilmari "Illu" Juutilainen and Eino Luukkanen. More coming of them.

[Tatiana]

It was interesting to learn the different motivations for these guys to go overseas against their country's wishes.