Full Circle: The tactics of air fighting: 1914-1964.

by J.E. Johnson

Air fighting began during the First World War when single, fabric-covered airplanes scouted "the other side of the hill." Pilots and observers initially waved to each other, later duelled with rifles and revolvers. Soon the two-seaters carried machine guns and began to fly in pairs. Pairs grew into squadrons and team fighting was born with German circuses (so called because their planes sported paint jobs as radical as today's dragsters) against British wings.

Today the supersonic interceptor flies alone, as did the first scouts, and within half a century the story of air fighting has come full circle.

Air Vice-Marshal Johnson was the top-scoring Allied fighter pilot of WW II, and an exchange pilot with the USAF in Korea. His narrative chronicles the achievements of the great fighter pilots of both wars.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Aviation, War, World War II, Military Fiction

282 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Gary Inbinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read my Bantam paperback edition purchased about 30 years ago. A straightforward, engaging narrative about the history of air fighting from the early 20th century through the early 1980's, written by highly decorated retired RAF Air Vice Marshal who saw plenty of action from the cockpit of his Spitfire in WWII.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Royal Air Force saved the entire world during WW2... :)

[Markku · Rating 3 out of 5]

An authoritative view on the history of tactics in air fighting. Not very lively, but contains a lot of interesting information.

[Frank Pellecchia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Air warfare tactics from World War I aircraft to supersonic fly-by-wire jets have come full circle.

Chronicles the achievements of pilots from WWI to today. Detailed tactics.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old history of air warfare. Very informative but only in so-so condition. This fish is going back to the thrift store. =)

[Enrique Puricelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent analisys of fighter tactics by the top British ace. A must for anyone interested in air fighting.