Customer Reviews

Mustang Ace: Memoirs of a P-51 Fighter Pilot

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Mustang ace was given to me by the authors grandson as a gift as he knew that this subject matter interested me. Having read a number of books in the past chronicling fighter and bomber pilot exploits (as well as tank drivers and ground pounders), I knew the subject matter from a historical standpoint but I also knew that the various styles of the authors differ greatly causing some of these types of books to be less than exhilirating reads. Robert J. Goebels venture into book writing with "Memoirs of a P-51 Fighter Pilot" I initially felt might just be another re-hash of facts and figures with some personal embelishments. However, upon starting this book, it was plain to see that Mr. Goebel had his pulse on the time, history and moments of that era and was able to cleanly and clearly translate memories into an stimulating and active drama. I found myself bonding to him and his buddies.. as if I were going through the period along side him. He put words into such a way that you could imagine the lines of his aircraft, see the landscape of his surroundings, smell the air and feel the energy of what was happening to him and his buddies. I purposely read this book slow since I found it to be a nice way for me to end my day.. setting back and spending time with Lt. Goebel and his friends. I recommend this book to anyone intrested in aviation and WWII history.

Bob Goebel relates his experiences clearly and succinctly, and those experiences are most interesting to the WWII flying buff. He even makes his days before combat flying interesting and informative. His narration of combat flying is thrilling and and suspenseful!! In short, this is a great book. Joe Noah, author of Wings God Gave My Soul, biography of George Preddy.

Extremely well written account of adventures in Texas, Panama, Italy, Romania, and Russia by 11 victory ace Bob Goebel. Assigned to the 31st Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force, Goebel collects most of his kills over Italian and Romanian skies. Goebel manages to capture in gripping detail his growth from fledgling pilot to confident Squadron Leader. His observations on fighter combat are invaluable. Favorite moments: His harrowing low level escape from two pursuing Fw190's, the penalty paid for carrying too much fuel, and the growing realisation of our own fragile mortality. Highly Recommended...but bring a tissue or two you'll probably need it! Please visit the "WWII Aviation Booklist" for more reviews: http://www.ampsc.com/~prophet/booklist.htm

At the Reno air races last weekend I managed to pick up the book and to my surprise Mr. Goebel was there signing copies. He and his wife spoke with me for about 30 minutes and shared with me some of the personal albums and effects that they carry with them. We discussed their current lives, but also the reunions they had with wartime friends and former foes which lent me a window into his character and attitude, both of which are first rate.

Mind you, this is before I even opened the book, but as soon as I did I could not put it down, at first because I wanted to get to know this guy in the book while he was still fresh in my memory, but later because it's an excellent read, even without meeting the author. I have devoured many aviation and military books, but this ties it all together..the history, the aircraft, the humanity, and action, and the fear and loss or what I imagine wartime is filled with. A highly recommended read.

The two things that I still find hard to believe are the ages of these people and the growth rate of the services.

In 1939 the Army Air Corps had a total of 2,000 pilots and was adding 300 new ones that year. When Mr. Goebel left to join the Army Air Corps he was a high school graduate and 19 years old. When he returned after 61 combat missions and 11 victories, he was 22. I don't know just how many pilots they had by the end of the war, but it was a lot more than 2,000.

Compared with most books of this type, this book has several really strong points. One is the technical aspects. The author later on got a degree in physics. He obviously had a technical view of things earlier and talks a lot about the technical aspects of flying and of the P-51. Second, he is a much better writer than most. He brings an insight to the times, the people and the overall situation far more than that expected of a youngster. Then he combines this insight with a writing stylke that says he could well have been a professional writer.

Well after receiving my signed copy of Roberts book ( he e-mailed me and asked if I would mind if he signed it and what to who) Imagine me telling him " please dont sign my book ! " it just shows me what a class guy Robert is and why it seems like the hero types are always very humble!
The book is too short I wanted to read more ! I really enjoyed reading about Roberts expliots during his endless training and most interesting his actual combat experiences....he learned by accident really that getting in super close to your prey almost guarantees a kill ...so close he flew through a BF109's gycol and oil! I always imagined myself as someone who with the right training and character would have maybe made a half decent pilot in WW2...I guess its ok to dream....I do though know that Roberts book made me experience all the feelings he felt while becoming a real hero and I thank him for his service and for a fine book as well!
Buy It and have him sign it!

I've read over a dozen personal accounts of fighter pilot's experiences from WWII. This one takes second seat to none. Goebel did a tremendous job of putting you there. From a young boy right out of high school, hopping freight trains and hitch hiking across the country, to a seasoned 21 year old double ace returning home and wondering how he will fit back into a world outside the air warrior fraternity, you are giving the opportunity to live those few years where young men came to define the words, Fighter Pilot Ace.

Bob Goebel gave me my copy of his book back in 2002 and I've just begun a 3rd re-read and am again, impressed with this outstanding work.

The writing is excellent - readers will find an easy flow and a remarkable ability to connect paragraph to paragraph in a leading way. However, the most remarkable is how Bob writes so objectively about the moments in his career. He writes about people, emotions, thoughts in an elegant fashion...most readers will be able to imagine scenes and the culture of the time with clarity and limited bias.

Readers will enjoy learning of little-known Panama, pilot training and of course, air combat in the MTO. It's all applicable, however, to seeing a general snapshot of what it was like to be fighter pilot in any branch of the service "back then."

One point of note is how Bob describes the stresses of combat and how it affects the average pilot. Overall, Mustang Pilot is an excellent, easy read by a guy who understands that a story is so much more than the raw data.

Helped by fameds historian Eric Hammell, who helpe shape the original manuscript into a cohesive and envolving story, Robert Goebel, an eleven-kill ace in WWII, wrote a very pleasant book, from training in the United States till ace status in Italy and Europe. If you're into fighter pilot biographies, this one will not disappoint. But I dare to say: the best ever written was "THE BIG SHOW", by Pierre Clostermann.

This book puts you in WWII aviation. It takes you throught flight training and into combat in the Mustang. I am a current flight instructor and believe me this book is realistic as it gets. If you love aviation you will love Bob Goebel's book.