Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer: An American Fighter Pilot over Europe (World War II Commemorative) [Hardcover]

Philip D. Caine (Author)

Book Description

Series: World War II Commemorative | Publication Date: March 1995

Recounts the record of Leroy Gover, a highly decorated pilot in the British and U.S. air forces during World War II, who flew scores of hair-raising missions, and describes Gover's life in and view of wartime England.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...one of the most important books to emerge on World War II air combat, for while it deals with the gripping dogfights, it also paints a marvelous picture of a young American pilot's life in wartime Britain." Philip Caine has excerpted the diary of a great combat leader to paint a true picture that is filled with rarely noted etails of life on the ground as well as in the air. It is undoubtedly one of the best personal accounts of the war." -- Walter J. Boyne

"Aviation buffs will smell the gunpowder." -- Washington Post --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Brig. Gen. Philip D. Caine, USAF (Ret.) is the author of "American Pilots in the RAF: the WWII Eagle Squadrons" and "Aircraft Down!: Evading capture in World War II Europe." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cassell; 1ST edition (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028811151
• ISBN-13: 978-0028811154
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Yank Flyer in Englnd during WW II, April 23, 2001

By 

Bob Sherwin (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer: An American Fighter Pilot over Europe (Paperback)

The book is about a young American private pilot along with many others who were recruited to fly in the RAF a long time before America entered the War. It is based mostly on his diary for the entire period from being recruited in California and starting training there until he finally returns home after more than 200 missions shortly before the war ends. In his diary the flyer includes plenty of out of the cockpit stories about interacting with the English civilians and flyers, his frequent encounters with the opposite sex, and meaningful observations about the loss of life from many types of aircraft crashes on British soil as well as those downed in combat. It's an adventure to read this book. It places you there during an intense period in WW II. The young pilot LeRoy Gover as of three years ago was in the Veteran's Hospital at Menlo Park, CA at age 83. This excellent book was written by Brig. Gen. Philip D. Caine, USAF (Ret.) who had Gover under his command during a portion of his service. I have loaned the book to two Air Force veterans, one from WW II and the other from Viet Nam wars. Neither could put it down it is that exciting and human. I had the same problem. Get it!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kept me up two days!, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer: An American Fighter Pilot over Europe (World War II Commemorative) (Hardcover)

This is a terrific memoir of a fighter pilot in WWII told through the use of letters, journal entries, and narrative. By the end of it, you know you have spent time with a true War Hero of the first caliber. LeRoy Gover is a witty, articulate writer and much information is gleaned from his journals entries especially. I opened this book at 2:30 yesterday afternoon and finished it by noon today. A page turner in the same was as a great novel. Couldn't put it down. An excellent read, and highly recommended for war researchers and aviation enthusiasts alike. Thank you Mr. Caine for bringing this man's story to publication!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing!, December 12, 1998

By 

Jim Truesdell ([e-mail]) (Ketchikan, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer: An American Fighter Pilot over Europe (World War II Commemorative) (Hardcover)

If you have any interest in WW2, WW2 fighter pilots, or are just an aviation buff, this book is a must read. Written based on diary entries, letters home, and interviews of LeRoy Gover, the result is a hard to put down account of one man as he goes into the RAF and eventually into the Army Air Corps. While Gover wan't one of the high scorers of the war, he exemplifies the guys who quietly got the job done. A great book about a real hero.