ebooks Our Battle for the Human Spirit: Scientific Knowing; Technical Doing; and Daily Living by Willem H. Vanderburg in History

Description

In thirty-five chapters; The Greatest Air Aces Stories Ever Told covers many of the leading American and British Commonwealth fighter aces of WW I and II; together with a few bomber crews whose gallantry made a substantial contribution to the end of WW II. Other nations had their aces; but this book concentrates on American and Commonwealth pilots. These aviators were chosen not only because of their “scores” and their great courage; but also for other qualities which set them apart; like the WWII Royal Air Force Wing Commander who shot down more than 20 Germans while flying with two artificial legs. Here are a few of the aces. Note that the air forces of Europe and the United States did not always have today’s names; used here for simplicity’s sake:Albert Ball; RAF; son of the Lord Mayor of Nottingham; winner of the Victoria Cross. He had 44 victories in WWI when he was killed at the age of 20; well known to his German foes; whomuch admired him. Gabby Gabreski; USAF. Son of hard-working Polish immigrants. An ace in WWII with 28 kills and later in Korea; with another six. He was an accomplished commander; finished a long career as a colonel. Mick Mannock; RAF. Tough and aggressive in spite of his fear of fire; he won not only the Victoria Cross; but five other high awards for gallantry. Highest British scorer of WWI with 73 victories; he detested Germans; and rejoiced with every kill. He was shot down by ground fire in the last year of the war. David McCampbell; USN. Scored 34 WWII kills to become the U.S. Navy’s all-time ace. In 1944; set an all-time record with nine victories on a single mission. Winner of the Congressional Medal.Pick Pickard; RAF. Led the RAF rooftop bomber raid on Amiens Prison In WWII; freeing many underground members; some of whom were facing death; and who were promptly spirited away by French partisans. Frank Luke; USAF. Deadly American famous for his busting of German observation balloons in WWI. Shot up over German territory; he managed to land safely; but; being Luke; tried to fight it out with enemy infantrymen with only his pistol. The book will also touch on the equipment these aces flew; from the famous Fokkers and Sopwith Camels to the ungainly two-seater FE2b; which was driven by a pusher engine and looked like a bathtub with wings and a miniature oil derrick glued on the back. Also included are our own Grumman carrier fighters; the P-40s; the P-38s; as well as the P-51 Mustang; probably the finest fighter of the war; a happy marriage of an American airframe and a British engine. The deadly; graceful Spitfire has its place; as do the Hurricane; the biplane Gladiator; and even the four-engine Lancaster.