The Battle of Leyte Gulf . . . by Stan
Smith - The biggest naval battle of all time. Here is a chance to
learn about it from a man who was a submariner on war patrol then,
and a noted historian later (174 pages).
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, The Death Knell of
the Japanese Fleet . . . by Edwin P. Hoyt - Mr. Hoyt is the
author of many books about naval history. He has a clear and
interesting writing style, and his 384 page book about Leyte Gulf may
be his best.
The Battleship Yamato . . . by Januz
Skulski - The source for detailed information about the external
characteristics of the Yamato. Also good information on the
design, building, and history of the great ship. Good stuff
Battleships of World War
I . . . by Antony Preston - The top reference for WW I
battleships and battlecruisers; comprehensive and detailed.
The Big E . . . by Commander Edward P.
Stafford, USN - The story of the WW II carrier Enterprise, the most
successful warship of all time. Partisan, but well written.
Blue Skies and Blood, The Battle of the Coral
Sea . . . by Edwin P. Hoyt. Despite the gaudy title, a good
account of the world's first carrier battle.
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships
1922-1946 . . . edited by Roger Chesnaeu - The single most
comprehensive and inclusive reference work dealing with the warships
of WW II. If I could only have one reference book for the period,
this would be it.
Day of Infamy . . . by Walter Lord -
Probably the best known book about the attack on Pearl Harbor. A
The Encyclopedia of the World's
Warships . . . by Hugh Lion - A detailed technical directory
of major warships from 1900 to 1978. Not as comprehensive as
Conway's or Jane's, but very detailed. One of my
favorite reference books.
Epic Sea Battles . . . by William Koenig
- Capsule descriptions of major sea battles from 1798 to 1944 in 256
pages. Brief but informative. Lays a good foundation for further
research, or provides background for someone who focuses primarily on
a specific period (like WW II), but needs to understand the
Fighting Ships of World War II . . . by
J. N. Westwood - Histories of famous battleships, aircraft carriers,
cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and escorts of WW II. Some
interesting tables and charts. Not comprehensive, but detailed.
The Fleet That Had To Die . . . by
Richard Hough - The story of the ill fated Russian Baltic Sea fleet
that steamed 18,000 miles to meet their fate at Tsushima. Well
written and fascinating history.
Hitler's Naval War . . . by Cajus
Bekkeer - Despite the somewhat gaudy title, a serious, well written
and informative history. A good read.
An Illustrated History of the Navies of World
War II . . . by Antony Preston - Mr. Preston's name on a book
is a guarantee of quality. Lots of neat photographs and informative
Jane's Fighting Ships
(annual) . . . edited by Captain Richard Sharpe, OBE RN - The
basic reference work on the world's navies.
Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II . . . A comprehensive
encyclopedia of WW II warships.
Jane's Fighting Ships Of World War
I . . . A comprehensive encyclopedia of WW I warships.
Jane's American Fighting Ships of the 20th
Century . . . edited by Captain John Moore, RN - A
comprehensive encyclopedia of American warships.
Japanese Destroyer Captain . . . Captain
Tameichi Hara, IJN - The personal account of one of Japan's most
famous WW II captains. For most of the war he was captain of the
famous destroyer Shiguri. He wrote the IJN manual on torpedo
attack techniques. His last sortie was as Captain of the
Yahagi, the cruiser that accompanied Yamato's fateful
last mission. A fascinating read from a man who was in the thick of
some of the most famous battles of the Pacific War.
Midway! Incredible Victory . . . by
Walter Lord - My favorite account of the battle that changed the
course of the Pacific War. Very readable.
Modern Naval Combat . . . by David
Miller & Chris Miller - Discusses the ships and weapon systems of
the modern age, and how they are employed. Interesting, especially
the section on tactics.
Night Raider of the Atlantic, the Saga of the
U-99 . . . by Terence Robertson - The story of Otto
Kretschmer, the top German U-boat skipper of WW II. Very
Our Fighting Ships . . . by M. D. Katz,
Jr. / H. C. Lee / E. L. Levy, Jr. - Long out of print, this wartime
(1942-43) reference to U.S. fighting ships makes fascinating reading
if you can find a copy. I got mine used in the 1960's.
The Pacific Campaign (The U.S.-Japanese Naval War 1941-1945) . . . A well researched overview of the Pacific War and its causes. Packed with useful information.
Pictorial History of the German Navy in World
War II . . . by Edward P. Von der Porten. Excellent text and
photographs. Foreword by Grand Admiral Donitz. This is the real
Pursuit, the Chase and Sinking of the
Battleship Bismarck . . . by Ludovic Kennedy - The premier
account of the battleship Bismarck. Mr. Kennedy was actually
there, and he makes the story come alive. One of the best histories I
have ever read. Enjoyable, entertaining, and accurate. You don't have
to be a history buff to enjoy this book.
Savo . . . by Richard F. Newcomb - The
true, accurate story of the greatest defeat in U.S. Naval history.
Well written story of a major surface engagement. A must read.
Sea Power . . . by John Dekker &
Lord Hill-Norton, Admiral of the Fleet, RN - Examines each major type
of warship, and relates them to the decisive engagements they
participated in. Interesting insights from a major player at the top
of the field. I love to read books written by the guys who actually
made the decisions the 'experts' write about.
The Sea Wolves . . . by Wolfgang Frank -
The complete story of the German U-boats in WW II.
Sink the Bismarck...by C. S.
Forester - The book that became a famous movie and even a hit song
(by Johnny Horton). A true but somewhat fictionalized account of the
chase of the Bismarck. Clearly a story of the good guys (RN) against
the bad guys (Kreigsmarine).
Strategy & Tactics of Sea
Warfare . . . by Ned Wilmott - Interesting little primer on
Tin Cans . . . By Theodore Roscoe - The
true story of the American destroyers in WW II. An officially
abridged version of the authors United States Destroyer Operations
in World War II.
The Two-Ocean War . . . by Samuel Eliot
Morison - The definitive short history of the USN in WW II by the
official Navy historian. A brief (534 page) version of Morison's
fifteen volume official history.
U.S. Aircraft Carriers, An Illustrated Design
History . . . by Norman Friedman - The most detailed and
comprehensive book on the subject. Revealing insights about the
design process. Covers all U.S. aircraft carriers up to 1983.
U.S. Battleships 1941-1963, An Illustrated Technical Reference . . . by Wayne Scarpaci - Covers each class of USN battleship from the Florida class of 1907 to the cancelled Montanas and includes the Alaska class battle cruisers. Lavishly illustrated. Self published and not professionally edited, but still worth reading.
U.S. Battleships, An Illustrated Design
History . . . by Norman Friedman - The most detailed and
comprehensive book on the subject. Outstanding insights into the
design process, and the resultant ships. Covers all U.S.
U.S. Cruisers, An Illustrated Design
History . . . by Norman Friedman - The most detailed and
comprehensive book on the subject. Covers all U.S. cruisers. Also
includes battlecruisers and large cruisers.
Yamamoto . . . by Edwin P. Hoyt - The story of America's most brilliant world War II enemy. Admiral Yamamoto was a facinating figure and his story should be more widely known in the West.
Black Thursday . . . by
Martin Caidin - One of the best books about the costly bombing attack
on the German ball bearing factory at Schweinfurt during WW II. Up to
Mr. Caidin's usual high standards. A good read.
The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft . . . General Editor: David Donald - A comprehensive reference to over 2500 civil and military aircraft from 1903 to 1997. Includes specifications and pictures.
The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes . . . edited by Bill Gunston - The development and specifications of all active military aircraft (updated 1995). Superbly illustrated.
The Encyclopedia of World Air
Power . . . edited by Bill Gunston - A comprehensive
encyclopedia on contemporary aviation. Lots of specifications, color
illustrations, and photographs. Covers all major military
Fighter, The True Story of the Battle of
Britain . . . by Len Deighton - A well written serious book by
the master of the spy tale. This is a really good book, not a
fictionalized account, but a comprehensive history.
The First and the Last . . . by Adolf
Galland, General of the Fighters - A personal history of the
Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1945 by one of the men who made it happen.
This classic book is a must read. I was saddened to hear recently, on
the radio, that General Galland had died (Feb 1997).
Flying Fury . . . by Major James T. B.
McCudden, RFC, VC - Major McCudden was one of the top Aces in the
Royal Flying Corps in WW I (57 victories). He was the most decorated
member of the RFC. He was killed in his S.E.5a in 1918, after 5 years
of flying, by an engine failure. He was 22 years of age. This is his
Fork-Tailed Devil: The P-38 . . . By
Martin Caidin - Mr. Caidin is one of the best and most consistent
aviation writers. His story of the famous P-38 fighter plane is
outstanding. I know a little about this aircraft from my father, who
was one of the young flight test engineers who risked their lives
trying to solve the shock-stall dive problem.
The History of the U.S. Air
Force . . . By David A. Anderson - The whole history, from
Civil War balloon experiments, to the 1980's. Lots of good
illustrations and historic photographs.
Horrido! Fighter Aces of the
Luftwaffe . . . by Trevor J. Constable & Col. Raymond F.
Toliver - Twelve years of research went into this book about the
German Aces of WW II.
Horses Don't Fly (A Memoir of World War I) . . . by Frederick Libby - The memoir of a young American cowpuncher who enlisted in the RFC and shot down 24 enemy planes in combat. Capt. Libby was the grandfather of a close personal friend of mine, and his story makes for interesting reading. My friend, Sally Marsh, wrote the Afterword for the book.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft
(annual) . . . edited by Mark Lambert - The basic reference work on
the world's aircraft.
Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War
II . . . A historical encyclopedia of WW II aircraft.
Kamikaze . . . by Yasuo Kuwahara &
Gordon T. Allred - The story of a young Japanese fighter pilot from
the later period of the war. This was a man who did not experience
the great days of victory in the beginning of the war, only the
grinding battle against overwhelming odds at the end.
The Life and Death of the
Luftwaffe . . . by Werner Baumbach, General of the Bombers -
Another history by one of the major players. I love this kind of
The Pictorial History of Air
Warfare . . . By Chris Chant - From the pre-WW I days to about
1970. Well illustrated. Covers equipment, strategy, and tactics;
discussion of major air battles. Worthwhile.
The Red Baron . . . by Manfred von
Richthofen - The short autobiography written by the Red Baron shortly
before his death. Also includes articles by Lothar von Richthofen and
Capt. Roy Brown (who shot down von Richthofen).
The Rise of the Luftwaffe . . . by
Herbert Molloy Mason, Jr. - A comprehensive history of the German Air
Force from 1918 to 1940. Definitely worth reading.
Samurai! . . . by Saburo Sakai with Martin Caidin & Fred
Saito - The personal account of Japan's top scoring fighter pilot to
survive the war (64 victories in over 200 combat missions).
Fascinating, a must read.
Slide Rule . . . by Nevil Shute - A
interesting account of the early days of aeronautical design. My
father was an aeronautical engineer of some note, so I found this
well written book especially interesting.
the Fighter Aircraft Pocketbook . . . by
Roy Cross - This little reference work, published in the UK in 1962, is suprisingly complete and detailed. Covers the fighter planes of all nations from 1913 to 1961.
Thunderbolt . . . by Robert S Johnson
and Martin Caidin - Bob Johnson was one of the most famous American
Aces of WW II. His book is a fascinating account of the air war over
Europe, from the beginning of the American daylight raids to his
return home in 1944 as the (then) top American Ace, with 28
victories. A must read.