Air Combat: An Oral History Of Fighter and similar items

6.25" x 9.25", 343 page hardcover with dustjacket titled AIR COMBAT: AN ORAL HISTORY OF FIGHTER PILOTS by Robert F. Dorr/ Berkley Caliber, ISBN # 0-425-21170-3, First Edition, September 2006/ Author Dorr has woven 61 interviews with combat pilots into a tapestry of great interest and exceptional readability. The "first person" narratives from fighter pilots spanning air warfare from WWII through combat operations as current as The Global War On Terror give a wonderful chronological picture of the evolution of fighter combat. Accompanying each separate story are companion vignettes by others who fought in the same engagement as the central character in a given scenario, giving the reader several perspectives to each combat--the result is a three dimensional story that rivets the reader to the event. Some of the stories are told by heroes the reader will know, but more often than not the story is told by an air combat veteran who was in close proximity to others more famous, allowing the reader to understand how teamwork with those lesser known wingmen allowed the more famous to excel at shooting down the enemy. Each story is accompanied by a panel relating the relevant data on the aircraft involved. The stories from those who flew the P-39(P-400) Airacobra in actual combat are of particular interest, giving heft to brave men and an unusual aircraft which deserve more interest and appreciation than they often receive. Stories including a number of other aircraft not normally thought of as air combat stars are discussed, the AD Skyraider, EF-10B Skyknight, A-37B Dragonfly and F-117A Nighthawk among them. What makes this book so compelling is the intensely personal nature of the stories, related by men who saw their enemies up close and frequently suffered injury as the result. This is an easy reading book that captivates the reader's attention from the first word through the last sentence, and is highly recommended to anyone with interest in aerial warfare and a good story. The book is complete and in VERY GOOD condition with some overall wear that includes a small black remainder mark on the bottom edge of the closed book pages.