Books about Aircrew from Amazon.com

Colonel Wells investigates the nature of aerial warfare and the men who took part. The book analyzes aircrew selection, reaction to combat, adaptability to stress, morale, leadership and combat effectiveness. First-hand reflections of combat flyers, published materials, reports and official documents are used to compare the efforts of the US Eighth Air Force and RAF Bomber Command.
Although the Allied air effort involved to separate air forces, two different philosophical concepts and two distinct approaches, both organizations were committed to a common goal. Comparing the two allows insights into the nature of air combat and its effects on aviators. Aircrew attitudes and motivations are examined, as are the physical and mental hardships which affected aircrew morale, cohesion and combat effectiveness.
The work offers an examination of the sensitive subject of "Lack of Moral Fibre" - the inability to undertake further flights because of stress. The Allied air forces took distinctly different approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and disposal of emotional casualties..
Price: $12.67 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Siberia - infamous for its brutal winters, and larger than the entire United States - is not the only wilderness within the former Soviet Union. Harsh southern deserts, arctic islands, disputed border regions, and minority populations beligerent towards the their present government are spread all across the gigantic nation. Flying over Russia presents risks few other aircrews in time of peace must face. And while Russian combat aircraft are world renowned for their reliable performance, what happens when something does go wrong? Given their exceptional egress systems - odds are the pilot will eject safely, but how does he survive and advance under such potentially dire circumstances? MiG Pilot Survival: Russian Aircrew Survival Equipment and Instruction explores the components and details of Russian survival science with color photographs, in depth descriptions, and a full translation of the exact manual - with original illustrations intact - as used by Russian aircrews in time of crisis, Alan R. Wise is a consultant, writer, and photographer who has done work for the Department of Defense, Department of State, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Museum, and the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. He has served as a military advisor and has written numerous articles for magazines such as National Defense, Journal of Defense and Diplomacy, Armor, and Behind the Lines: The Journal of Special Operations. He is also the coauthor with Michael S. Breuninger of Jet Age Flight Helmets (see page 5 of this catalog). He resides in Middletown, Ohio and is an experienced collector specializing in flight gear, survival and special operations equipment, and military vehicles..
Price: $15.56 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Aircrew on a bomber in World War II experienced a cold, tiring and perilous existence. The RAF flew at night, when the human spirit is at its lowest ebb and for many it did not seem prudent to think further ahead than the target, and then hope for a safe return. Daytime raids brought the fear of defending fighters preying on the massed formations of heavily laden aircraft as they struggled over enemy territory. The ground crew saw their aircraft heave themselves into the air and their imagination filled the silent hours until they counted in the returning aircraft and saw the ravages of the enemy defences and the hazards of foul weather. This is their story..
Price: $18.69 [Notify me when price goes down.]

These extraordinary true stories retell the experiences of British, Canadian, Australian and other Commonwealth airmen who survived behind enemy lines. Based on first-hand accounts and the little known official debriefs, they evoke both the heroic characters and the hostile terrain they endured including: · The Halifax pilot shot down in northern Germany who walked and cycled over 1000 miles to safety in Barcelona · The Wellington crew who were rescued after a 400-mile, 28-day trek through an African desert · The pilot officer who fell in love with a Dutch resistance fighter; she was betrayed and sent to Ravensbruck, yet both lived to get married after the war Illustrated with rare photographs of evaders and their rescuers, the book also explores the organization and evasion by the shadowy Military Intelligence body MI9..
Price: $8.09 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Presents an insightful critique of the effectiveness of the RCAF in preparing its aircrew for war..
Price: $29.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This biography tells of the life of a Czech airman who escapes from the Nazi invasion, fights with the French and finally arrives in Britain to fly as an air-gunner with the RAF during World War II. He returns to his homeland after World War II but escapes back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joins the RAF and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer The unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout World War II and until half way through his second tour with the RAF he was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, an animal that became famous and was awarded a dog equivalent to the VC. The animal flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. It played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communists regime when the author was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany..
Price: $23.61 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The events of 11 September 2001 changed the world, and in particular the aviation community, forever Since then, the terrorist threat continues to dominate international air travel and pose a real and present danger to airline passengers and aircrew across the globe. In line with this, expectations of renewed commitments to aircrew security training increased, however the practical reality of the standard of information and effective training often fell short. This book aims to help redress this problem. Intended to help flight crews' deal with the new complexities they face in the skies, it is designed to inform and enlighten crewmembers on the issues posed by air rage and terrorist activities, using techniques for conflict resolution, assessment of threat, mental and physical preparation and post-incident considerations. The culmination of work accomplished from a lifetime of employment in aviation, security and training, the authors use a progressive approach to explain security issues from a flight crewmember's perspective. Using detailed studies of current airline security practice, verified by interviews with crewmembers worldwide, the book uncovers many of the shortcomings of international aviation security and presents plausible and innovative solutions to the problems crewmembers face. Having worked with aviation industry leaders, regulatory authorities, major airlines and flight training organizations, the authors provide a unique blend of guidance, useful to the development of security programs for crewmembers by airlines, corporations and air charter companies. Government agencies commissioned with overseeing and developing aircrew security can also use the book when seeking a better understanding of the needs of crewmembers and airlines. Readership includes: Airline flight crewmembers (pilots, flight engineers and flight attendants); major universities and colleges with aviation programs; members of organizations such as the Airline Transport Association, International Airline Transport Association, World Airline Transport Association, Flight Safety Foundation, Pilot and Flight Attendant labor unions as well as government agencies..
Price: $147.22 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War Two were issued log books in which to record their experiences, during training, combat, and sometimes their experiences, during training, combat, and sometimes their personal thoughts. In the words of Right Reverend REF Berry, a World War Two mid-upper gunner with the RCAF flying Lancaster bombers out of Lincolnshire, England:

"These are men whose wartime contributions are of heroic proportions. Their log entries tell of real life experience of young Canadian men and their allies." (Flight Into Yesterday, 1999, ii)

Many of these diaries survived the ensuing decades and it is through the gracious input of their owners that FLIGHT INTO YESTERDAY was created. I've collected, re-written, printed and bound these experiences into book form for the members and friends of the Kelowna Wartime Aircrew Club. The 500 pages of this book provide a unique insight into the hearts of men and women in war. FLIGHT INTO YESTERDAY is a legacy..
Price: $27.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]