Race of Aces by John Bruning

• Jul 12, 2025

• #1

pinehilljoe

Staff Sergeant

875

823

May 1, 2016

I'm almost done with the audio version of this book. It's very good read/listen and Highly recommend. I will warn you the author goes into detail in how people like Thomas Maguire and Neal Kirby were lost. The author builds up the pilots and you get to know them and unfortunately, so many of them were lost. It's a very heartfelt book.

Amazon.com: Race of Aces: 9780316508636: Bruning, John R.: Books

Amazon.com: Race of Aces: 9780316508636: Bruning, John R.: Books

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• Jul 16, 2025

• #2

DrumBob

Airman

77

72

Jan 15, 2019

Thanks for the link. I just ordered it.

 

• Jul 17, 2025

• #3

Thumpalumpacus

Lieutenant Colonel

11,589

18,472

Feb 5, 2021

Tejas

I haven't read the book, but I've seen him a couple of times on Unauthorized History of the Pacific War, both 2+ hour episodes delving into this book and its contents.

He's a remarkably well-spoken and clear speaker, and if his writing is in any manner similar it must also be engaging reading/listening.

 

• Jul 19, 2025

• Thread starter
• #4

pinehilljoe

Staff Sergeant

875

823

May 1, 2016

I finished the book. I won't spoil it, but very sad how Gerald Johnson passed after the war. Its a good book.

 

• Nov 4, 2025

• #5

Boom

Recruit

5

5

May 18, 2024

Outstanding book. Best to date IMHO on the aces of the Pacific.
One is left with the decided feeing that Kenney had much to do with encouraging the somewhat reckless behaviour of a number of the aces to be the top scorer.

 

• Nov 5, 2025

• Thread starter
• #6

pinehilljoe

Staff Sergeant

875

823

May 1, 2016

Boom said:

Outstanding book. Best to date IMHO on the aces of the Pacific.
One is left with the decided feeing that Kenney had much to do with encouraging the somewhat reckless behaviour of a number of the aces to be the top scorer.

Click to expand...

True, if nothing else, Kenney turned a blind eye. The Author makes the South West Pacific squadrons seem like a close fraternity. Perhaps Doolittle and Kepner were more strict in rotating and grounding. Even Blackslee was grounded, and survived the War.