Aces Against Japan II: The American Aces Speak (Hammel, Eric M. American Aces Speak, V. 1, 3.)

Rating:
Summary: Authentic aerial combat stories!
Review: Author Eric Hammel has hit upon a powerful means of telling the stories of the brave American fighter pilots who fought the Empire of Japan in World War II... he simply uses the fliers' own words! In doing this Mr. Hammel is providing a valuable service, as these gallant gentlemen are now in their late seventies or early eighties and many will not be with us much longer.

There is considerable variety in the narration styles of the thirty eight American fighter aces who contributed their personal "memorable missions" to this volume. Some are more concise, some are more reserved; some reveal their emotions as they recount their memories. This adds to the realism of the thirty eight mission accounts.

For anyone interested in the Pacific air war in general, and for anyone interested in the Yamamoto shoot-down in particular, this book is highly recommended. There is nothing else in print that gives Besby Frank Holmes' account of that incredible intercept mission that took place on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1943.

Rating:
Summary: Authentic aerial combat stories!
Review: Author Eric Hammel has hit upon a powerful means of telling the stories of the brave American fighter pilots who fought the Empire of Japan in World War II... he simply uses the fliers' own words! In doing this Mr. Hammel is providing a valuable service, as these gallant gentlemen are now in their late seventies or early eighties and many will not be with us much longer.

There is considerable variety in the narration styles of the thirty eight American fighter aces who contributed their personal "memorable missions" to this volume. Some are more concise, some are more reserved; some reveal their emotions as they recount their memories. This adds to the realism of the thirty eight mission accounts.

For anyone interested in the Pacific air war in general, and for anyone interested in the Yamamoto shoot-down in particular, this book is highly recommended. There is nothing else in print that gives Besby Frank Holmes' account of that incredible intercept mission that took place on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1943.

Rating:
Summary: You'll want to listen when the American Aces Speak!!!
Review: This, the third entry in Eric Hammel's "The American Aces Speak" series places the reader squarely in the cockpits of various US Army, Navy and Marine fighters. The action is explosive and the anecdotes carefully selected to provide one of the most exhilarating literary rides I've had the pleasure of experiencing! Against the claustrophobic world of the cockpit, Hammel masterfully weaves a chronological tapestry giving the reader a sense of orientation amidst the burst of cannon, machine gun and exploding debris!! Not to be missed! Highly Recommended!!See the WWII Aviation Booklist for a large number of World War II aviation reviews at: http://www.ampsc.com/~prophet/booklist.html