Crimson Sky: Air Battles (H)

I really liked how this book covers the entire air war and not just a specific few units. I have read lots on specific units but this really helped me understand what was going on overall. This is a MUST read.

Ive got a copy of this book, havent gotten into it yet, should be fascinating enough on subject matter alone, which as some other reviewers note, gets scant attention except perhaps in highly specialised-and pretty expensive- pubs like "Squadron" profile books. You know what really made a winning 1st impression with me? The Title, I think that is a simple but masterfully emotive title."Crimson Sky", that really flies like the swept wings of a MiG, imo..What does the Crimson refer to? Bloody ?? Communism? the Reddish brown and Red of the N.K. and PRC flags and insignia? Works for me, and helps flag the book as being about something less banal. Thank God he didnt call it "MiG Alley" or some cornball variation of that!!

The first person accounts of the action are riveting. Being new to studying the Korean War the book helped me get a better understanding of the conflict and what our pilots faced. If you like first person accounts, then this would be a good book for you. The only disappointment I had was not enough "big picture" information and I felt that at times the book skipped through the war, just focusing on a few random battles. It left me wanting more, which is both good and bad.

The author stated that he wrote "Crimson Sky" to remember Korean War aviators as the United States approached the 50th anniversary of the conflict's beginning. Mr. Bruning has done a good job. He has interviewed veterans and put their stories into the book in a fast-paced, you-are-there style. Bruning used episodes from the war to point out important chapters in the history of military aviation. For example, Bruning's first and second chapters are entitled "The First Jet Kills" and "The Birth of Combat SAR," respectively. Particularly worthwhile is the author's penultimate chapter, which deals with Soviet involvement in the Korean air war.At times, Bruning's episodic approach causes the narrative to seem disjointed. In addition, the author could have said more about the night air war, and some mention might have been made of UN pilots who were not American. Those things are the worst things that can be said about "Crimson Sky," however. The book is well-thought out and well written--well worth four stars.

If you enjoy reading gritty, in your face, first person accounts of pilots in life and death struggles then this is your book.As I was reading this book it became clear to me that the author had spent a tremendous amount of time in research and conducted extensive interviews with Korean War pilots and it shows in the detail and depth of his accounts.I read a great deal of history and it is always refreshing to find a historian who explores new angles and ideas. As a real bonus Bruning makes this an exciting book to read, I laughed at some parts and nearly cried in others.If you have an interest in the air war over Korea or just in air warfare in general do not hesitate to add this book to your library. I certainly enjoyed this book.