Customer Reviews

P-51 Mustang Aces

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Two noted historians - Bill Hess and Tom Ivie - combine their talents to produce this well-done guide to 55 Mustang aces of World War II. The result is an informative, exciting and well-illustrated tribute to some of the most famous fighter pilots ever, legends like Preddy, Gentile, Shomo, Beeson, Hofer and Eagleston. Air combat buffs will want to search out a copy of this 1992 release from Motorbooks International.

P-51 MUSTANG ACES survey the aces by theater along with a final chapter on RAF Mustang aces. The ETO chapter - Chapter 1 - is divided into 8th and 9th Air Forces, ace bios being arranged alphabetically. 'Bud' Anderson is the first Mighty Eighth ace covered; Bill Whisner, the last. Don Beerbower is the first 9th AF ace covered; Dick Turner, the last. Chapter 2 covers 9th AF TacR aces Clyde East and John Hoefker. MTO Mustang aces are described in Chapter 3; CBI Aces, Chapter 4; and Chapter 5 belongs to 7th AF/PTO ace Bob Moore. After the chapter on RAF aces, various appendices are included: P-51 Aces, Top Mustang Aces, P-51 Aces in a Day, etc.

Entries on individual pilots run between 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 pages in length. The pilot's combat exploits are covered in great detail, many bios including actual combat reports. For many years Bill Hess was historian of the AFAA and knew many of the pilots covered. Consequently, P-51 MUSTANG ACES has a more personal tone than many of Hess' other military aviation titles. His entry for Dick Turner, for example, includes the statement that "while Dick Turner was a tiger in the air, on the ground he was one of the most gentle, compassionate individuals that (Hess) ever had the opportunity to meet. When Dick Turner passed away on November 15, 1986...I lost the best friend I have ever known."

The book is liberally illustrated with many photographs of pilots, aircraft, etc.

Though there have been many 'Spam Can' books published, the Hess/Ivie volume is a must-have for Mustang and air combat buffs. It provides an excellent, exciting overview of P-51 top guns. Recommended.