Herky! The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace [Hardcover]

Herschel H. Green (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | Series: Schiffer Military History

The dramatic life story of one of the legendary USAAF fighter pilots of World War II who fought across the skies over the Mediterranean and southern Europe in the great aerial campaigns against the Luftwaffe Herschel H. Herky Green. By the time Colonel Green was grounded by orders of higher headquarters, he was the leading ace of the 15th Air Force with eighteen aerial victories.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764300733
• ISBN-13: 978-0764300738
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,631,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down. Great WWII Army Air Force history., February 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Chickasha,Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Herky! The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace (Hardcover)

For the past ten years, I have been doing research, and for eight years, coordinating reunions for an Army Air Force Primary Aviation Flying School. The very first graduating class of this school produced at least three of the top fighter aces of WWII. Herschel H. Green was one of these. Over the years, I have heard numerous stories from several hundred former cadets and staff from the school. This, however, is one of only four books that I know of, written by these individuals. It is unique in that it is the complete history of an individual from childhood, to the present. It concentrates on all aspects of his life, which, as Tom Brokaw reflects in his book "The Greatest Generation", began with the way in which he was brought up as a child. His attitude, respect for others, and ability to want to succeed in everything he did enabled him to survive in situations where others failed. His accurate records of his missions show how he, and his fellow pilots, maintenance crews, and various planes, were successful, while others were not. He shows the human aspect of preparing for combat, participating in numerous battles, making the adjustments to survive in war as well as in peacetime, and finally retiring, and joining the civilian world. His ability to be flexible and function under change and pressure has insured his success in all aspects of his life. I had the priviledge of talking with Colonel Green a few weeks ago, and at the same time, request a copy of his book. In addition, I received an autographed picture to add to my museum collection with the others who were successful after completing training here. He is a very pleasant individual to talk to and have hopes of seeing at one of my future reunions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested not only in military aviation history, but specifically in WWII.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real American hero, August 10, 2004

By 

C. Berg (Woodbridge VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Herky! The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace (Hardcover)

I met Herky and his wife when I moved to Southern California several years ago. I had heard of him, but wasn't familiar with the details of his exploits during WWII until reading his book. It is fantastic! Written by him alone, without the aid of a "professional author," it is a refreshingly honest, first hand perspective, on the life of a fighter pilot during WWII. The events that he experienced flying P-40s, P-47s, and P-51s from North Africa to Italy are facinating and cover a longer period than many of the aces that fought in the war. If you have been disappointed in the past by the personal shortcomings that some "heros" have exhibited in other parts of their lives, look no further than Herky. He is someone his peers looked up to during the war and is someone we would all do well to emulate in our lives... a real American hero.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review, November 9, 2006

By 

J. Phinney - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Herky! The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace (Hardcover)

The book arrived much sooner than expected. It was an interesting and informative book written by a man that I had briefly known. It should be of interest to aviation types.