Customer Reviews

Aces in Command : Fighter Pilots as Combat Leaders

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Aces In Command: Fighter Pilots As Combat Leaders is a superbly researched and written military history of combat aviation leadership. Aviation historian Walter Boyne details the careers of four legendary aces (Eddie Rickenbacker, Hub Zemke, Boots Blesse, Robin Olds) who went on to using their leadership skills in positions of command in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Although the advances in military aviation were rapid and transformative, the qualities that each of these men exhibited in their respective eras is nothing short of fascinating. Painstakingly researched, Aces In Command combines the best qualities of superb scholarship with a flair for narration that is an entertaining as it is informative. Aces In Command is "must" reading for all military aviation history enthusiasts.

Excellent read. Mr. Boyne is a very capable author and has captured my uncle Robin Olds quite accurately as well as Rickenbacher, Zemke and Blesse. Zemke was my uncle's mentor and friend and Boyne does him justice in this book. Highly recommended reading for fans of flight, history, action, etc.

Over the past 30-odd years Walt Boyne has written some fine non-fiction books on military aviation. In my opinion this is his best work bar none. ACES IN COMMAND is an interesting, insightful, warts-and-all look at a fascinating topic rarely examined before - fighter aces who led combat units.

Boyne's marvelously researched book examines the military careers of four legendary aces who were also combat leaders - Eddie Rickenbacker, Hub Zemke, Boots Blesse and Robin Olds and why they were so effective as aces and as combat commanders. In contrast to most books on air combat, which normally concentrate on combat reports, Boyne examines each man's upbringing, his character and personality and how all those elements produced, for example, a fighter tiger like Robin Olds.

This is fascinating stuff! By the end of the book, you really feel like you know each of those legendary men and why they were so successful in combat as a fighter pilot and as a leader and why they were often unsuccessful serving in the subsequent peacetime air force.

Anyone interested in the subject of aces should have a copy of this book. It goes beneath the surface to present a multi-layered portrayal of legendary pilots who were also highly effective combat leaders. And it's a damn fine read as well. Way to go, Walt!

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A suggestion to the author: Think of a ACES IN COMMAND sequel featuring Don Blakeslee. He was as much a living legend as Zemke.