The SAAF Forum

I have just finished reading:
Col Jan Breytenbach’s book- ‘The Buffalo Soldiers’ – the story of SA 32 Battalion 75-93 and can recommend same to anyone interested in this historical narrative of the Border War and this Battalion.
I am currently reading:‘The Search for Puma 164’ Operation Uric and the assault on Mapai (by Neill Jackson & Rick van Malsen). This book too is packed with detail on crash of the SAAF Puma 164 by covering the full story of Operation Uric and SAAF involvement and the return to Mozambique 30 years later to find the crash site and pay tribute to the fallen men. Book is really enthralling reading.
Future reading:Just found a first edition copy of “On Eagles’ Wings” by Ezer Weizman in a local charity shop, and it is the personal story of the leading commander of the Israeli Air Force.
So it can rain the rest of this month as there is some interesting reads here. I was wondering if others have good books that they can recommend to the forum in general?

For the fling-wing fans:
Apache by Ed Macy. About a daring mission to rescue a wounded soldier.
Sweating the Metal by Alex Duncan. About a Chinook crew.

For the jet jocks:
Tornado Down by John Peters and John Nichol. About the crew of a Tornado that was shot down during the Gulf War. They tell the story of their capture, torture, and survival. It makes you feel like you're right there with them.

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[Sardine]
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Blog: http://the-flying-fish.blogspot.com/, UPDATED on 13 September 2012

Some of the finest descriptions of flying that I have ever read come from the fictional works of Gavin Lyall. Himself an ex-RAF pilot. Probably long out of print and unobtainable now. His story of flying a Beaver across the Soviet frontier to pick up a British agent - at gunpoint - is as nailbiting as any.

Have the exact same book. Inside I've kept a note addressed to me, signed by Jack Cohen.

For the Chopper Boys - Low Level Hell by Hugh L Mills, Hellfire by Ed Macey and one of the best books I have read on helicopters in combat, Chickenhawk by Robert Mason

A little different but it has aircraft in it - Firestrike 7/9. It's about a British Army JTAC in Helmand Province Afghanistan. Quite a read!

The surgeon?

I have both Apache and Hellfire, but I didn't enjoy Hellfire as much as Apache. In fact, I don't think I even got half way. Perhaps it's time for me to start reading it again.

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[Sardine]
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Blog: http://the-flying-fish.blogspot.com/, UPDATED on 13 September 2012

Yea, Hellfire not nearly as good as Apache. Stuggled to get through it...unlike most of the books I have, wont be reading that a second time

That was Syd Cohen. Jack flew with Syd in the same SAAF squadron during WWII and then again together with 101 Squadron in Israel.

South African Jews played an immense role in the founding of the Israeli Air Force. Cecil Margo almost commanded it at one stage. In fact South African Jews played an immense role in the War of Independence providing a disproportionate number of volunteers in Zahal. I've read it was something like a third. Talking reading matter - The Midnighters is a good one as well. Loved the last bit when the guy who had flown for Israel during the War of Independence goes back many years later for a visit and they look him up in the old records and he finds out he'd been a major. Only nobody told him that!

Not strictly military, but if you're in to crime drama's and that sort of thing, take a look at Nelson DeMille's work.
So far, I've read two books that are aviation-related. The first was Night Fall, which is about TWA Flight 800, which exploded in 1996.
By the Rivers of Babylon: about two Concordes that take off after a UN conference in order to travel to the US to try bring peace to the Middle East.

I've also read Up Country, Plum Island, The General's Daughter, half of Cathedral, and I think I've read Wild Fire.

I see Mayday also involves aviation. http://nelsondemille.net/content/books.asp

Nelson's books are the type that are funny, serious, action-packed and very detailed (sometimes kind of gross), and he almost always has a very good twist at the end.

Stephan Leather's books are also the type that you simply can't put down.

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[Sardine]
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Blog: http://the-flying-fish.blogspot.com/, UPDATED on 13 September 2012

I've just finished reading BRIG GEN Lord's "From Fledgling to Eagle" which I found to be aptly titled.

It's a fascinating read and really highlighted the professionalism of the SAAF who more often than not,operated under less than ideal circumstances, particularly in the latter stages of the war and especially during Ops Moduler, Hooper and Packer.

The writing style, lightly sprinkled with amusing anecdotes made for particularly entertaining reading and was amply supported by statistics, photographs and maps. I can now appreciate just how vast the SAAF area of operations was. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the SAAF post-Korean War.

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Not SAAF related but Chickenhawk was an enjoyable read.

Now you're talking, Nelson has inspired me to write a novel and now I'm almost finished a second one. Two other authors who really know how to tell a story are Chris Ryan and Andy McNab.

Mac

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The Book Worm: http://novelbooks.weebly.com/index.html

I read McNab's Boy Soldier series a few years ago, and quite enjoyed it. However some of his others book just didn't have the 'awesome' factor that DeMille's seem to have.

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[Sardine]
My Photos: http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member ... .php?p=882
Blog: http://the-flying-fish.blogspot.com/, UPDATED on 13 September 2012