Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea [Paperback]

John R. Bruning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

The Korean War was a crossroads in military history. It was the last hurrah for one generation of tactics and technology and the proving ground for the next. The Crimson Sky examines in detail twenty of the most interesting aerial actions of the Korean War, including the first air rescue of a downed pilot, the Battle of Carlson's Canyon, and some of the most spectacular MiG Alley sorties flown by the F-86 aces. More than exciting accounts of military missions, The Crimson Sky is about the people who flew them, about their experiences and emotions as they performed dangerous duty a half century ago.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John R Bruning is an aviation historian living in Independence, Oregon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's Inc (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574882961
• ISBN-13: 978-1574882964
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #598,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth adding to your personal library. A good read., October 28, 1999

By 

Daryl L Nichols Jr ([e-mail]) (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea (Hardcover)

If you enjoy reading gritty, in your face, first person accounts of pilots in life and death struggles then this is your book.

As I was reading this book it became clear to me that the author had spent a tremendous amount of time in research and conducted extensive interviews with Korean War pilots and it shows in the detail and depth of his accounts.

I read a great deal of history and it is always refreshing to find a historian who explores new angles and ideas. As a real bonus Bruning makes this an exciting book to read, I laughed at some parts and nearly cried in others.

If you have an interest in the air war over Korea or just in air warfare in general do not hesitate to add this book to your library. I certainly enjoyed this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good remembrance, November 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea (Paperback)

The author stated that he wrote "Crimson Sky" to remember Korean War aviators as the United States approached the 50th anniversary of the conflict's beginning. Mr. Bruning has done a good job. He has interviewed veterans and put their stories into the book in a fast-paced, you-are-there style. Bruning used episodes from the war to point out important chapters in the history of military aviation. For example, Bruning's first and second chapters are entitled "The First Jet Kills" and "The Birth of Combat SAR," respectively. Particularly worthwhile is the author's penultimate chapter, which deals with Soviet involvement in the Korean air war.

At times, Bruning's episodic approach causes the narrative to seem disjointed. In addition, the author could have said more about the night air war, and some mention might have been made of UN pilots who were not American. Those things are the worst things that can be said about "Crimson Sky," however. The book is well-thought out and well written--well worth four stars.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, Good first hand accounts, July 28, 2001

By 

Scott Espin (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea (Paperback)

The first person accounts of the action are riveting. Being new to studying the Korean War the book helped me get a better understanding of the conflict and what our pilots faced. If you like first person accounts, then this would be a good book for you. The only disappointment I had was not enough "big picture" information and I felt that at times the book skipped through the war, just focusing on a few random battles. It left me wanting more, which is both good and bad.