Lords of the Sky
Fighter Pilots and Air Combat, from the Red Baron to the F-16
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4.5 • 50 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The definitive history of combat aviation and fighter aircraft, from World War I to present
INCLUDES 32 PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND 12 MAPS
Lords of the Sky is the “dramatic, fast-paced, and definitive" (Michael Korda) aviation history of fighter pilots and aircraft and their extraordinary influence on modern warfare, masterfully written by "one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history” (New York Post). A twenty-year USAF veteran who flew more than 150 combat missions and received multiple Distinguished Flying Crosses, Lt. Colonel Dan Hampton draws on his singular firsthand knowledge, as well as groundbreaking research in aviation archives and rare personal interviews with little-known heroes, including veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Hampton (the New York Times bestselling author of Viper Pilot) reveals the stories behind history's most iconic aircraft and the aviators who piloted them: from the Sopwith Camel and Fokker Triplane to the Mitsubishi Zero, Supermarine Spitfire, German Bf 109, P-51 Mustang, Grumman Hellcat, F-4 Phantom, F-105 Thunderchief, F-16 Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and beyond. In a seamless, sweeping narrative, Lords of the Sky is an extraordinary account of the most famous fighter planes and the brave and daring heroes who made them legend.
This comprehensive military history explores a century of innovation and courage:
Firsthand Combat Experience: Authored by a decorated USAF Lt. Colonel with over 150 combat missions, offering unparalleled insight into the cockpit.Iconic Fighter Aircraft: From the Sopwith Camel and P-51 Mustang to the F-16 Falcon, discover the stories behind the machines that ruled the skies.Heroic Fighter Pilots: Based on rare interviews with the unsung heroes of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.Decisive Air Battles: A sweeping narrative covering the evolution of aerial warfare from the dogfights of World War I to the supersonic jets of today.
Customer Reviews
Hands down the best book I’ve ever read
Dan’s attention to detail and research ability is second-to-none. Fully captivated the entire time, couldn’t put it down.
Amazing!
I found this work to be totally engrossing due to its detailed history of not only the pilots themselves but also the history and events surrounding them. Excellent!
Doesn’t live up to the billing
I was excited to pick this up, interested in both the emergence of fighter combat and the evolution of the pilots and machines that engage in it. Unfortunately, the book touches only lightly on the larger themes and trends, instead touching on vignettes of fighter pilots and fighter actions in various conflicts without really tying them together or explaining the significance of what’s happening. At times, the book bogs down with over-long descriptions of the strategy and ground actions of the conflicts—a piece of the puzzle, to be sure, but not worth spending pages on… particularly when it’s rarely explained if, or how, those factors influences combat.
Even the coverage of those conflicts is spotty, with a lot of time spent on some and not much on others, again with no explanation of why a certain war might have been more or less influential on fighter development.
There are tantalizing bits of information in the book, but it’s a long, long way from being a "comprehensive popular history of combat aviation” as is claimed. You won’t learn a lot about most fighter planes, just a few that Hampton picks that may or may not be representative—it’s never explained. And discussion of how fighter pilots are picked and trained is also hit and miss, although Hampton suggests that this is a major factor in their success or failure.
The most frustrating aspect is that it seems like Hampton is both a good enough writer and experienced enough fighter pilot to produce the kind of book that this is supposed to be, but this doesn’t meet that measure.