Customer Reviews

Into the Teeth of the Tiger

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don Lopez was a 23-year-old fighter pilot in the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers, flying a war-weary P-40 against the Japanese army air force in such close combat that he once took a wing off a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa ("Oscar"). Good pilots are easy to find, and so are good writers, but Don is that exceptional individual: a pilot who can write well and to the heart. This book is a keeper.

Haven't read a pilot's memoirs for quite a while, although doing much more of it now. Into the Teeth of the Tiger was the first of a long line of new purchases that I need to read and it was well worth the purchase. Mr Lopez, while an excellent flier and leader, is also a wonderful writer. He writes with modesty and is not afraid to describe his errors in addition to his successes. The action sequences are superb and the humour used by the pilots and crews to lighten things up a bit is guaranteed to generate a smile and even a chuckle. Of course, this is war and the deaths of friends and the treatment of the civilian population was no doubt shattering for all involved. I get the impression that this book has become somewhat of a classic and justly so. It is a well-written account of a less publicised theatre of the war by a (then) very young pilot. What these guys did at 20-25 really puts things into perspective. A bloody good read!

I've read a lot of World War II flying book and this is the best! Mr. Lopez writes well and tells the unvarnished truth of what it was like to fly a P-40 against an agile and determined foe.

This is an engrossing story of a young fighter pilot's experiences flying P-40s and P-51s in mid to late World War Two with the 75th Fighter Squadron in China. Donald Lopez writes excellent flying sequences and conveys the essence of the people he flew and fought with. A good read if you have any interest in military history or aviation.

I've read this book 5 times in the last 4 years. It's great! Lopez puts together some wonderful stories in this book. The plane (Lope's Hope) is even in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Don Lopez was a 23-year-old fighter pilot in China during World War II. His book about those times is one of the best war memoirs I've ever read. Most pilots aren't great writers, and vice versa, but Don is an exception. Postwar, he became an Air Force test pilot and eventually assistant direction of the National Air & Space Museum, where he's been an inspiration to the rest of us.

The best book to read if you are a Flying Tigers enthusiast. His remarkable experiences in China are something that should be shared by everyone. A GREAT best-seller!!!

My uncle, O.H. "Moose" Elker was a fellow pilot with Don Lopez. I met Don Lopez several times and he took my wife and I on personal tour around the Smithonian a couple of years ago. I have an autographed copy of the book. The first copy I have of the book is worn out due to letting all kinds of people read it. It is a great book and true. These were real patriots.

Dick Mullineaux is mentioned several times in this book - he is my husband's uncle that he never met because he crashed & never made it home. Dick's brother John found this book & was exited to read something about Dick. Dick's sister Joan, (my mother in law) will visit in a few days & we would like to know if anyone else flying with Dick has read this book & can tell us anything about the last month's of Dick's life... & Donald Lopez - do you have an e-mail address?? I'm sure Dick's brother & sister would love to hear from you!!! My husband, Dick's nephew was also an air force pilot & is now an airline pilot - Joan always says Keith is alot like Dick - must have been a fun guy! where are you Mr. Lopez????? Terri Milan (for Joan Mullineaux Milan)

Donald Lopez was a great fighter pilot and is a great writer. Almost everyone knows the story of the fight in the european theater - the battle for britain, the story of the 8th air force, etc, but there are relatively few good books by people who were there about the flying tigers and the men who flew and fought in china and india in WWII. I bought this book by chance, never having head of Don Lopez, but I won't forget it any time soon. This is a great book and a must-have for any aviation/WWII/autobiography junky.