Read a good book lately?

[Highlander]

I take it you have also read CHICKENHAWK by Robert Mason? Similar story, great book.


http://www.amazon.com/Chickenhawk-Ro.../dp/0143035711

Read it years ago, often talk about it now.

To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam - Johnson, Tom A.

Title and pic below pretty much explain it. It's about a huey slick pilot in vietnam. They're the dudes who drop off and pick up the grunts from the LZ's in the bush, often under heavy enemy fire. Really well written, and a riviting read. I finished it in about 2 days. Well recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Limit-Air-Huey.../dp/0451222180

Will have to track this one down.

[Usarka]

Blackhorse Riders - Philip Keith



Another vietnam book, about an armoured troop (consisiting of tanks, apc's and infantry) who rescued an infantry unit who found themselves seriously up shit creek. They recieved a presidential citation for the entire unit in 2009 (well some of them did).

Check out the 5 star reviews on amazon.

Chur

[Swoop]

America's secret MiG squadron.


Established under a cloak of secrecy, a squadron was established with Soviet fighter jets so that American fighter pilots could develop the best tactics to fight a future war.
The initial set up was established at an airstrip where the F-117 stealth fighters would move into in years to come.
A basic "do it" approach was taken and the very best people were sourced from around the AF squadrons. The maintainence people worked miracles to get these MiGs back into the air (some from wrecks).
Starting with MiG 17's and then later on, MiG-21's, and also MiG 23's! At one stage there was more than two squadron's worth of aircraft on the ramp.
The secrecy cap was screwed down so tight on this unit, that the declassification of the unit only happened in 2007 and came as a revelation to a lot of people.

A very interesting read, but slightly lacking in some areas (of necessity) even though the author was the instigator of the squadron and its second CO.

7.5:10.

[Kickaha]

[Swoop]

To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam - Johnson, Tom A.

Just finished it.

8:10

I started off comparing it to Chickenhawk (even references to the units in that book) and luckily it wasn't a carbon-copy of that. Very readable and I was impresed with the final major assault into the A Shau valley, and events following that...
As for the "secret squirrel" mission across the fence, Wings of the Eagle is a much better read if those situations (LRRPs) are of interest.

[unstuck]

Just finished a book by Donald Offwood...........Camerons of the Glen. Great read about the early settlers of the central otago area. Heathers Gold is by the same author and is a good read also.

[wysper]

The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern



I like fantasy novels. This is a pretty good read. Not mind bendingly so nor genre breaking. But a departure from what I normally read.
The pace is towards the slower end of the spectrum and I thought the characters were nicely thought out and you acutally do care what happens to them.

Worth a read. It may even make it onto my buy it list and end up on my bookshelf. As much to lend out as to read again.

[TLDV8]

[nudemetalz]

Nearly finished a great book at the moment. A biography about a German sniper on the Eastern Front.You see and read all about the Yanks (and Britsh) in WW2 in various theatres but not a lot about the Germans themselves. People forget that they had it just as hard as the Allies. The conditions they faced over there against the Ruskies is mine boggling. It’s not so much of a book about the tactics as a true life experience. Quite a hard read at times as very descriptive.
Excellent though.
Unlike the Allies the German Snipers were regarded as murderers and that’s why a lot of them escaped to South America.

Book is “Sniper on the Eastern Front; Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger” by Albrecht Wacker

[Swoop]

“Sniper on the Eastern Front; Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger” by Albrecht Wacker

Sounds interesting!

Along the same vein is "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer.
An Alsatian who joined up in the German army and then transferred to a combat role in The Great German regiment. The hardships, as you mention, are unimaginable. Guard duties and living in foxholes during -30 degree nights...

There are also a few very good books written shortly after the war and available in second hand shops. I tracked down Stuka Pilot by Hans Ulrich Rudel and that is an impressive read for Eastern front battles.

[awa355]

Nearly finished a great book at the moment. A biography about a German sniper on the Eastern Front.You see and read all about the Yanks (and Britsh) in WW2 in various theatres but not a lot about the Germans themselves. People forget that they had it just as hard as the Allies. The conditions they faced over there against the Ruskies is mine boggling. It’s not so much of a book about the tactics as a true life experience. Quite a hard read at times as very descriptive.
Excellent though.
Unlike the Allies the German Snipers were regarded as murderers and that’s why a lot of them escaped to South America.

Book is “Sniper on the Eastern Front; Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger” by Albrecht Wacker

Is this a new book or an old edition?

I have a book titled 'the Big Show" by Pierre Clostermann. a french fighter pilot. Unusual to read anything by a frenchman. An old copy printed in 1951.

[Swoop]

I have a book titled 'the Big Show" by Pierre Clostermann. a french fighter pilot. Unusual to read anything by a frenchman. An old copy printed in 1951.

I have the same in my library.
I notice that Amazon are selling a few books that are reprinted from 1950's vintage. There is some great stuff out there.

[Kickaha]

I tracked down Stuka Pilot by Hans Ulrich Rudel and that is an impressive read for Eastern front battles.

I was just reading about him the other day after 1/2 a day reading about Galland, Hartmann, Hanna Reitsch and Hans-Joachim Marseille not quite sure how I got onto them as I started looking at the Bismarck and ended up on them

I have the same in my library.

I have that one too

[Smifffy]

Just before christmas I started reading the complete works of John le Carre in chronological order. It got a bit heavy going at times, but I'm a reasonable way through them now, half way through 'The Night Manager'. I've also been reading a bit of Elmore Leonard lately, the anthology of short stories 'Fire in the Hole' and 'Pronto' 'Riding the Rap' and 'Raylan' upon all of which the TV series 'Justified' is based. They are quick, amusing reads and a bit of light relief from le Carre.

[Swoop]

I was just reading about him the other day after 1/2 a day reading about Galland, Hartmann, Hanna Reitsch and Hans-Joachim Marseille not quite sure how I got onto them as I started looking at the Bismarck and ended up on them.

Strange coincidences and interests.

I have read all of those. The First and the Last is impressive. Having searched for that book (and losing out on an auction at the Antique Arms) and failed miserably back in the early 90's, to walk into a bookshop and have the assistant ask "anything else?" and ask for that. She just reached under the counter and pulled the book out and then said "anything ELSE?"
From flying fighters, up to general of all fighters, and then demoted back to flying fighters again at the end of the war (but jet-fighters now!) along with being awarded multiple sets of the brilliants...

Hanna Reitsch was a surprise. It appears as if she remained a patriotic NAZI well after the war.
All fascinating stuff.