Customer Reviews

Dead Reckoning: Experiences of a World War II Fighter Pilot

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If one wants an good reading experience on the fighter jocks in World War II, this is not the book. Abner who must be pushing eighty now, writes about his experiences as a fighter pilot in the good war. However the writing is all over the place. First we hear about his childhood, then his romance and training, and then finally about his air experiences over occupied Europe.
Abner had fifty plus combat missions. We hear about the loss of fighter pilots, and his revenge on one hapless German pilot.
What I don't like in this book are the letters written to his family after the fact. Abner must have read about the war after his experiences, and then included his experiences in these letters. This is disturbing since it is so much filler in a book which is already short (150 pages). There are other books out there which are more informative on the fighter jocks experiences. This is not one of the good books.
I admire Abner as a hero for his experiences in World War II. However this is not a good book to read.

Although not a long read, Mr Abner shares with us his inner most feelings and emotions. If you are into the technical aspects of the machines that are mentioned, you will not find them here, unless you regard the brain as a machine. Raised on a farm, you get the impression that the author never ceased to be amazed at the fact that he had "made it". That is, he was able to pilot, with considerable skill, a P-51D Mustang at 28,000 feet off the wing of his leader whilst maintaining a high level of alertness....and this was done for hours on end. He was in awe of his colleagues as great men and leaders, perhaps not realising that he too was in the same league.

While not heavy on combat action (never a compulsory ingredient for a pilot's memoir), we are treated to the very inner workings of this young pilot. The book can seem to lack a little flow as the text is more a series of roughly chronological memories but, as Mr Abner says himself on several occasions, certain events have stayed with him purely because of the extreme emotion felt at the time, for example, his near collision with an enemy Me-109 on the Group's most successful and record breaking mission. It is these memories that are shared with us in this book, all of which can be read as small stories themselves.

"Dead Reckoning" is the autobiography of an Oregon farm boy who became a fighter pilot ace. Our chapter appears to have few members who were fighter pilots. Our concentration seems to be of bomber people and the heavier the better. Yet where would the bombers be without the protection of our "little friends"?

Remember the horrific casualty rates when the fighters did not have the range to provide protection deep inside enemy territory? Many members do.

Author Alan K Abner who flew with the 357th Fighter Group of the 8th was credited with 50 missions . He tells of blazing action over the Bulge, the Battle for Berlin and countless other engagements. He even saw the advent of the jet age when the dread ME262 made its appearance.

Abner say the fighter planes of WW2 had much more in common with the pilots of Spads and Fokkers than they would with the jet pilots of today. Jet jockeys rarely have to fly by the seat of their pants Rickenbacker and Von Richtofen could sit down and have a fine gab fest over foaming bier with Bong, Gentile and Yeager.They would be all but lost talking to the fighter pilots of today in their elaborate flight suits who speak of flitting at speeds rarely dreamed of in earlier times except in science fiction.

Isn't it amazing that some who never sat in a jet cockpit call others who have flown jet fighters "dumb"! Family wealth and powerful relatives don't help when you are up there alone.

You'll enjoy "Dead Reckoning". The title comes from the practice of finding one's way by visual landmarks. This is not a new book but my Massachusetts library had no trouble getting it for me and yours shouldn't either.

This review is another indication that the doors of the AFHS are always to new members. Come on! Tighten your chin straps and get cleared for take-off! Adventure and God knows what else awaits you over the Rhine. Crewmen on the 17's and 24's are anxious to see you if not quite as anxious as they were in the old days when having you in company might well mean the difference between living and dying.