For anyone who is interested in the air war over Korea, there is a great 700-page book with maps, illustrations and photos on the subject that can be downloaded for FREE as a 116MB PDF file from the Nashville Public Library's Electronic Resources Department...no membership required:

The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950-1953 by Robert Futrell

It's number 23 on this page...click on the Electronic Resources link under the title to download...

http://waldo.library.nashville.org/search/a?searchtype=X&searcharg=Korean+Air+Wa...

No, but I have that one on order at the library.

I just finished James Salter's The Hunters again.....wish I could find that movie on DVD.   And I'm starting on Salter's Gods of Tin: The Flying Years.   

TR, to find the Hunters look here:http://www.cdwow.com.au/DVD/hunters/dp/843441#bc=1f4d
I think the price is in Australian dollars, which makes it even more attractive for you.
cheers,
Mike

Salter's Gods of Tin, The Flying Years is proving to be an excellent book.   I highly recommend it.   A blend of fact and fiction, it includes Salter's journals of his 100 F-86 missions over Korea.   

BUT...Crimson Sky, The Air Battle For Korea is the real surprise of the day.   The book covers twenty of the most historical and interesting combat missions of the Korean War.   

For example:

- The first aerial victories of the conflict on June 26th, 1950 when a flight of F-82 Twin Mustangs shot down three of five Yak-7s attacking Kimpo.  That afternoon a flight of F-80Cs shot down four of seven IL-2s attempting the same mission. 

- The futility of intercepting wooden biplane night intruders (PO-2s) with modern aircraft.   The F-94 Starfires had to fly with landing gear and flaps extended and still missed these illusive raiders.   Except once...when the Starfire flew right through the PO-2 destroying both aircraft. 

I normally won't recommend a book, especially if it's the only one I've read on a subject, but I'll make an exception with Sabres over the alley. It has 3 reviews at Amazon...one 5 and two 4 stars and there's not much I can add to them.
However, I had suspicions it might be an exceptional read when on a page nine Werrell brings up our old buddy George Welch. On page eleven, he goes further by relating certain events that strongly suggest Welch may have been the first man to break the sound barrier....in the XP-86....in a drive,,,but breaking it none the less. Fascinating stuff!

One reviewer mentions the technical aspects of the book and yeah,,,there's a lot of that but Werrell presents in a way that makes for an extremely easy/interesting read about the trials and tribulations of the Sabre both before and early in-theater.
I learned a hell of a lot. 

7-8 CDT hereabouts.....

Tango_Romeo wrote on May 30^th, 2010 at 7:32pm:


This book by Bruning was published in 1999 and gives the best, absolutely the best, insight into the real details of the Korean air war.  It contains the explanation to many items that have only been described in general in the past.  The straight skinnies. 

OK, OK, I know I was on a bit of a rant, but decent books on Korea are so rare. 

I got mine at the local library for FREE.   

Oh, goodie!   My new CD of The Hunters came in the mail today.   Tonight's entertainment!

I never cease to be amazed at the stunning quality of the aerial photography in this old film. 

...remember seeing it in the theatre when it was new on a saturday afternoon back in 1958...is that right? 

...watched it last night on my BIL's 60-inch LED/LCD.   It needs a big screen.