Recommended Books about WW1 Air Combat

Olham54 said:
Seems difficult to find any German books, as most aces didn't return from the war. I found MvR's "Der Rote Baron", which is said to be diary-based and written by himself (that would have been still at war then - but I'm suspicious there, as the oldest one I found at Ebay, was from 1933 - so I'm not sure, if perhaps it was manipulated for propaganda by the Nazi's. Does anyone know?);
and I saw "Mein Fliegerleben" by Ernst Udet (which was already mentioned here). So, does anyone know more about the above, or can recommend other German titles? Thank you all.
Olham
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guten abend olham,

i've got this book at home. MvR wrote this book himself or with help of a ghostwriter during his headinjury and his vacation in summer 1917.and it was first published in 1917. the british goverment was also interested to publish his book in GB so it might have offered some ways to learn about his techniques and so helping the allies to bring him down. my version of this book was printed 1935 with a foreword of hermann goering as the last leader of JG1 before the armistice. in this version the book starts with the history of the family richthofen couple hundred years ago and about the youth oh MvR. there are also some letters added he wrote during the war and some letters to his mother during the last weeks of his life. after MvR's book the are some pages added by LvR about his life and the time he spent with his brother. there are also some pages added by his youngest brother bolko, about how he managed to get manfreds body to germany and about the "official" funeral in berlin, joined by former comrades of him and hindenburg. the book is definitely worth reading, although you better do not expect some great writers talent. it's rather simple and you will notice at some points his lack of writing talent, but as i said, it is worth a read. as long as i know some minor things were changed from the nazi regime or probably added in some sentences, like e.g. after boelckes fatal accident as MvR said that nothing happens without god's will. a fact one should always remember. this sentence in my version is simply missing compared to the original.
here is a link to the online version of the book in english
http://www.richthofen.com/


creaghorn
 
Danke, CREAGHORN
for the details - the book is on my list now. I read a review yesterday, that it partially was of great naivity as for political and self-critical views, but that may show, how people were in those days - they didn't have all the information, we have today. You don't know "MeinFliegerleben" from Udet?
Thank you. Olham
 
Olham54 said:
So, does anyone know more about the above, or can recommend other German titles? Thank you all.
Olham
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"Die Jagdstaffel unsere Heimat. Ein Flieger-Tagebuch aus dem letzten Kriegsjahr." Rudolf Stark.
Published in English as "Wings of War"
Cheers,
shredward
 
My dear friend Olham, I suggest for you "Wing Of War" by Rudolph Stark. I read the book maybe 10 years ago but I recall vivid accounts of his actions flying for Germany in his personal paint scheme Fokker D VII. Including the closing days of the war when there was not much hope or point to continuing. Supplies being very short etcetera.
One of the interesting things about Herr Stark is that he was a painter and he captured some dramatic moments for us with his art. I recall his art on the cover of an issue of "Over the Front". If you are unfamiliar with the man das ist shade. Es tute mir leit. I think this is what you may be looking for. I know I appreciated getting a german perspective other than MVR's. Best wishes, Jim
P.S. On the other side of the front I recommend "Up and At "em" by Hartney. I seem to recall it being excellent and contained very good accounts of the exploits of Frank Luke. Also I can highly recommend "Winged Warfare" by William "Billy" Avery Bishop. None of these 3 books are fictional. Should all be available on abebooks.com for cheap.
 
I think Winged Victory by by VM Yeates should be on everyones bookshelf..
But I've seen precious little detailing the flying techniques appropriate to the different roles/types... In WWII the number of hours in training for british was of the order 200-300 hours! I guess the planes were a little less complex in WWI !!
 
Olham54 said:
Danke, CREAGHORN
for the details - the book is on my list now. I read a review yesterday, that it partially was of great naivity as for political and self-critical views, but that may show, how people were in those days - they didn't have all the information, we have today. You don't know "MeinFliegerleben" from Udet?
Thank you. Olham
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i know it exists and i know some of the chapters he wrote (guynemer shows mercy), but i did'nt read it yet. i just ordered some days ago "flying fury". i think that's also worth a read.
 
personal favs...

Diary of an Aviator - it's a real diary from a Britsh WWI aviator, Illistrated by none other than Elliot White Springs.

Bloody April / Black September - Norman Franks - not a combat book, but a tremendous insight on the sheer insanity of WWI air combat... and you'll be shocked at how many claims were really not kills.

OvS
 
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