Mustang Ace: Memoirs of A P-51 Fighter Pilot

Well after receiving my signed copy of Roberts book ( he e-mailed me and asked if I would mind if he signed it and what to who) Imagine me telling him " please dont sign my book ! " it just shows me what a class guy Robert is and why it seems like the hero types are always very humble! The book is too short I wanted to read more ! I really enjoyed reading about Roberts expliots during his endless training and most interesting his actual combat experiences....he learned by accident really that getting in super close to your prey almost guarantees a kill ...so close he flew through a BF109's gycol and oil! I always imagined myself as someone who with the right training and character would have maybe made a half decent pilot in WW2...I guess its ok to dream....I do though know that Roberts book made me experience all the feelings he felt while becoming a real hero and I thank him for his service and for a fine book as well! Buy It and have him sign it!

The two things that I still find hard to believe are the ages of these people and the growth rate of the services. In 1939 the Army Air Corps had a total of 2,000 pilots and was adding 300 new ones that year. When Mr. Goebel left to join the Army Air Corps he was a high school graduate and 19 years old. When he returned after 61 combat missions and 11 victories, he was 22. I don't know just how many pilots they had by the end of the war, but it was a lot more than 2,000. Compared with most books of this type, this book has several really strong points. One is the technical aspects. The author later on got a degree in physics. He obviously had a technical view of things earlier and talks a lot about the technical aspects of flying and of the P-51. Second, he is a much better writer than most. He brings an insight to the times, the people and the overall situation far more than that expected of a youngster. Then he combines this insight with a writing stylke that says he could well have been a professional writer.

At the Reno air races last weekend I managed to pick up the book and to my surprise Mr. Goebel was there signing copies. He and his wife spoke with me for about 30 minutes and shared with me some of the personal albums and effects that they carry with them. We discussed their current lives, but also the reunions they had with wartime friends and former foes which lent me a window into his character and attitude, both of which are first rate.Mind you, this is before I even opened the book, but as soon as I did I could not put it down, at first because I wanted to get to know this guy in the book while he was still fresh in my memory, but later because it's an excellent read, even without meeting the author. I have devoured many aviation and military books, but this ties it all together..the history, the aircraft, the humanity, and action, and the fear and loss or what I imagine wartime is filled with. A highly recommended read.

Bob Goebel relates his experiences clearly and succinctly, and those experiences are most interesting to the WWII flying buff. He even makes his days before combat flying interesting and informative. His narration of combat flying is thrilling and and suspenseful!! In short, this is a great book. Joe Noah, author of Wings God Gave My Soul, biography of George Preddy.

Extremely well written account of adventures in Texas, Panama, Italy, Romania, and Russia by 11 victory ace Bob Goebel. Assigned to the 31st Fighter Group of the 15th Air Force, Goebel collects most of his kills over Italian and Romanian skies. Goebel manages to capture in gripping detail his growth from fledgling pilot to confident Squadron Leader. His observations on fighter combat are invaluable. Favorite moments: His harrowing low level escape from two pursuing Fw190's, the penalty paid for carrying too much fuel, and the growing realisation of our own fragile mortality. Highly Recommended...but bring a tissue or two you'll probably need it! Please visit the "WWII Aviation Booklist" for more reviews: http://www.ampsc.com/~prophet/booklist.htm