Aces Against Germany: The American Aces Speak Vol. II

By Eric Hammel

Book Overview

ACES AGAINST GERMANY The American Aces Speak by Eric Hammel. In the second volume of his critically acclaimed series, The American Aces Speak, noted military historian Eric Hammel brings fresh first-person accounts from thirty-nine U.S. Army Air Corps fighter aces who blasted their way across the skies of North Africa, the Mediterranean, and northern and southern Europe in the great crusade against Hitler's vaunted Luftwaffe and the other Axis air forces. Coupled with a clear, concise historical overview of America's brilliant air war against the Axis in Europe and North Africa, Hammel's detailed interviews bring out the most thrilling in-the-cockpit experiences of some of our country's best pilots.Climb aboard a P-38 Lightning as Maj. Bill Leverette fights America's highest-scoring single personal air battle against the Luftwaffe. And get into the cockpit of a P-47 Thunderbolt as 15-victory ace Capt. Don Bryan scores his dream kill by outwitting the pilot of a far speedier German jet in the closing days of the war in Europe.As he did in four companion volumes, Hammel has collected some of the very best air-combat tales from America's war against Germany. Nearly all the stories in Aces Against Germany have never before been told, and the others have been enhanced by details and viewpoints brought out by Hammel's superb interviewing Together, the five volumes of nearly 200 first-person aerial-combat stories from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam stand as an enduring testament to the combat airmen who fought their wars strapped into the cockpits of America's lethal high-performance fighter aircraft.Aces Against Germany is a highly charged emotional rendering of the now-dim days of personal combat at the very edge of our living national history. There was never a war like it, and there never will be again. These are the stories of America's eagles in their very own words.Critical Acclaim for The American Aces Speak SeriesThe Book World says: "Aces Against Japan" is a thunderous, personal, high-adventure book giving our 'men in the sky' their own voice."Book Page says: "Eric Hammel's book is recommended reading. It is a must for any historian's bookshelf."The Library Journal says: "No PR hype or dry-as-dust prose here. Hammel allows his flyers to tell their stories in their own way.Exciting stuff aviation and World War II buffs will love."The Providence Sunday Journal says: "A treat that deftly blends a chronology of the Pacific War with tales that would rival a Saturday action matinee."Infantry Magazine says: "If you would like to read one book that will give you a broad overview and yet a detailed look at what a fighter pilot's air war was like this is the book."The Bookshelf says: "Hammel is one of our best military historians when it comes to presenting that often complex subject to the general public. He has demonstrated this facility in a number of fine books before Aces Against Germany] and now he does so again.Not to be missed by either buff or scholar."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08M7JBMP5
• ISBN13: 9798557160063
• Release Date: November 2020
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

With "Aces Against Germany: The American Aces Speak", the experiences of American fighter aces over Europe during World War II comes alive. Eric Hammel is a most experienced writer, and reading the book one gets the feeling of sitting in the cockpit of a U.S. fighter during those dramatic days. With this book, Eric Hammel has made a terrific work to provide us of the post-war generation with a detailed view of "how the air war really was" from an American point of view. The most interesting detail in the book is the case (or rather: cases) when American aces found out the identity of the German pilots that they met in air combat, or--in one case--even met one of them after the war! Altogether a great and easy read book.Christer Bergström

Entertaining and Informative

This book reads very quickly. Mr. Hammel gives a concise historical summary of the air war against Germany in WW2 that is interspersed with firsthand descriptions of aerial combat from the aces involved.The book is organized chronologically, moving through the campaigns in North Africa, the Mediterranean, Italy, and Northern Europe/Germany. Mr. Hammel sets the stage for each chapter with a quick overview of the air war at that point in time. Then, the personal recollections of numerous aces are presented. The biography of each ace up to the time the incident takes place is given. Next, the ace tells his story. After the story, the biography of the ace from that point forward is given. Occasionally, between aces, Mr. Hammel throws in a little more history.The overall effect is great. You get a good insight into the overall conduct of the air war, and you get great "action" stories from the aces. Each ace is presenting one of his most memorable experiences. This is a real advantage. Rather than one person's story, which contains the inevitable slow parts, this book compiles a string of dramatic actions. It's also interesting to note the similarities in all the stories. The one that jumped out at me was the fact that once the action started, and aircraft were spinning all over the sky, you were lucky if you still had your wingman with you. Plenty of times, you wound up alone (very dangerous!), looking for someone to offer mutual protection as you fought your way out of the battle area and back home.I learned a great deal in reading this book, and enjoyed every minute of it. You will too. I highly recommend it. "Aces Against Japan" is next on my list!

Hammel begins his quadrilogy of aerial excitement

This is the book that sparked my interest in WW2 in the air. Hammel, an expert writer on the subject, leaves out each and every thing not essential. Consequently, the action comes through like in no other book I've read, with the possible exception of "Top Guns" by Foss & Brennan.The stories are short, but once one of them ends, the next one must be read right away, and the whole book is devoured at one sitting. Also included are short descriptions of the large-scale events during which the missions told take place.Buy all 4 and make your spouse angry for a week.