Roar Of The Tiger : From Flying Tigers to Mustangs , A Fighter Ace's Memoir [Hardcover]

James H. Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 1991

A World War II pilot recounts his experiences, which included flying with Claire Chennault's fabled Flying Tigers, matching his P-40 Tomahawk fighter against a force of Japanese Zeros. Reprint. K. LJ.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To qualify as an air ace one must shoot down five or more enemy planes. The author of this workmanlike memoir has the rare distinction of being an ace in two operational theaters of the Second World War. Not long before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Howard resigned his Navy commission in order to join the Flying Tigers in China, who would fly combat missions against the Japanese. Later he served as a squadron leader in the Army Air Corps and group commander in the Ninth Air Force in Europe. In addition to becoming a double ace, Howard was the only fighter pilot in the European theater to win the Medal of Honor. Here he describes many of his "kills," including his heroic exploit in 1943 when he single-handedly defended an American bomber group against some 30 German fighters. The memoir is a straightforward account that emphasizes the "true adventure" aspect of Howard's wartime service but doesn't have much to say about the man himself. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

These memoirs provide insight into the war experience and a life filled with self-sacrifice, fortitude, and the excitement of frenzied aerial combat. Howard is a true American hero, the only U.S. World War II pilot to receive the Medal of Honor in Europe. He rose to the rank of brigadier general. The memories come to life from his earliest days at Pensacola, Florida as a naval aviation cadet to the rice paddies of Burma and China, where he fought with the Flying Tigers of Chennault's American Volunteer Group. Howard then battled in the skies over Germany and became an ace in both theaters. The book reads like a novel and is a tribute to the fighting spirit in human nature when directed toward a just cause. A very worthwhile selection where there is interest in aviation/World War II narratives.
- William A. McIntyre, New Hampshire Technical Coll. Lib., Nashua
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 310 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1st edition (July 20, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517573237
• ISBN-13: 978-0517573235
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #493,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars

The autobiography of a two-theatre fighter ace.

, December 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Roar Of The Tiger : From Flying Tigers to Mustangs , A Fighter Ace's Memoir (Hardcover)

Ace AVG and Ninth Air Force pilot James H. Howard was born in Canton province, China, of American parents. Smitten by a recruiter's pitch for naval pilots while studying at Pomona College, he enlisted, and successfully became a naval pilot. Enjoying this life, but eager for combat and promotion, he was swept away again when a very different call for pilots arose. This time the recruitment was for Chennault's American Volunteer Group, later known as the Flying Tigers.

This relatively recent addition to the few AVG pilot autobiographies gives a candid, first-hand account of the group and its missions, methods and pilots. Howard describes his days with the AVG, from its problem-ridden start to its transformation into an effective fighting force. Fans will appreciate the description of famous AVG missions and pilots. Following the disbanding of that group, Howard then fought with the Ninth Air Force, stationed in Britain. This is a bonus for readers, who are given the view from both Southeast Asia and Europe. The European portion often becomes a tiresome, blow-by-blow story of aerial gunfighting, however.

Though this is an autobiography, Howard is not excessively self-centred, and the narrative is not simply a dry listing of his life's accomplishments. A fair amount of the book is impersonal, and relates the routines of military life, or historical information. The writing is intelligent and reasonably objective, and Howard apparently has had a longstanding interest in history. He has included quotes from military luminaries and fellow pilots in order to support his views, to recount aerial actians, or to relate wartime moods in various locales. This unique opportunity is the result of the book's recent publication, and it adds considerable flavour.

As a military autobiography, Roar of the Tiger is clearly written and informative. As it is about performing military duties in service of country, readers should not expect relationships or introspection as with other memoirs. Roar of the Tiger is primarily for those interested in fighter pilots of the period and the challenges they faced.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars eye of the tiger, March 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Roar Of The Tiger : From Flying Tigers to Mustangs , A Fighter Ace's Memoir (Hardcover)

The book is about a man named James who went into the navy after he graduated college to become a fighter pilot. Towards the middle of the book he becomes on of the best pilots during World War II. At the end of the book he leaves the navy and returns home. He is remembered till this day as the best fighter pilot in the navy.
The only reason why he was the best fighter pilot during that time was, because while he was rescuing them, he was also trying to defend them by the Germans. He went up against 30 German planes. Half of them were fighter planes and the other half were bomber planes. He shot down everyone of them by himself.
When he returned to the base with the two injured pilots, he got a medal from the president. The medal was for bravery. He got the medal because he was brave enough to face all 30 planes.
One month later he lead a group of planes to attack an enemy base. On his way towards the enemy base, he lost a couple of pilots.
After World War II ended, he retired from the navy and returned home in Florida. He was known for the bravest fighter pilot in the navy.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has been in a war or likes war books. The book really talks about what happened in one person's eyes. It talks about the horror and disaster of what happens to people in the war.