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- "It'll be over by Christmas."
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- Unusual take on WWI
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The Bloody Red Baron
Kim Newman
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Newman, Kim
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ASIN: 0786702524 |
Amazon.com
You don't need to have read Anno Dracula to enjoy this feisty sequel set amidst the airborne heroics and trench-warfare drudgery of World War I. As in the previous book, part of the fun is spotting all the names from history and literature who pop up in major and minor roles: a vampire named Edgar Poe is writing the Baron von Richthofen's biography; Mata Hari contributes her vampire bloodline to German breeding experiments; and characters from such sources as P. G. Wodehouse, J. K. Huysmans, D. H. Lawrence, Sinclair Lewis, Ernest Hemingway--as well from movies such as Nosferatu (1922), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Jules et Jim--each impart their dollop of richness to this alternate universe. But the dogfights between Sopwith Camels and huge winged vampires are the real heart of the book: Kim Newman has done his research, so the air battles are vivid and thrilling. A scholarly bibliography is included.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
Time has moved on in the Anno Dracula world, and a World War has
started. Dracula, fiend that he is, is fighting for Germany. At least
by proxy, anyway, as shapeshifting vampires like the Red Baron really
don't need too much in the way of planes.
Edwin Winthrop is the protagonist here, and the new agent must lead
the charge to stop The Bloody Red Baron and friends. G-8 and mates
would be very handy, here.
Others must try and counter the pen of the vampire Poe, also working for Germany.
Toothless Vampire Story.......2006-02-25
This book is based on a strong idea which should have provided the superstructure for a great novel.
Unfortunately, most of the book is filler.
And about half way through, you get that Robert Ludlum feeling - I can sense all the main characters moving towards each other for a cheesy climax.
Very very disappointing.
The most interesting characters didnt figure much because of a lack of imagination.
If you compare this with the intensity of Anne Rice, its a very very weak show - a shame.
Most pointedly, Dracula is actually NOT scarey. How can they be?
"It'll be over by Christmas.".......2004-10-29
Not bloody likely. Not when Dracula is helping the Kaiser and the German war machine during the Great War. We meet some old characters, like Kate Reed, Charles Beauregard, Dr. Moreau and, of course, Dracula. We also meet a few new characters, from reality and fiction, like the Red Baron himself, Edwin Winthrop (a new intelligence officer), Goring - who seems to pop up in a lot of 20th century fiction - go figure, Herbert West of Miskatonic, Mata Hari, Edgar Poe (who dropped his middle name), a Hungarian actor we all know and love, the elder Orlok and even the name of Langstrom of Gotham University is dropped at one point. He is from DC Comics.
Plus hundreds of real or fictional soldiers, spies and fliers. As gripping and detailed as the first book, but it felt better made - I plowed through it with great speed. The story was tight, never slowed down, always on track.
PERFECT. I look forward to buying the next book.
Worthy Sequel -- The Vampire Wars Continue!.......2004-08-31
"The Bloody Red Baron" is an excellent follow-up effort to Kim Newman's "Anno Dracula." In "Baron," Newman updates his alternate universe of vampires rubbing shoulders (and more!) with warm humans by having Dracula lead the Axis powers in WWI.
Once again, Newman takes the audacious step of having the famous and powerful become vampires (Winston Churchill is a prime example, although there seems to be less of this trick than in "Anno Dracula"). But the most notorious vampire is easily Manfred von Richtoffen, the Red Baron. The ultimate hunter is cross-fed by several vampire "elders" to create the ultimate winged combatant . . . a winged vampire armed with powerful hand-machine guns. Now, not only must the Allied pilots be wary of a violent death in a fireball or a screaming nose-dive to earth, they must be wary of being plucked from their pilot-seats and eaten alive! The vision of the vampire-squadron taking off from a high tower, with strains of Wagner echoing from Dracula's Zeppelin-flagship, makes for a riveting read.
Newman brings a few characters along from "Anno Dracula," including Charles Beauregard, aging agent of the Diogenes Club, and vampiress-journalist Kate Reed, but most of the storylines follow new characters. Edwin, seeming heir apparent to Beauregard as Diogenes agent, becomes entwined with the hunt for the Red Baron after a horrifying air raid on the German fortress of Schloss Adler, and Edgar Allen Poe, turned vampire and propaganda-man for the Axis powers, struggles to come to terms with his new role in the world.
Newman combines an eye for historical detail with the talent to write riveting scenes of carnage . . . setting the scene amongst the carnage and devastation of WWI is perfect for Newman's style. This is one difficult book to put down!
Newman's tale is also one of transition. Like the warm, the vampires must also come to terms with the violent transition to the 20th century, as technology poses new threats to vampires and warm alike (a chilling scene of an Allied elder vampire first vanquishing, then being vanquished by, Axis tanks exemplifies this theme). Among the most moving scenes are the "educations" that young, romantic American troops receive on the front lines.
Not for the squeamish, "Baron" offers thrills galore, and also throws out some good condemnation for the leaders of World War I on both sides . . . an excellent, though eccentric, take on leadership and the ability of some to throw lives away for the sake of their own ambition.
To borrow a cliche, if you liked "Anno Dracula," you'll love "The Bloody Red Baron."
Unusual take on WWI.......2000-11-01
An excellent sequel to _Anno Dracula_: thirty years after the events of the original, vampires are fighting in the skies of Europe. Meanwhile a vampiric Edgar Poe is trying to write a biography of Manfred von Richthofen, and soldiers are dying in the mud and barbed wire of no-man's-land.
This book has most of the same strengths and weaknesses as its predecessor (which isn't to say that Kim Newman has fallen into a rut - he hasn't - but you'll probably like this book as much or as little as you did the first one.) Newman mixes his own characters adroitly with real people - some far more unpleasant than Newman's vampires - and characters borrowed from other authors. I was disappointed not to see Genevieve Dieudonne return for this book, but any author willing to turn Biggles, Algy, Ginger and Bertie into vampires earns points for style. (Newman also makes them more like three-dimensional characters than they ever were under their original creator.)
As with _Anno Dracula_, the ending comes too soon and too suddenly; Newman throws in a major catastrophe which makes many of the book's struggles and characters irrelevant, and then fails to follow up on that catastrophe. But even with that failing, this is one of the best vampire books out there (and certainly one of the most unusual.)
Book Description
Manfred von Richthofen became a fighter pilot on the Western Front in August 1916. By January 1917, Richthofen had shot down fifteen aircraft had been appointed commander of his own unit. He painted the fuselage of his Albatros D-III a bright red and was nicknamed the Red Baron. In June 1917, Richthofen was appointed commander of the German Flying Circus. Made up of Germany's top fighter pilots, this new unit was highly mobile and could be quickly sent to any part of the Western Front where it was most needed. Richthofen and his pilots achieved immediate success during the air war over Ypres during August and September.
Manfred von Richthofen was killed on 21st April 1918. Richthofen had destroyed 80 allied aircraft, the highest score of any fighter pilot during the First World War.
This book is divided into three sectors of the WWI front line in which von Richthofen operated. Each area is conveniently reached within hours. Airfield sites, memorials and the graves of Manfred's famous victims are described and directions for the battlefield walker are included with information on related museums and historic sites with special association with this most famous of fighter pilots.
Book Description
Manfred von Richthofen - the Red Baron - was the most celebrated fighter pilot of the First World War, and was holder of the Blue Max, Pour le M,rite, Germany's highest military decoration. He was credited with 80 victories in the air, before being shot down in disputed circumstances aged 26. In this autobiography Richthofen tells not only his own story but also that of his contemporaries, their duels in the sky, ever present danger, fame, honor and spiraling death.
Customer Reviews:
What a maniac.......2007-09-26
I wonder if some of the fatherland stuff was added by one of the Kaiser's goons. This guy is a wild boar hunting nutcase. A great book if you wonder why Germany keeps starting wars.
In the cockpit, sharing the adventure.......2007-07-24
This is a fantastic autobiography, because Von Richthofen was an amazing person. Very real (he devotes as much attention to his cousin and him climbing the spire of the local church, as he does to some of his aerial battles), full of good-natured humor and a zest for life. I particularly loved how the early fighter pilots were known as "Knights of the Sky", and kept to the chivalric code, including following downed pilots to ensure that they were all right.
Red Baron's Autobiography.......2007-04-11
Great book! Great photos and an amazing life told by The Red Baron himself (translated into English, of course!).
Red Baron by Manfred Von Richthofen.......2007-01-17
The book is great.... However, one would think that the printer would check the spelling of his last name on the front cover.... It's "Richthofen" and NOT "Richtofen" as printed.... Will the printer replace the book???
Regards,
Don_
Good to excellent.......2006-12-02
An autobiography on the Red Baron up until he was killed in action, First chapter in the book dispells any myths about "he only shot down lesser performing aircraft - reality only 36 kills out of 80" etc, Manfred gives details of his and his family background his initial military career as a calvary officer and the opening stages of the war which then follows onto his aviation career until he was killed.
Book Description
This book places emphasis on the aeronautical technology of the time as well as overall strategy and aviation tactics. More than two hundred illustrations, including charts, sketches, and photos, clarify World War I fighter design with all its strengths and weaknesses.
Customer Reviews:
an engineer's view.......2007-04-08
As an engineer I found this book to be refreshing change from the repetition of previously stated opinions so often passing for the technical side of discussions of the operation of war machinery. Bennett actually understands how airplanes work and the relationship between that and their use as tools of killing. The author refrains from excessive 20th century pyschoanalysis of the "Bloody Red Baron" and simply sees him as a soldier hunting for and using the best tools for the job he was given to do. While clearly explaining the aerodynamics, stuctural dynamics, and exterior ballistics of early aircraft (using many informal charts and graphs but no equations) he does not neglect consideration of the human element involved in 1917/18 aircraft operations.
The tools and approach used in this book could be used for a more comprehensive and complete study of the influence of technical decsion making on aircraft performance in the 1914-18 war. Of particular interest were the comparison of German and British research efforts during war time. Many questions about how these machines actually worked were still being learned as they were being used in large numbers, leading to inevitable disappointments and shortcomings. It is not always clear who knew what when in a time of rapidly changing technology and Bennett does his best to sort this out relative to the design and development of the Dr. 1.
What would have given this book five stars ? Perhaps a bit more on the relationship between the German Army Air Service staff and procurement functions and the Fokker and Albatros firms would be helpful. From the material presented it would seem like Manfred Richthoven just ordered the planes from Tony Fokker. Although the issues surrounding the rotary engine are well covered, the reasons for the shortcomings of the German efforts are more suggested than explained in any systematic way. Perhaps a seperate study on aircraft engine developement in this time frame but with this perspective is needed. Perhaps I am criticizing the author for not having written a different book.
All in all, a useful and helpful, if narrowly focused, study of how technology and technical decision making changes our lives and livelihoods. One thing to add...on page 17 he explains why the high aspect ratio advantage postulated by A.V. Roe applying to multiple long narrow wings does not actually occour. The explanation is certainly correct as far as it goes but not as clear as it might be. It would be helpful to say that the efficiency loss of a finite span wing is due to the energy lost in vortex formation at the wing tips. The triplane therefore produced six tip vortices instead of the four for a biplane or the two for a monoplane. This could be easily illustrated with a sketch.
The Triplane Story.......2006-06-02
This book tells a story. It tells the story of the triplane, of the people who spent the most time and effort designing one and the companies who built them. The author gives the story a personal slant by keeping Manfred von Richthofen as a central focus through the entire book. Not only did Manfred fly the famous Fokker triplane but he used his considerable influence as Germany's top ace to have one built and put into service.
Since the subject of Bennett's work is focused on the single triplane topic he goes into quite a bit of detail about it and at times the read gets pretty technical. That is not to say I didn't find it informative. I especially enjoyed how Bennett explained how difficult it was to actually hit a moving target in 3 dimensional space with primitive machine guns mounted on temperamental aircraft.
The first chapter is the only chapter in the book that strays from the topic of the triplane specifically. In this chapter Bennett discusses Richthofen's last combat mission and the evidence concerning his death. This chapter is very useful for those who have wondered why there is so much debate over how the great Red Baron met his end
WWI Aerial Combat - A Technical Analysis.......2004-10-05
Wow! A real in-depth analysis of World War I aerial combat and the Fokker triplane's role in it. The author, Leon Bennett, is a retired aeronautical engineer. And he does an outstanding job of explaining the challenges of rudimentary (and dangerous) WWI flying. With an unbiased and unsentimental perspective, Bennett conducts an insightful (and readable) technical analysis of the triplane against its biplane and monoplane opponents. In addition, Bennett relates why Richthofen decided to switch to the triplane after a long and spectacularly successful career in the Albatros biplane series. With a copious array of graphs and diagrams, Bennett clearly and concisely explains numerous technical issues to the layman. And he always reiterates the effects of the human element and environmental factors in tactics, strategy, and aircraft procurement.
I was very impressed with this book - I read it in just two days. The first chapter about Richthofen's death appears to be a bone thrown by the publisher, aiming to popularize the book a bit. The thoughtfully interspersed photos and posters throughout the book provide short mental breaks between technical discussions. I highly recommend it!
A book for the serious Triplane student.......2004-04-24
I have read a number of books about Richthofen and the Fokker Triplane over the years; have built an R/C Triplane as well as the Hasagawa Museum Series Tripe, and thought I was an expert on both man and plane. It wasn't until I read Bennett's book that I discovered just how little I actually knew. Written by an aeronautic engineer, it clears up many myths about the Triplane and explains in very simple yet detailed terms, with numerous charts and graphs, not only how the Triplane was built, but why it was built the way it was. Bennett also details the tremendous influence Richthiofen had on its construction, and how it was tailor-built to fit in with his personal concepts of air strategy and combat. Tactics and construction details and flight concepts that I had assumed I understood, were explained in a way that was like opening a door onto an entire new level of learning. E.g., I had read about the Triplane's ability to 'hang by the propeller', thought I understood what it meant, discovered that I was close but incorrect, but most importantly, learned why the plane's ability to do this mattered.
I am not an engineer by any means, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is not for the casual reader, but if you have built R/C planes or have a deep interest in WW1 air combat, I guarantee you will learn a lot from Mr. Bennett's book.
(This review was originally attributed to Paul Leaman's 'Fokker Dr1 book by mistake. Mr Leaman's book is more of a straight history of the Triplane & makes a good companion book to Mr. Bennett's more technically oriented work.)
An intelligent reader's Red Baron!.......2002-11-07
At last, an intelligent reader's Red Baron!
Not the usual shoot-em-up pap; not the old "dicing with death" baloney, but a solid study of how tactical needs and airplane design limitations led the Red Baron to press for a German Triplane and what happened when he finally got one. It turned out to be slow but maneuverable; maybe not the greatest, but a good defensive machine.
I don't agree with everything the author says and believe that the final clouded victory over Richthofen can be attributed more definitely than he suggests. But agree or not, the author's carefully researched work, given in hundreds of listed references, will help you think your way through to your own answers. For example-what was wrong with the Triplane when first introduced? There were some serious accidents initially and as an old timer pilot, I've found the standard answer-mechanical defectscompletely believable. However, the author puts out a new explanation and makes it stick. The real problem had to do with over-balanced ailerons. Given a bit of deflection and a yawed flight path, the ailerons ran away, producing a spin and crash. It's all here, with plenty of sketches to make it clear.
There's also good stuff about combat odds. If it's two to one against you, what are your chances? If you think the odds are two to one, you better read the book, because the correct odds are four to one. It's all here, and you don't have to sweat the math-the author does it for you.
All in all, the book offers good reading together with a learning experience. If you are interested in Great War air combat or aircraft, it's a must read,
Book Description
The daring air aces of World War I faced more than the enemy when they took to the sky—they faced the odds. Their chances of being hit were high; the odds of their hitting the enemy were low. One pilot, French Captain Albert Moris, reported 400 hits to his aircraft in his 253 hours of flying, more than a hit per hour.
Even the most maneuverable of the British fighters, the Sopwith Camel, lost as many machines as its pilots shot down. Pilots flying Camels rang up 1,294 victories, but 1,500 machines were lost to accidents and enemy fire, and many Camel pilots died within weeks of entering combat.
Was it luck or skill that sustained the Red Baron, the German ace who flew, fought, and thrived until he was finally shot down in April 1918? Gunning for the Red Baron gives the lowdown on why it was so hard to score a hit, what qualities helped the aces succeed, and the weapons and planes that were celebrated in the "air war to end wars." Most basically, this richly illustrated book explains why aim was so notoriously bad.
Customer Reviews:
A Very Technical Analysis of WWI Air Combat!.......2006-11-27
Anyone interested in a detailed, technical analysis of the mechanics of World War I air warfare will want to peruse this book from Texas A&M University Press. Loaded with endless charts and graphs along with period and contemporary photos, the book examines aircrew, weapons, gunsights, aircraft, engines and tactics related to the science of shooting down airplanes in WWI. It will probably delight the nuts-and-bolts crowd; others will find it a tough slog.
To give him his due, Bennett did a wonderful job of research, uncovering rare and informative documents. He also created many, useful illustrations for the book.
As interested as I am in air warfare however, I still found the presentation of all that technical information too much of a good thing. I got through the book but have to admit I skimmed through some sections.
Too much theory, not enough action for my taste.
Another Unique study of WWI air Warfare by Bennett.......2006-08-31
Those of you that have read Leon Bennett's "Three Wings for the Red Baron" already are aware of his excellent abilities to analyze early air combat in new and informative ways. A master of the technological implications of design, which is no surprise since he is an aeronautical engineer, Bennett offers fresh ideas and some really amazing insights into a field that is dominated primarily by uninterpreted data and anecdotal explanations.
If you are a WWI air combat buff-this and the "THree Wings..." titles are a very necessary addition to your library.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
That daring WWI fighter ace Snoopy tangles with the dastardly Red Baron during heroic missions. He can never quite get the slippery scarlet flyer though.
An excellent book for young readers, they will want to read it.......2007-05-30
Of all of the characters and storylines of the "Peanuts" comic strip, the "battles" between Snoopy and the Red Baron are the best. A very popular song was even made based on that premise. A continuous storyline based on that idea is presented in this book and packaged for elementary school children as part of the Weekly Reader program. I would be hard pressed to come up with a better subject for the program.
Snoopy is a character that children easily relate to and the text and illustrations will keep their interest. If reading programs for young people are to succeed, the children have to want to read and this is something that they will want to read. I strongly recommend it.
Snoopy the Aviator!.......2002-04-23
I love this book. Snoopy makes a great aviator, and he knows that real world war I flying aces don't say "Nyah, nyah, nyah," and he says it anyway. Snoopy's fight against the Red Baron is one that I'd never want to miss! Way to go, Snoopy!
My 4 year old loves it........1997-12-27
It's an old Snoopy book from my childhood. My 4 year old son loves it. We only wish that Charles Schulz would have written more like it. We keep wondering when and if Snoopy ever will get that Red Baron.
Book Description
The autobiography of the "Red Baron", Manfred von Richthofen, written shortly before his death in April 1918. New introduction gives a brief history of the birth of aerial combat.
Customer Reviews:
interesting and informative.......2007-05-31
Of course everyone has heard of the myths about the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, but this book tells the real story, in his own words. Richthofen tells us about his early life, how he joined the army as a cavalry officer before going to flight school, and his experiences as the top-scoring fighter ace in World War One.
This version of Richthofen's autobiography also has a number of interesting photos which illustrate the world in which the Red Baron flew, fought, and died.
It also includes a very nice introduction which gives a short historical background of the First World War and the development of the airplane as a military weapon. Richthofen's accomplishments are placed in the context of earlier air aces like Roland Garros, Max Immelman, and Oswald von Boelcke, the German ace who took the young Manfred von Richthofen under his wing and taught him the rules of air combat.
Although there are several different printed versions of Richthofen's autobiography available, the very informative introduction and the accompanying photos make this version the best I have seen.
Average customer rating:
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Snoopy And The Red Baron
Schultz
Manufacturer: Holt Rinehart and Winston Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IG2P4U |
Book Description
Based upon a wealth of carefully researched and verified documentation from the newly opened archives in East Germany, this riveting book traces the development of German fighter aviation from early single aircraft aerial ambushes to the massed attacks of the Jagdgeschwader I—the battle force that Richthofen developed into a highly effective air weapon. Examining the most celebrated WWI flying ace's role as air fighter, leader and strategist, the author delves deeper than anyone previously to find the truth behind the myths surrounding Richthofen for 70 years. Features never before published personal writings by the Red Baron, including his own Air Combat Operations Manual, along with observations from his comrades, admirers, and enemies. Includes striking full-color and numerous rare archive photos.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting even for non-historians.......2006-01-26
Prior to reading "Richthofen: Beyond the Legend of the Red Baron" by Peter Kilduff, the extent of my knowledge regarding the Red Baron was that he was Snoopy's arch-nemesis and that the name is used on a brand of frozen pizzas. In actuality, he was a very decent and honorable soldier (for Germany during WWI) who was credited with having shot down more enemy planes than any other flier during the war and a pioneer in military aviation tactics. When he was finally shot down and killed at the age of 25 (a young man in contrast to the grossly innacurate depiction on the pizza box!) he had brought down 80 British and French airplanes, and was revered as a national hero in Germany and feared by his enemies elsewhere.
And while the book does a very good job at documenting those he shot down (names, places, dates and times, plane ID #s), that part of it wasn't terribly interesting. In fact I had a hard time getting into the book until about the mid-point. Although I'm not particularly interested in aviation history, I still found it an interesting story and I enjoyed the insights into the man behind the legend. And I agree with the author that his moodiness and change in attitude toward the end of his life had less to do with the head wound he had previously suffered (as is posited on several websites I've since read) and more to do with the fact that he was suffering from "battle fatigue" or "combat stress." Or, as Richthofen's mother put it, "I believe he has seen death too often."
Richthofen: Beyond the Legend of the Red Baron.......2004-10-25
I've been more of a buff of World War Two aviation, but have recently been undergoing a conversion to World War One aviation, and it was with great interest that I read this book, as it is my first on Richtofen. Up until now, I've pretty much known the "legendery" Richthofen: the steely, ruthless Teutonic pilot who roamed the skies in his red Fokker triplane. In particulr, as a Canadian, the whole controvery over his demise, is something that I learned about at a young age. But now that I've read this book, I believe that I have a better, more rounded understanding of the true Manfred von Richthofen. An excellent book, well worth reading.
Good bio, but frankly not much new ground here.......2002-06-22
"Richtofen" purports to "use the newly released archives of the former East Germany" to add some detail to basic outline of Manfred von Richtofen's life. The book does justice to its subject; no doubt about that. The narrative has many first-person accounts, and copious footnotes. But for all that, there's frankly not much REALLY new here at all. Most of what is new is minutae: this victory is not RE8 S/N 05638 but RE8 S/N 61645-type statements.
The author does include the latest research on the Fokker Dr1 and demythologizes that aircraft at least. (Richtofen wasn't overly enchanted with it, contrary to legend, but the fighter he really wanted the DVII wasn't ready.) I was frankly surprised to see a serious gap in the research that I read while living in Germany. The Luftwaffe Surgeon-General pulled Richtofen's medical records out of the archives and made a possibly crucial psycho-physiological profile of him ca 1917/18.
This profile concludes that his head injury sustained in 1917, was serious enough to permanently ground him (even at the time; German medicine in WW1 led the world). He also found evidence that the famous nurse who attended him, Kaetie Obersdorf was a compromise between the Surgeon-General's office and Richtofen/High Command. Finally, and most relevant for Kilduff's book, the profile's author proposes that chronic symptoms from the injury may have impaired Richtofen's judgement: leading to his fatal mistakes on 21 April 1918.
If you have a casual interest in Richtofen or WW1 fighter aviation, this book might be worthwhile. Serious students/enthusiasts of Richtofen will learn nothing substantially new.
A Dry Rendition.......2001-01-31
Mr. Kilduff's book is a thorough review of the facts, but I couldn't help but finding it a bit dry. Technically speaking, the book is very well cross-referenced and foot-noted, making it an easy quick-reference manual. But I felt it lacked personality. There's an over-emphasis on relating a chronological listing of dates, times, places, aircraft types shot down and serial numbers; and the heavy reliance on using German-language terms can bog the narrative down in places. I still find William Burrows' book RICHTHOFEN: A True History Of The Red Baron from 1969 to be an over-all better read. Mr. Kilduff's companion volume THE ILLUSTRATED RED BARON however, is excellent.
The whole history of the Red Baron !.......1999-04-13
Kilduff gives us, in this great book, not only an account of Richthofen exploits, but a general view of air combat in World War II. Deeply researched and rich with actual facts, this is a must-buy book for any real afficionate of air combat.
Product Description
Twenty-seven fighter pilots, from World War I to the Gulf War, offer first-hand accounts of the twentieth century's most furious air battles. Each chapter is drawn from the books, memoirs, and articles written by the famous men who flew and fought them, men such as:
Manfred von Richthofen, the infamous Red Baron, World War I's greatest ace.
"Captain Eddie" Rickenbacker, America's World War I ace whose incredible exploits became a Hollywood film.
Claire Chennault, to organize the legendary Flying Tigers and took on Japan's mighty air force in the darkest days of World War II.
"Pappy" Boyington, who went from the Tigers to the "Black Sheep" squadron of blunt, boisterous, but deadly air warriors.
Chuck Yeager, another American World War II ace, who became the first test-pilot to break the sound barrier.
Anton Fokker, the Dutch founder of Fokker Aircraft, who invented the "interrupter gear" that allowed a machine gun to fire through the propeller-and made fighter pilots possible.
Besides the explosive accounts of aerial combat, you'll find stories of capture and interrogation, of leaping out of flaming planes and recovering from wounds, and of searching for the desperate pleasures of R&R to help forget it all.
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