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Baker, David. Adolf Galland: The Authorised Biography. Combined Books 1997

Bartsch, William H. Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941-1942. Texas A&M Univ. Pr. 1995 [orig. 1992.]

Bekker, Cajus. The Luftwaffe War Diaries: The German Air Force in World War II. Da Capo 1994 [orig. 1964.]

Bergerud, Eric M. Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific. Westview Pr. 2001 ["Eric M. Bergerud, author of the excellent work, Touched With Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific, now turns his attention to the air campaign in [thisbook]. Rather than write another narrative history, Bergerud explains why the air war unfolded as it did in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, what he calls examining and explaining 'the war's texture and tempo.' He focuses on the period beginning in early 1942 when both sides began undertaking serious military operations in that region and he concludes his work in early 1944 by which point the Allies had destroyed Japan's land-based airpower at Rabaul. During this time the combatants were rather evenly matched so it makes comparison of their unique approaches more interesting than when the Allies had quantitative and qualitative superiority. Bergerud also makes the case that, 'In no theater was airpower more central to operations than in the South Pacific.' To accomplish his task, Bergerud begins with a survey of the battlefield and the air-base networks that shaped the strategic parameters of the campaign. He then examines the machines and the aviators who flew them. The third portion of his work analyzes air combat (both missions and tactics) and the role of the bomber. This massive work is a notable achievement in the fields of WW II and aviation history." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. Originally published by Westview in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]

Bergström, Christer, & Andrey Mikhailov. Black Cross/Red Star: The Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume I: Operation Barbarossa, 1941. Pacifica Military History 2000 [This is the first volume of a four-volume work covering the complete air war in the East. It is an oversized hardcover work loaded with photographs and based heavily on both German and Russian resources.]

Bloemertz, Gunther. Heaven Next Stop: A Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot at War. Sutton Publ. 1998 [Originally published in 1953, this is an account of Bloemertz's career with Jagdgeschwader 26, the "legendary Abbeville Boys," who flew the Focke Wulf 190s from their base in northern France (relocated to Germany in August 1944). The author recounts the gradual destruction of JG 26, until only two of the original "Abbeville boys" remain. Literally as the war ended, they were both shot down in a dogfight, Bloemertz bailed out, his comrade did not. Bloemertz, horribly burned, landed in a field where he began to hear the pealing of bells indicating the war in Europe has ceased. This book is still available in a hardcover edition.]

Bowman, Martin. Mosquito Fighter/Fighter-Bomber Units of World War 2. [Osprey Combat Aircraft Series, no. 9] Osprey (UK) 1998/Stackpole (US) 1999

Boyne, Walter J. Clash of Wings: Air Power in World War II. Touchstone/Simon & Schuster 1997 [This is a wide-ranging look at the key battles, personalities, and technologies of the air war. Boyne, a retired USAF colonel, and former director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air & Space Museum, gives air power its due in the conduct and outcome of the war. The hardcover edition, released in 1994, is out of print. Please click on the Alibris banner near the top of this page for info on ordering a copy. For another review of this book, click here.]

Buderi, Robert. The Invention That Changed the World: How a Small Group of Radar Pioneers Won the Second World War and Launched a Technological Revolution. Simon & Schuster 1996

Caine, Philip D. Aircraft Down!: Evading Capture in WWII Europe. Brassey's 1997 [This is a very quick, exciting read. Caine chronicles six accounts of evasions by airmen that occured in Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Albania, and Greece.]

Chant, Chris. Aircraft of World War II. Friedman/Fairfax (UK) 1999/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This is a reference book featuring 300 of the most important Allied and Axis fighters, bombers, and ground-attack aircraft from 1939 to 1945. For each aircraft there is full-color side-profile artwork and a short history of the plane's development and career. A table for each aircraft lists country of origin, type, powerplant, performance, weight, dimensions, and armament. All measurements are in imperial and metric units. The book is indexed for ease of use.]

Conversino, Mark J. Fighting With the Soviets: The Failure of Operation Frantic, 1944-1945. Univ. Pr. of Kansas 1997

Coonts, Stephen. War in the Air: True Accounts of the 20th Century's Most Dramatic Air Battles -- by the Men Who Fought Them. Pocket Books 1997 [The noted novelist and aviator has collected some of the great aerial clashes from WW I to Vietnam with asome of the best acounts coming from WW II. The 26 selections include accounts of Eddie Rickenbacker, "Pappy" Boyington, Erich Hartmann, Ulrich Rudel, Adolf Galland, the Doolittle Raid, the Enola Gay mission, Jack Broughton (a "Thud" pilot), and Robert Mason in his UH-1 Huey helocopter. Originally published in 1996, this book is still available in the hardcover edition.]

Copeman, Geoff D. Bomber Squadrons at War. [Air Marshal Ivor Broom, foreward] Sutton Pub. 1997 [This book chronicles the record of the RAF's No. 57 Squadron, and its sister squadron, No. 630, in an oversized, illustrated, hardcover format. No. 57 Squadron has seen almost continuous service since its formation in 1916 when it flew fighter and bomber-recon missions. Most of the book focuses on its operations during WW II with Bomber Command, when it, and No. 630, flew over 7,600 sorties while losing 231 aircraft. At the end of the war, No. 630 was disbanded, but No. 57 continued with Lincolns, Washingtons, Canberras, and Victors. As the Navy received the nuclear missions, No. 57 was converted to a tanker role. It served during the operations to recover the Falklands, was disbanded in 1986, but was reformed in 1992 as No. 57 (Reserve) being the RAF's C-130 Hercules conversion unit. Thus it lives up to its motto, "I change my body not my spirit."]

Corum, James S. & Richard R. Muller. The Luftwaffe's Way of War: German Air Force Doctrine, 1911-1945. Nautical & Aviation Pub. Co. 1998 ["Two authors who have written notable works on Germany's air arm -- James S. Corum and Richard R. Muller -- have collaborated to produce [this book]. They skip the hundreds of First and Second World War combat accounts to concentrate on the doctrine that guided German air operations, and weapons design and procurement. To achieve this goal, they assembled and translated twenty-nine key documents from a variety of agencies and departments. They begin with prewar WW I materials, e.g., von Moltke's correspondence (from 1911-1913) to the Prussian War Ministry, and the first German aviation manual (1913), then go through WW I, the interwar years, and finally conclude with a Luftwaffe High Command 'Tactical Observation' examining the defeat of the Luftwaffe in WW II. The selection is solid (it covers strategic, operational, and tactical doctrines), the translation is good, and Corum and Muller offer short commentaries before each piece that explain the documents' author(s), purpose, and significance." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]

Davis, Brian L. Uniforms and Insignia of the Luftwaffe, Vol. 1: 1933-1940. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 1999 [This book was originally published in 1991. It features the badges, insignia, uniforms, accoutrements, and dress regulations for the full range of Luftwaffe attire. It has over 700 illustrations and rare photos, and 555 detailed drawings. This is a very thorough work.]

Davis, Brian L. Uniforms and Insignia of the Luftwaffe, Vol. 2: 1940-1945. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 1999 [Originally published in 1995, this book picks up from where volume 1 leaves off. It includes air crews, parachute forces, womens' services, and the clothing for all types of missions. It has over 800 illustrations, 450 detailed drawings and a photographic record of the uniforms of Hermann Göring.]

Deichman, General der Flieger Paul. Spearhead for Blitzkrieg: Luftwaffe Operations in Support of the Army, 1939-1945. [Alfred Price, ed. & intro.] Greenhill (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1996

Deighton, Len & Max Hastings. Battle of Britain. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth (UK)/Combined Books (US) 1999 [Two noted military writers recount the pivotal air battle in the West in this oversized, heavily illustrated history first published in 1980.]

Dugan, James & Carroll Stewart. Ploesti: The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943. Batsford Brassey 1998 [orig. 1962. "Taut and gripping tale of a disastrous yet heroic snafu pieced together from letters, diaries, interviews, and correspondance with U.S., German and Romanian survivors." -- Time. "This is the very model of a war book." -- The New Yorker. ". . . a big, carefully documented, tremendously exciting book about the wildest U.S. air raid of World War II. It is easily the best ever of the 'single air battle' books and in many ways superior to such major campaign records as The Longest Day." -- Life. "First-rate battle log. . . the authors generate an almost excruciating dramatic tension even before the onset of the fiery 27-minute battle." -- Newsweek.]

Durand, Arthur A. Stalag Luft III: The Secret Story. Lousiana State Univ. Pr. 1999 ["Stalag Luft III was the POW camp made famous by the movie, The Great Escape. Its history is ably recorded by Arthur A. Durand. . . . Durand made full use of the secret records kept by the prisoners, supplemented by interviews and declassified documents, to recount the dramatic story of the British and American aviators and their captivity. The reader obtains a very comprehensive picture of camp life, which is even more fascinating then the movie. Durand begins his account with several aviators' captures, interrogations and transfers to the Stalag, and then shows the POWs' ingenuity as they strive to maintain their physical and mental health in adverse conditions. He chronicles the escape attempts and covert messages to home. Also extensively discussed is the fascinating camp commandant, Colonel Friedrich-Wilhelm von Lindeiner-Wildau. He and wife were anti-Nazi, and the worn out, sixty-one year old colonel wished nothing more than to retire in peace (he resigned three times, but was always turned down). During his twenty-one month administration of the camp there were 262 escape attempts, 100 of them involving tunnels. And yet his humane treatment of all under his authority, including Russians and Poles who worked in Vorlagers around the camp, earned him the suspicion and outright hostility of Nazi authorities. The book concludes with a twenty-nine page appendix that surveys the history of prisoners of war. I first read this book when it came out in 1998 and its reissue provided me with a convenient excuse to reread it. Durand's thorough research combined with his engaging writing style make this one of the best books I have read on WW II. If I had a 'Top Ten' list of books I enjoyed on the war, I think this work would be on it." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "A comprehensive and compelling history of the German POW camp for Allied flyers " -- Washington Times. "A massive piece of scholarship . . . ably detailed in graphic and gracious prose. . . . [A] first class book." -- New York Times.]

Ethell, Jeffrey L. Blitzkrieg in the West, 1939-1942. [Luftwaffe at War Series, vol. 3] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1997 [The third work in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Ethell, Jeffrey L. Eagles Over North Africa and the Mediterranean, 1940-1943. [Luftwaffe at War Series, vol. 4] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1997 [The fourth work in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Falconer, Jonathan. RAF Bomber Command in Fact, Film and Fiction. [Len Deighton, foreword] Sutton Pub. 1996 [From 3 Spetember 1939 until May 1945 the RAF's Bomber Command was in the thick of things -- aircrew casualties were a staggering 60 percent. Falconer has provided a good resource for those interested in exploring the subject further. This is basically a bibliographical and media guide in which he has assembled a comprehensive listing of written, filmed, and sound recorded materials from 1939 to 1996 that are available in English. Falconer starts with published written sources broken into numerous categories -- books, official histories, unofficial histories, biographies, literature (including fiction, poetry, and drama), followed by journal articles. Next he covers feature films, official films, and TV and radio productions. This is followed by a look at various sound archives and documentary archives. There is even a short section on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and cemetery registers. The work has seven indices, i.e., there is an index of titles; of authors; film, TV, and radio personalities; squadrons; aircraft types; airfields; and finally an index of places. . . . an important and informative reference. . . . I dearly wish I had this book to guide me when I first began my research for Bomber. -- Len Deighton.]

Falconer, Jonathan. Stirling Wings: The Short Stirling Goes to War. [Group Captain T.G. Mahaddie, foreword] Sutton Pub. 1997 [This is the trade paper edition. A history of the Short Stirling which saw service with the RAF from August 1940-July 1946. A total of 2,371 Stirlings were built and at the height of its career Bomber Command had twelve squadrons of this aircraft. Modified versions of the Stirling served as paratroop transports, glider tugs, and long-range passenger transport. This book is also available in its 1995 hardcover edition.]

Freeman, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth in Art. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 1998 ["This is the newly released trade paper edition of a book that first appeared in hardcover in 1996 (and is sadly out of print). Freeman has brought together in this landscape-formatted work 75 paintings from 34 different artists. Their work, much of it truly stunning, covers U.S. Eighth Air Force operations over Europe in broadly chronological fashion from 1942-1945. Freeman has chosen a variety of artistic approaches that present some sense of the scope of missions flown by the roughly 200 units that composed the Eighth. Veteran painters, e.g., Robert Taylor, Frank Wootton, and Keith Ferris, and relative newcomers show the planes at war, the crews preparing for missions, and torn up aircraft and aviators desperately trying to land safely at a base. This is an artistic tribute to one of America's most formidable fighting forces." -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times.]

Galland, Adolf, et al. The Luftwaffe Fighter Force: The View from the Cockpit. [David C. Isby, ed.] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 [Isby has done a fine job of assembling accounts of fighter operations by leading Luftwaffe officers assembled for use by the US Army Air Force shortly after the war. The pilots and commanders discuss a wide range of topics -- tactics, operations, German and Allied aircraft, training, new technology, aircrew, and the reasons the Luftwaffe lost control of the skies. Isby's selections make for 34 chapters divided into 5 parts -- the fighter force, the offensive war, air-ground operations, the defensive war, and a summing up. The selctions are by Galland, Hubertus 'Hitsch' Hitschold (chief of the ground attack force), Heinz Bär (240 victories), Walther Dahl (ace and anti-bomber expert), Gordon Gollob, Edgar Petersen, Robert Kowalewski, Hans Schmoller-Haldy, Hans Jacob, Klaus Neuman, Erhard Milch, and Joseph 'Beppo' Schmid. Thirty-five photos, maps, and diagrams round out this fine collection.]

Gamble, Bruce. The Black Sheep: The Definitive Account of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II. Presidio Pr. 2000 [This is a critical history, but it is fair and balanced. "Breathes new facts and new life into the Black Sheep, with not only a comprehensive account of the Marines' most famous squadron, but a detailed evaluation of legendary subject." -- Barrett Tillman. ". . . Exuberantly unreliable, [Boyington's] memoirs covered only one of the squadron's three incarnations. In the first, the squadron, cobbled together in the war's desperate early days, was known as the Swashbucklers and saw combat at Guadalcanal. In the second phase, the group of respectable replacements was assigned the squadron number and made a mighty name as the Black Sheep under Boyington, despite his drinking and brawling. Version three was a late-war collection of marine pilots that was knocked out of action on its first day in combat by the damage to its carrier, the USS Franklin. A model, warts-and-all unit history, Gamble's retires all previous books on squadron 214. . . ." -- Roland Green, Booklist, August 19, 1998. "Any scrupulously fair squadron history would take some of the gloss off the Boyington myth. . . . But enough of the myth remains -- enough to serve as a reminder of the swashbuckling Black Sheep, their screwball commander, and the planes they flew with such a consummate skill." -- Proceedings. "An accurate history of legendary unit that pulls no punches regarding its most famous commander, 'Pappy' Boyington." -- Stars and Stripes. "Cuts through the brag of 'Pappy' Boyington to the unvarnished realities of the remarkable Black Sheep." -- Stanley Weintraub. "The new pilots, Gamble shows, were neither youngsters nor misfits as portrayed in Boyington's memoirs and the TV scripts. Gamble, a retired naval officer, describes the equipment, doctrine, operational conditions and personal relationships that shaped the squadron from its creation in 1942 through its Solomons experiences, to its recommissioning and assignment to the carrier Franklin. . . . A sensitive revision of a controversial legend, this book stands out as one of the best extant squadron histories and as a significant contribution to the literature on air power." -- Publishers Weekly, July 1998. Originally published in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]

Garrett, Stephen A. Ethics and Airpower in World War II: The British Bombing of German Cities. St. Martin's Pr. 1996 [orig. 1993.]

Gretzyngier, Robert & Wojtek Matusiak. Polish Aces of World War 2. [Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, Series, no. 21] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998]

Griehl, Manfred. Fighters Over Russia. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 1] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1997 [This work kicks off a new series of books on the Luftwaffe. The books are 72-pages long, and loaded with rare (and quite interesting) photos from WW II. Most of the photos are b&w, but the books do have a few pages of color shots. Each book has several pages of text by a noted author in the field introducing the subject matter of that volume, and each photograph has a paragraph of information putting it into perspective.]

Griehl, Manfred. German Bombers Over England, 1940-1944. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 12] Greenhill Books (UK) 1999/Stackpole Books (US) 2000 [The twelfth book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Griehl, Manfred. German Bombers Over Russia: KG 100 in Action. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 15] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This is the fifteenth book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Griehl, Manfred. German Elite Pathfinders: KG 100 in Action. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 16] Greenhill Books (UK)/Sterling (US) 2000 [This is the sixteenth book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Griehl, Manfred. German Rocket Planes. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 14] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 2000 [The fourteenth book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Griehl, Manfred. Nightfighters Over the Reich. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v.2] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1997 [The second book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Halpert, Sam. A Real Good War. Southern Heritage Press 1997 [This novel by a B-17 navigator accurately portrays the terror involved in trying to fly 35 combat missions over the Third Reich. "What was it like to fly B-17 missions over Germany? Some insight into the terror of sitting helplessly in a lumbering bomber with flak and Focke Wulfs tearing up the sky can be found in [this] fast-paced novel. . . . Halpert, a B-17 navigator during WW II, gives a dark, gritty view of the war. 'The ground crew guys are busy as termites as they crawl over the ship with their last minute checking of all radio equipment, topping off fuel tanks, calibrating gun sites, pulling here, tucking there in the darkness,' says Halpert's narrator. 'I get morbid and recall a dumb movie I once saw, where the warden and guards were making final adjust ments before strapping Humphrey Bogart or some body into the electric chair.'" -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times.]

Hammel, Eric. Air War Europa: America's Air War Against Germany in Europe and North Africa, 1942-1945: Chronology. Pacifica Press 1997 [Hammel's daily coverage of all important USAAF and USN aviation combat operations, unit arrivals, transfers, decommissionings, etc. runs from 7 December, 1941 to 9 May, 1945. The roles of significant commanders, and details on USAAF fighter aces are also present. An introductory essay examines the use of American fighters in the skies over Europe. Particularly useful are the two indices (the first for USAAF commands and units, the second for all other topics), which use dates instead of page numbers, helpful for narrowing down where to look up a reference if you have a sense of the dates involved. Originally published in 1994, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]

Harris, Sir Arthur. Bomber Offensive. [Denis Richards, new intro.] Greenhill Books 1998 [Originally published in 1947, these are the memoirs of the commander-in-chief of the R.A.F.'s Bomber Command. The mastermind of Britain's strategic bombing campaign, and a very controversial figure, Harris served in this capacity from 1942 to 1945.]

Hayward, Joel S. Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, 1942-1943. [Modern War Studies] Univ. Pr. of Kansas 2001 ["Hayward's outstanding study fills in a major gap in WW II historiography -- Luftwaffe operations in the Stalingrad campaign. But this is much more than the title suggests, it is a thorough recounting of Luftwaffe activity during the preliminary Crimea operations, throughout the summer campaign, and during the airlift as the Russians seal the fate of the Sixth Army. This is analytical history at its best, as Hayward examines four different but interconnected elements of the campaign -- its origins, its purposes, the operational execution, and the results. He does not neglect interservice cooperation, and the close coordination between the army and the air arms was mostly due to the outstanding leadership of Luftwaffe General Wolfram von Richthofen, commander of Luftflotte (Air Fleet) 4, and 'a superb tactical air commander, possibly the best of the Second World War.' Hayward's extensive discussion of von Richthofen is particularly interesting. And Luftwaffe-Navy cooperation in the Black Sea is also nicely covered. Sterling research and solid writing turns this detailed account of a key WW II campaign into a book that demands wide readership." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "A comprehensive view of one of the most important air campaigns of World War II and an insightful study of the Luftwaffe's leaders and its way of war. A 'must read' for anyone interested in the airpower history of World War II." -- James S. Corum. "An outstanding and long-overdue campaign history that puts a human face on the military decision-making process." -- Richard Muller. "A major contribution to the history of the Russo-German War." -- Dennis Showalter. "Stopped at Stalingrad is a first-class publication. It is authoritative, drawing on a wide range of sources, is very readable and an example of how 'new military history' should be written. It should firmly cement Joel Hayward's reputation as a talented writer and a fine historian." -- Lt. Col. Glyn Harper, New Zealand Army Journal, No. 19 (July 1998). ". . . an original and formidably researched study . . . an absolutely indispensable work not only for its revelations about Stalingrad, but equally for a more complete understanding of the nature of Soviet-German operations in a critical year." -- John Erickson, RUSI Journal, June 1998. Sadly, the hardcover edition of this book, first published in 1998, has gone out of print. To purchase one, please use our links with Alibris above.]

Hill, Michael. Black Sunday: Ploesti. Schiffer Publ. 1944

Hillary, Richard. The Last Enemy: The Memoir of a Spitfire Pilot. [Sebastian Faulks, intro.; Classics of War Series] Burford Books 1998 [Hillary was a British pilot severely wounded in the Battle of Britain. He wrote of his experiences of war and partial recovery from his injuries, only to disappear on a mission in 1943. (The book appeared in 1942.) "This slim volume of Hillary's seems to have a weight which makes it sink into the depth of one's memory, while tons of printed bulk drift as flotsam on its surface." -- Arthur Koestler. "One of the classic works of World War Two." -- Philip French, London Review of Books. "Rivetingly well told. . . . It will speak to anyone who cares for the romance and tragedy of a lost hero." -- Godfrey Smith, London Sunday Times. ". . . rapidly acquired the aura of a book that says something vital, whose importance goes beyond what it literally describes. . . . It became, and has remained, a classic." -- Sebastion Faulks.]

Hobart, Malcolm C. Badges and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force. Leo Cooper (UK)/Combined Books (US) 2000 [This book covers the uniforms and insignia of the RAF, its predecessor, the Royal Flying Corps, the WRAF, RAF Reserve and Auxiliary, Air Training Corps, and Royal Observer Corps.]

Hooton, E. R. Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe. Arms and Armour (UK) 1997/Sterling (US) 1998 [In this work, Hooton traces the decline of the Luftwaffe from July 1940 to June 1944. This is the companion volume to Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe.]

Isby, David C., ed. Fighting the Bombers: The Luftwaffe's Struggle Against the Allied Bomber Offensive. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2003 [Isby has assembled the key postwar debriefs of the Luftwaffe's leading officers and noted aircraft designer Willi Messerschmitt. Totaling 19 pieces, they represent the thinking of eleven individuals including Adolf Galland, Josef "Beppo" Schmid, Hans-Detlef Herhuth von Rohden, G. S. Sandmann, Heinz-Wolfgang Schnauffer, and others (one selection being an interview of the OKL [Oberkommando der Luftwaffe] Staff. Two are more than debriefs, rather they are historical narratives requested by the USAAF and US Navy. Coverage extends to all aspects of the Luftwaffe's attempts to stop the bombers -- strategy, tactics, command and control, nightfighting, technical and communications equipment, radars, fighter control, Me-262 development, and more.]

Jackson, Robert. Before the Storm: The Story of Bomber Command, 1939-42. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2001/Sterling (US) 2002 [This is an account of the British Bomber Command in the early years of the Second World War when it stood alone before the Nazi threat and the American bomber armadas had yet to arrive. It features six useful appendices offering a chronology of Bomber Command operations, a speciman of a Bomber Command combat report, orders of battle, monthly tonnages of bombs dropped, and monthly aircraft losses. This book was originally published in 1972. "There are many good stories about brave men." -- The Daily Telegraph.]

Jessen, Morton. Focke Wulf 190: The Birth of the Butcher Bird, 1939-1943. [Luftwaffe at War Series, vol. 8] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1998 [The eighth work in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Jessen, Morten. Focke Wulf 190: Defending the Reich, 1943-1945. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 13] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 2000 [The thirteenth book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Jones, R.V. Most Secret War. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1998/Combined Books (US) 1999 [This is Jones's account of his role in British Scientific Intelligence between 1939 and 1949. His responsibilities included anticipating German applications of science to warfare, so that counters could be prepared. Much of his work involved radio navigation and radar. He was put in charge of intelligence efforts concerning the V-1 and V-2, and the German nuclear program. Originally published in 1978.]

Klinkowitz, Jerome. With the Tigers over China, 1941-1942. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1999 [A look at the Flying Tigers who wreaked havoc on Japanese aircraft. "Contains the best description and estimate of Gen. Claire Chennault I have ever read." -- Bernard Norling.]

Klinkowitz, Jerome. Yanks Over Europe: American Flyers in World War II. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1996 [Based on over 100 narratives of the air war, Klinkowitz looks at how the airmen of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces told their stories of combat over the bloody skies of Europe. For example he contrasts the accounts of the pilots in the volunteer Eagle (RAF) squadrons with those of the later USAAF arrivals. He also considers the diversity of stories due to the different types of aircraft (e.g., fighters vs. bombers), and the different European fronts (e.g., the Mediterranean Theater as opposed to northwest Europe). For a review of this book, click here. "Anyone interested in the subject of WWII aerial combat in Western Europe should read this book." -- Bernard Norling.]

Knell, Hermann. To Destroy a City: Strategic Bombing and Its Human Consequences in World War II. Da Capo Pr. 2003 [This is a wide-ranging work, based on two decades of research, that examines the bombing of a German city (Würzburg) beyond any military usefulness, while also considering broader aspects of the bomber offensives. Knell, who now lives in Canada, was a teen in Würzburg when it was destroyed in March 1945. In one night alone, 6,000 people perished and 92 percent of the city's structures were destroyed. This is much more than a first-hand account of life under bombing though. Part One of the book does look at the specific situation of Würzburg, but Knell goes on to consider why strategic bombing was used, and how it was carried out. Part Two of the book is in fact a history of strategic bombing in WW I and WW II and in different theaters. Part Three goes on to consider other aspects of strategic bombing, e.g., military and civil defense, the use of gas, loss of cultural assets, psychological effects and the treatment of survivors, and international law considerations. "His subsequent lifelong study of the bombers' war led to this solid coverage of the subject, which is distinguished by its thoroughness and balanced judgement on controversial subjects. . . . There are worthwhile items such as sketches of the theoreticians of the strategic air campaign, notably Solly Zuckerman and Frederick Lindemann . . . and concise coverage of air raids outside the main European theater. . . . The book leaves out the question of the role the Allied air campaign played in defeating the Luftwaffe over Europe, but does address civil defense effectiveness, psychological effects and the aftermath of the war for both civilians and bomber crews in a good introduction to its subject." -- Publishers Weekly.]

Lake, Jon. Blenheim Squadrons of World War 2. [Osprey Combat Aircraft Series, no. 5] Osprey Publ. (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 [Part of a nicely illustrated series from Osprey this book has 12 pages of color plates showing aircraft profiles in the color schemes of the leading crews, and illustrations of the aviators themselves.]

Lamb, Charles. War in a Stringbag: The Classic Second World War Fleet Air Arm Autobiography. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [Lamb recounts his years flying the slow, obsolete, yet surprisingly effective, Fairey Swordfish for the Fleet Air Arm. Known as the "Stringbag," the Swordfish saw plenty of action in WW II, and it is best known for having destroyed the Italian fleet at Taranto, where the author was one of two pathfinders for the mission. Lamb was to fly from 1939 until June 1945 when he was injured in an accident while fighting the Japanese. His book was originally published in 1977.]

Lamont-Brown, Raymond. Kamikaze: Japan's Suicide Samurai. Arms and Armour (UK) 1997/Sterling (US) 1998 [This is a look at the myth and reality of Kamikaze strategy, training, and execution.]

Loza, Dmitriy. Attack of the Airacobras: Soviet Aces, American P-39s, and the Air War Against Germany. [James F. Gebhardt, trans.; Von Hardesty, intro.; Col. Frank Borman, USAF (Ret.), forword; Modern War Studies Series] Univ. Pr. of Kansas 2002 [The devastated Red Air Force was kept aloft by the arrival of nearly 5,000 Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft from the U.S. via its Lend-Lease program. This history examines its use by the 216th Fighter Division (later the 9th Guards Fighter Division). The division's regiments reentered service with the Airacobras in the spring of 1943 on the east shore of the Black Sea and continued all the way to Berlin. One of its regiments, the 16th Guards Fighter Regiment, was the third-most productive regiment in the Red Air Force. The division also had some of the leading Soviet aces, e.g., Major Grigioriy Rechkalov (Russia's #4 ace) and Colonel Aleksandr Pokryshkin (the #2 ace). Loza shows that the P-39 was used primarily to protect Red Army operations from Luftwaffe attacks, rather than as a tank buster or flying artillery as is commonly claimed. Although the planes did strafe ground targets on occasion, they were much more likely to be engaging German bombers and fighter escorts. "An engaging and pioneering study of how the Soviet Union mobilized women for air combat--still one of the lesser-known dimensions of air power history in World War II." -- Von Hardesty. ". . . chilling tale of savage combat and incredible bravery and of the struggle of these piots for recognition and acceptance. . . . A masterful and groundbreaking account. . . ." -- Carlo D'Este.]

Lucas, Laddie. Flying Colours: The Epic Story of Douglas Bader. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (U.K.)/Casemate (U.S.) 2001 [This is the authorized biography of the colorful RAF pilot who is well remembered for flying without his legs (they were lost in a crash in 1931). Lucas knew Bader for fifty years and for this biography was given access to his private papers, flying log-books, and personal notes. He not only covers Bader's aerial combat, and imprisonment in Colditz Castle after being shot down, Lucas also offers a controversial take on the Battle of Britain while providing Bader's tactical concept of the battle. Lucas also discusses Bader's career in peace as a successful businessman and friend to world leaders. This book was originally published in 1981.]

Maynard, John. Bennett and the Pathfinders. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 1996

Merryman, Molly. Clipped Wings: The Rise and Fall of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. New York Univ. Pr. 1997

Mets, David R. Master of Airpower: General Carl A. Spaatz. Presidio Pr. 1997 [Possibly because he was such a quiet and modest man, General Carl A. "Tooey" Spaatz is one of the most overlooked military leaders in American history. David Mets fortunately remedied this oversight with his excellent study, first published in 1988 and now reprinted in a trade paper format. Involved in the earliest days of military aviation, Spaatz earned his wings in 1918 and was a WW I fighter pilot. In the 1930s he switched to the bombers and from there became a key figure in the development of U.S. air power during the Second World War. Forceful, pragmatic and brilliant, Spaatz's command of the U.S. strategic air forces proved to be significant in the Allied victory in Europe. After the war, Spaatz was instrumental in establishing an independent Air Force and he became the USAF's first Chief of Staff. Mets made great use of primary source materials and interviews to provide this insightful look at Spaatz. To understand the evolution of strategic airpower, one should read this biography of one of its chief architects. I first reviewed this book for a publication when it came out in 1988, and my admiration for it continues.]

Middlebrook, Martin. The Battle of Hamburg: Allied Bomber Forces Against a German City in 1943. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is an account of the series of raids that devastated Hamburg. On 24 July, 1943, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris ordered the maximum strength bomber raids to commence on the German port city. The controversial raids left the city gutted by horrific firestorms. Middlebrook draws heavily on the accounts of bomber crews, Luftwaffe fighter pilots, the ground defence forces, city authorities, and the populace of Hamburg who endured the terrible ordeal. This book was originally published in 1980.]

Middlebrook, Martin. The Nuremberg Raid: 30-31 March 1944. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1973. "The best book, whether documentary or fictional, yet written about Bomber Command." -- The Economist.]

Middlebrook, Martin. The Peenemünde Raid: 17-18 August 1943. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1982.]

Middlebrook, Martin. The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission: American Raids on 17 August 1943. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1983.]

Mitcham, Jr., Samuel W. Eagles of the Third Reich: The Men Who Made the Luftwaffe. Presidio Pr. 1997 [orig. 1988, Men of the Luftwaffe.]

Morehead, James B. In My Sights: The Memoir of a P-40 Ace. Presidio Pr. 1997 [Morehead recounts his WW II career which began in the Pacific. There he flew the P-40 Warhawk and became an ace. He later volunteered for service in Europe and piloted the P-38 in combat.]

Morgan, Hugh & John Weal. German Jet Aces of World War 2. [Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series, no. 17] Osprey Publ. (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 [Part of a nicely illustrated series from Osprey this book has 11 pages of color plates showing jet aircraft profiles in the color schemes of the leading aces, and illustrations of the pilots themselves.]

Nesbit, Roy Conyers. Eyes of the RAF: A History of Photo-Reconnaissance. [Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler, foreword] Sutton Publ. 1998 [This is a history of RAF photo-reconnaissance from the plate cameras held over the sides of BE2a's in WW I through the technical refinements of WW II using Spitfires and Mosquitos up to the Tornado GR1As with videotape and live data links. Half of the book is devoted to photo-recon during World War II. Nesbit draws on official records, personal accounts, and secondary sources, plus he adds over 400 photographs for this unique book. "Substantial and well illustrated." -- RAF Historical Society Journal. "A wealth of hitherto unpublished photographs." -- Fly Past. Originally published in 1996, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]

Nesbit, Roy Conyers. RAF: An Illustrated History from 1918. [Richard Johns, foreword] RAF Museum/Sutton Publ. 1998 ["The Royal Air Force was created on 1 April 1918 and this book celebrates its 80th anniversary with great style. The vast majority of the text and illustrations are devoted to the Second World War, however there is some coverage of WW I, the Cold War, the Falklands campaign, and the Gulf War. Over 450 photographs and dramatic paintings show the men and machines in all manner of missions -- aerial combat, bombing, anti-shipping, transport, airborne, recon, refueling, and mission planning." -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times.]

Nesbit, Roy Conyers. RAF Coastal Command in Action 1939-1945. Sutton Publ. 1997 [This is an oversized hardcover book with a great selection of photos, all extensively captioned, taken from the archives held at the Public Record Office. The pictures show the aircraft and crews in action defending the waters around Great Britain against German air and naval forces. Coastal Command aircraft also undertook operations against coastal targets in Germany, Scandinavia, and other parts of enemy-occupied Europe. To assist in the reproduction of the photos, the book s completely printed on heavy glossy paper.]

Nijboer, Donald. Cockpit: An Illustrated History of World War II Aircraft Interiors. [Dan Patterson, photographs; Ron Dick, intro.] Howell Press 1998 ["Noted aviation photographer, Dan Patterson, gives us a pilot's-eye view of 37 fighter and bomber aircraft interiors from five WW II belligerents -- the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union. Each aircraft receives a four-page spread in this oversized book. The first two pages provide the plane's history by Nijboer along with a shot or two of the plane in action. The next two pages feature Patterson's full-color photo of the cockpit on the right page, with a smaller black and white photo on the left page with numbers on the instruments and controls corresponding to captions below. Also on the left page is "the Pilot's Perspective," where aviators offer wartime recollections or other insights into flying the featured plane." -- Fritz Heinzen, St. Petersburg Times.]

Novey, Jack. The Cold Blue Sky: A B-17 Gunner in World War Two. [Fryar Calhoun, ed. & intro.] Howell Pr. 1997

Oliver, Kingsley M. The RAF Regiment at War 1942-1946. Leo Cooper (UK)/Casemate 2002 [Germany's air and ground blitzes showed the RAF that they needed a means to defend their bases. To avoid relying on the Army for adequate help that they might be unable to provide, the RAF created on 1 February 1942 the Royal Air Force Regiment as a Corps within the RAF. This outfit, which eventually grew to a force of 50,000 officers and airmenn in 240 anti-aircraft, infantry, and armoured car squadrons provided a dedicated ground and low-level air defense capability. Its members served throughout all the different theaters the RAF air arm was present.]

Onderwater, Hans. Gentlemen in Blue: The History of No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force and No. 600 (City of London) Squadron Association 1925-1995. Leo Cooper (UK) 1997/Combined Books (US) 1998 [This is a very thorough history of No. 600 Squadron, made up Londoners, who began under the command of Freddie Guest. Although formed as a bomber squadron, it converted to night-fighters in 1940. Using the obsolete Blenheims it lost an entire flight over Holland on the night of 10 May, 1040. It went on to serve with distinction in North Africa, Malta, and Italy becoming the highest-scoring Allied nighter-fighter unit of the war. Of course, switching to Beaufighters and Mosquitos helped. It earned the distinctive moniker, "The Fright of the Night." It was disbanded in 1945, but reconstituted a year later as a day-fighter outfit with Spitfires and Gloter Meteors. This continued until disbanded in 1957.]

Overy, R.J. The Air War, 1939-1945. Scarborough House 1991

Payne, Michael. Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the West, 1937-1940: From the Spanish Civil War to the Battle of Britain. [Luftwaffe at War Series, vol. 5] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1998 [The fifth work in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Pennington, Reina. Wings, Women, and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat. [John Erickson, foreword; Modern War Studies Series] Univ. Pr. of Kansas 2002 [Pennington chronicles the role of women in Soviet aviation during the war. Some flew with mostly male units, but three all-female (this includes both flight and ground crews) regiments were created, i.e., a fighter, a dive bomber, and a night bomber regment. These regiments flew more than 30,000 combat sorties, resulting in at least thirty Heroes of the Soviet Union and two fighter aces. "Reina Pennington offers a rich tapestry woven with first-class research." -- Kathryn Spurling, H-NET. For Spurling's review of this book, click here. Perkins, Paul. Thunderbolt Republic P-47. [Dan Patterson, photos] Howell Pr. 1999 [More Thunderbolts were produced (over 12,000) than any other fighter in US history. During WW II they were flown by the air forces of the United States, Australia, Brazil, France, Great Britain, and the USSR. This nicely illustrated, oversized book has 25 b&w archival photos and 50 color shots of restored "Jugs."]

Pitchfork, Air Commodore Graham. Men Behind the Medals. Leo Cooper (UK)/Combined Books (US) 1998 [A veteran of 36 years with the RAF (and more recently the Director of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence), Pitchfork has assembled the amazing exploits of 21 relatively unkown aircrews during the Second World War. He begins with a short chapter describing the medals the various airmen received. The next 21 chapters cover the gamut of RAF missions. His aircrews fly various types of aircraft on the full diversity of missions in all theatres of war. It is quite a wide selection Pitchfork has assembled, e.g., one chapter recounts the career of Surtees Elliot, winner of five medals, whose final mission was in a Catalina out of Diego Suarez (Madagascar) hunting U-boats in the Mozambique Channel. The aircraft disappeared and it wasn't till after the war the fate of the crew was discovered -- they were all killed when the Catalina was shot down while attacking U.862. (A dramatic photo of the crash alongside the U-boat, and a photo of the U-boat crew are included.) Whether flying fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, seaplane, pathfinder, glider transport, etc. missions, this book is a tribute to the courage of the RAF aircrews.]

Porter, Col. Bruce R. with Eric Hammel. Ace!: A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II. ["Pappy" Boyington, intro.] Pacifica Pr. 1998 [Originally published in 1985, Porter recounts his career beginning as a naval aviation cadet in 1940 to his service in the South Pacific and concluding with a rare double night kill and earning the desgnation of "ace" over Okinawa. Here are the enthusiastic recommendations of five Marine Medal of Honor winners: ". . . reflects the keen analytical mind of a fighter pilot's technical skills projected into combat. This book is a 'must' for anyone interested in combat aviation history." -- Col. Jeff De Blanc. ". . . relives the challenges, frustrations, and triumphs of training, on his victories in the Corsair in the Solomons, and then on to attain ace staus witha flourish at Okinawa. Read and enjoy a fabulous Marine aviation combat story." -- BGen. Joe Foss. "Bruce Porter's book is great! It shows the many details and answers many questions about operating from an aircraft carrier." -- BGen. Bob Galer. "You have to read this excellent book. It will keep you glued to the pages as you sit in the cockpit with Bruce. . . . It is very well written and personal." -- Col. Jim Swett. "I highly recommend it." -- LtCol. Ken Walsh.]

Price, Alfred. Focke Wulf: Fw 190 in Combat. Sutton Publ. 1998 ["Price details the design and combat history of one of the best planes of WW II. . . . This is a thorough revision of the 1977 study, and is based heavily on interviews with pilots, and with Prof. Kurt Tank, head of the design team. Profuse photos, illustrations, and tables support the informed text. Especially interesting are British evaluations (chapter 5) of this aircraft versus their own, this due to the chance acquisition of an Fw 190A-3 that was accidentally landed in England by a disoriented German pilot. . . . Alfred Price is a well-known aviation historian, and [this book is] worth acquiring." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]

Price, Alfred. The Last Year of the Luftwaffe: May 1944 to May 1945. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1991 by Arms and Armour Press. Publisher supplied info: [This is] a classic story of a once all-conquering force struggling to stave of an inevitable defeat. This superbly written book gives a complete account of Luftwaffe offensive-such as Operation Bodenplatte, over the Ardennes, in December 1944-and defensive operations between May 1944 and the end of World War II. The Last Year of the Luftwaffe is a comprehensive examination of Hitler's airforce, a frank and illuminating look at a crucial year of aerial combat and a fresh analysis of the odds stacked against Germany's daring pilots. It includes numerous first-hand accounts by Luftwaffe personnel.]

Price, Alfred. The Luftwaffe Data Book. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1997

Price, Alfred. Targeting the Reich: Allied Photographic Reconnaissance Over Europe, 1939-1945. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2003 [Noted aviation historian Price brings together over 150 photographs from allied recon sorties in this oversized hardcover book. The photos of targets range widely -- factories, airfields, railyards, barracks and troop concentrations, ports and naval vessels, camouflaged and dummy targets, flak defenses, and more.]

Ray, John. The Night Blitz, 1940-1941. [Cassell Military Paperbacks Series] Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book looks at the eight-month campaign waged by the Luftwaffe with the aims of crippling Britain's war economy and destroying her civilian morale. This book was originally published in 1996. The hardcover edition has gone out of print. Please click on the Alibris banner on this web page to search for a copy.]

Raymond, Robert S. A Yank in Bomber Command. Pacifica Pr. 1998 [This book is based on excerpts of the war diary and letters of Raymond interwoven with text by editor Michael Moynihan. It recounts his years of service with the RAF from mid-1940 to mid-1943. (From 1943 to 1945 he was a USAAF heavy-bomber instructor.)]

Rogers, Anthony. Battle Over Malta: Aircraft Losses and Crash Sites 1940-42. Sutton Publ. 2000 [Publisher supplied info: From 1940 to 1942, supremacy of the skies over Malta was bitterly contested by the RAF, the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe. Victory was eventually achieved, but at great cost, by the RAF together with Malta-based ground forces, the Royal Navy and the Mercantile Marine. The desperate air battles have since passed into legend, epitomized by the early exploits of a few Royal Navy Sea Gladiator biplane fighters, taken over by the RAF and immortalized as "Faith," "Hope" and "Charity." More than a thousand aircraft of all types were lost before the fighting was over. Many crashed into the Mediterranean, and others fell on Malta itself. Anthony Rogers has painstakingly researched the background to nearly 200 of these crashes, interviewing eyewitnesses and surviving aircrew, to provide a unique record of events. The authors detailed and descriptive account includes a series of narrative snapshots that reveal just how bitter the air battle for Malta actually was. His work is supplemented with more than thirty wartime photographs, many of which are published here for the first time, and includes a use full section on aviation museums and collections on the island. Anthony Rogers grew up in Malta and, in the mid 1970s, served there in the Royal Marines Commandos.]

Saunders, Andy. RAF Tangmere Revisited. [Sutton's Photographic History of Aviation] Sutton Publ. 1998 [This book recounts the history of the RAF base at Tangmere through great photographs with informative captions. The base was built in 1917, but achieved fame for its role in WW II, both for the fighter squadrons stationed there along with the Lysander aircraft that ran covert operations into and out of occupied Europe. The base was closed in 1970, but the book shows documents what has happned to the site since then. It is printed on heavy, glossy paper and features over 250 photographs.]

Sharpe, Michael. Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes. Friedman/Fairfax (UK) 2000/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This is a reference book featuring 300 of the most important multi-wing military and civilian aircraft from 1900 to 1945. For each aircraft there is full-color side-profile artwork and a short history of the plane's development and career. A table for each aircraft lists country of origin, type, powerplant, performance, weight, dimensions, and armament. All measurements are in imperial and metric units. The book is indexed for ease of use.]

Smith, Peter C. The Sea Eagles: The Luftwaffe's Maritime Operations, 1939-1945. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 17] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 2001 [This is the seventeenth book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Smith, Peter C. Stuka Spearhead: The Lightning War from Poland to Dunkirk, 1939-1940. [Luftwaffe at War Series, vol. 7] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1998 [The seventh work in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Smith, Peter C. Stukas Over the Mediterranean 1940-1945. [Luftwaffe at War Series, v. 11] Greenhill Books (UK) 1999/Stackpole Books (US) 2000 [The eleventh book in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Spick, Mike. Defeat in the West, 1939-1945. [Luftwaffe at War Series, vol. 6] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) 1998 [The sixth work in the series (a description of which is can be found with Griehl's book, Fighters Over Russia).]

Spick, Mike. Luftwaffe Fighter Aces: The Jagdflieger and Their Combat Tactics and Techniques. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2003 [Spick offers a useful look at how the Luftwaffe pilots achieved success, often against great odds. His book is greatly aided by the appendices, 35 photographs, 20 tables, and especially the 25 clearly-drawn diagrams of flight maneuvers that make the combat tactics easy to understand for the aviation neophyte. This book was originally published in 1996. To order via Amazon.com.uk, please click here.]

Stanaway, John. P-38 Lightening Aces of the ETO/MTO. [Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series, no. 19] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998

Sturtivant, Ray. The Swordfish Story. Cassell (UK)/Sterling (US) 2000 [This is the story of the Fairey Swordfish "Stringbag," a torpedo spotter reconnaissance aircraft. Despite being a slow biplane introduced in 1933, it saw significant service in the British Fleet Air Arm during WW II, including Norway, the Bismarck attack, and the Taranto raid. This oversized book is heavily illustrated, and has useful reference materials including color plates, aircraft specifications, and the history of each Swordfish aircraft. This book was originally published in 1993 by Arms and Armour Press.]

Tanner, Stephen. Refuge From the Reich: American Airmen and Switzerland During World War II. Sarpedon Pr. 2000 ["A fast-paced account of the experiences of American airmen forced down in neutral Switzerland during World War II. In Tanner's hands this little known story becomes a testimonial to the courage of the American flyers and of their Swiss hosts whose defiance of Hitler provided a refuge for the distressed aviators." -- James H. Hutson, Director, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division. ". . . displays Stephen Tanner's precision as an historian and his gifts as a storyteller. A tale too long unsung, this striking account of American bravery and determined Swiss gutsiness is a worthy addition to any library of World War II history and literature." -- Robert H. Patton. "We owe Stephen Tanner our thanks for his examination of a subject all too often overlooked: the breathtaking heroism of American airmen -- even if they were casualties -- and the modest determination of all small country that provided our flyers safe haven. A must-read for all serious students of World War II." -- RADM Jeremiah Denton (Ret.) "A fascinating look at American combat heroism against the backdrop of a small democracy's determination to defy despotism. . . ." -- Ty McCoy, Asst. Secretary of the Air Force (Ret.)]

Terraine, John. The Right of the Line: The Royal Air Force in the European War 1939-1945. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1997/Combined Books (US) 1998 [Originally published in 1985, this is an extensive history of the RAF weighing in at around 850 pages. ". . . his best book yet." -- The Times. "John Terraine is a fine historian. . . but he believes that history should be exciting and readable." -- John Grigg, The Listener. "The sheer weight and depth of this work are immensely impressive." -- Max Hastings, The Spectator. "A very valuable contribution to military history. . . [it] will have a place of honour on the right of the bookshelf." -- Field-Marshal Lord Carver, The Times Literary Supplement.]

Townsend, Peter. Duel of Eagles: The Struggle for the Skies from the First World War to the Battle of Britain. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is the colorful account of the battle for control of the skies during war and peace. Townsend, himself a veteran pilot of the Battle of Britain, begins with the defeat and abolition of the German air force in WW I. He then examines the interwar developments of the Luftwaffe and RAF. Finally he turns his attention to WW II and the epic clash of the air forces in the Battle of Britain. Having been an eyewitness to these developments, his account is filled with personal insights on the men and machines that determined the outcome of the struggle. This book was originally published in 1970.]

Walton, Frank E. Once They Were Eagles: The Men of the Black Sheep Squadron. Univ. Pr. of Kentucky 1996 [orig. 1986.]

Weal, John. Junkers Ju 87: Stukageschwader of North Africa and the Mediterranean. [Osprey Combat Aircraft Series, no. 6] Osprey Publ. (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 [Part of a nicely illustrated series from Osprey this book has 12 pages of color plates showing aircraft profiles in the color schemes of the leading pilots, and illustrations of the crews themselves.]

Weiland, Charles Patrick. Above and Beyond. Pacifica Pr. 1997 [These are the memoirs of a young man who joined the Marines in 1940 and became an aviator. He saw plenty of action in the Pacific and rose up the ladder of command evetually leading VMF-452, a Corsair squadron that eventually was assigned to the ill-fated USS Frnklin.]

Y'Blood, William T. The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan. [Bluejacket Books Series] Naval Institute Pr. 1999 [This book is a comprehensive history of the CVEs (aircraft carrier, escort), the eighty-six small carriers known as "jeeps," "baby flattops," and "two-torpedo ships." These versatile carriers served in numerous battles such as Leyte Gulf, Guadalcanal, the Marianas, and Okinawa. The ships proved useful in any number of missions including hunting submarines, providing air support, escorting convoys, and ultimately returning GIs to the U.S. This book was originally published in 1987. "Little Giants is well worth reading, for it brings to light a little-known, almost forgotten part of the U.S. Navy's operations in the Pacific. The author is to be congratulated for capturing the essence of the activities of the escort carriers." -- Naval War College Review. "In this thoroughly researched and eminently readable book, the author spins an exciting, fast-paced yarn in telling of their accomplishments and losses, triumphs and tragedies." -- Sea Frontiers.]

Ziegler, Mano. Hitler's Jet Plane: The Me 262 Story. Greenhill Books (UK) 2004/Stackpole (US) 2005 [Also available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca. Ziegler became a Luftwaffe pilot in 1939. From 1943 to 1945 he was an Me 163 test pilot and flight instructor, and later combat pilot with Jagdgeschwader 400. His own jet experience was combined with his interviews with Me 262 pilots (after his release from Soviet captivity) to produce this account of the 262. He covers the early years of research that led to the deployment of the jet, and its use in combat. He also covers the pernicious influence of Hitler on the jet's production and role as a bomber. His wide-ranging discussion looks at specific Me 262 units and some of the jet's more famous flyers. He explains what successes the 262 had, but overall why it failed to deliver the decisive results Göring bragged about. This book was originally published in 1978 with the title, Turbinenjäger Me 262.]

WW II Spotter Cards. Action Products Intl. ["This deck of playing cards is an authentic reproduction of a deck the Navy Department used in 1943 to teach soldiers and civilians on the home front how to identify friendly and enemy aircraft. Each card features three views in silhouette of different WW II aircraft. During the war, card players studied their cards in more ways than one with this deck as they learned to spot the good guys and bad guys. The deck includes the original admonition from the training division of the Navy not to reveal the content of the cards to any 'unauthorized person.'" -- Lee Strucker. This deck is also at a bargain price.]

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