Customer Reviews

THE COMPLETE FIGHTER ACE: All the World¹s Fighter Aces, 1914­2000

5 star:		(0)
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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is a mixed bag on concepts. The story of the development of fighter tactics during the century is very good, earning the two stars for the book. However, the lists are restricted to the most top aces of every country. Biographies of important pilots are not here (not even Erick Hartmann). Some Richthofen-phobia is also present in the book. The book is just adequate for beginners, but for serious readers the Aircraft of the Aces collection by Osprey, and Toliver & Constable books are recommended.

Although the book has much to recommend it, it is not anywhere near a complete listing of all the world's fighter aces. Only the major ones are represented. For example, The German WW2 Eastern Front list of Aces only starts at about 150 victories and goes up from there. Where are the lesser Aces? Some lists of American aces cut off when you reach below 20. I have a number of items and prints that are signed by lesser Aces and I was hoping to use this book as an identifier: But,alas, I was disappointed. I will keep the book anyway because it does a good job describing each conflict and illustrating evolving tactics. The title and descriptions, however, are misleading.