America's Aces in a Day [Hardcover]

William N. Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1996

In the history of aerial combat it is not uncommon to find stories of pilots who downed five or more enemy aircraft during their military careers, thus earning the title "Ace". Far less common are those pilots who accomplished this feat in a single day, often during a single mission! For the first time ever, renowned aviation author William Hess brings together the combat records of American pilots who achieved the status of Ace in a single day. Included are details of their combat victories taken from official records chronicled in debriefings immediately upon return from missions. Covers Navy, Marine and Air Force pilots and includes accounts from the Flying Tigers in 1941 through the raids on Japan in 1945. Includes a complete list of all U.S. pilots credited as achieving ace in a day status.

William N. Hess has written 25 books, was a WWII B-17 Gunner, is an ex-POW and a Veteran of the Korean War. He is the official Historian for the American Fighter Aces Assoc.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The vast majority of World War II fighter pilots who, as bona fide hunters, achieved the title of ace did so gradually, over an extended number of combat missions (escort service and/or essential bombing and strafing operations in support of ground forces). They built scores slowly, primarily one victory at a time until they reached the magic number of five. Despite these odds, a handful of pilots accomplished this aerial combat feat in one mission or in one day. It is these favored few whose accomplishments are chronicled in America's Aces In A Day. Herein recorded is an enthralling story, a fascinating portrayal of a unique chapter in military aviation history. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press (MN) (August 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933424620
• ISBN-13: 978-0933424623
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fact packed..., July 5, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's Aces in a Day (Hardcover)

Mr. Hess has done a nice job of researching and compiling the accounts of America's "one-day aces" of World War II. Plenty of first-hand combat accounts taken from both combat logs and pilot interviews make it informative, if somewhat difficult, reading. Over one hundred Army Air Force, Navy and Marine aces are featured, including Chuck Yeager, Leonard "Kit" Carson and Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. I all, the book gives a good impression of what it takes to win at aerial combat; being in the right place at the right time, and possessing the skills and level-headedness required to bring down an adversary. Many of the accounts are accompanied by black and white photographs of the pilots and their aircraft.

1.0 out of 5 stars ANTOHER ONE..., August 17, 2001

By 

Pitchulo Dun Dun (Filha de Uma Puta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America's Aces in a Day (Hardcover)

Take the combat logs from squadrons then all fo a sudden you've got a book to publish. This is the scheme Hess uses over and over again. The result in this one was, once again, another bureoucratic book, without life, without passion.

1.0 out of 5 stars horrible, November 26, 2000

By 

M. Fonseca "carmarthen" (Thunder) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America's Aces in a Day (Hardcover)

Another misfire by Hess, who only know to take the combt reports from the Fighter Grouops war diaries and then publish them. There[s no insight, no human side to the history. Sad.