WGFB: Ace of the Iron Cross

[Oberst Hajj]

Submit a Book ReviewBook Title:
Ace of the Iron Cross Author:
Ernest Udet ISBN:
0668051612 Category:
Autobiography Format:
Paperback and Hardback Summary:
I recently finished reading this book. It is always interesting to read about events from someone who lived them. This book was no different. It gives a good insight into the life of Ernst Udet, the highest scoring German ACE to survive WWI.

It covers his experiences in the first world war as well as his adventures after the war. Like many books recounting things one has done in the past, this book tends to follow a chronological sequence, but Udet's thoughts jump around from time to time. While there are some great stories in this book, there is little substance and almost everything is a simple statement of what happened and often just glossed over. Take for example the name painted on the side of almost every one of Udet's planes. In the book we learn that it was the name of his girlfriend. One section of the book talks about him meeting her when on R&R from being wounded. This is covered quite well, but once he returns to the Front, we here nothing about her again.

One of the nice surprises in this book are the Appendixes. One of them cover each of his kills and the kills of all the men under him when he was commanding the Jasta. They also include copies of some of his victory claims and the witness' reports.

All in all a good read that ultimately left me wanting to know "the rest of the story" about such an interesting man.

[MayorJim]

Considering Udet has a few models I might want to pick this one up...thanks!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Right Col. that is also going on my list.From the point of view of my Bank balance I'm not sure that this forum was such a good idea.:eek:

Rob.

[Nick_ace]

In Brazil we have a similar book of the life of Ernst Udet, named: "My life and My flights".A good read!!!:)
My favourite German Ace.:medal:

Nick

[Flying Officer Kyte]

In Brazil we have a similar book of the life of Ernst Udet, named: "My life and My flights".A good read!!!:)
My favourite German Ace.:medal:

Nick

I am glad you brought this up again Nick. I have had this book on order from Amazon from the date of that last post, and every few months I get an E-mail from them putting back the date of the re publication by a few months. I'd rather they had come out with it at the time and said they could not get it, rather than hang me out to dry. At least then I could have tried some other source for it. :smack: Amazon.
Rob.

[Oberst Hajj]

Rob, the US Amazon site also asks if you want to just cancel the order in those same emails... just in case you want to look else where or find the wait is not worth it. I'm in this same situation with another book the wife ordered me for Christmas. You can still find the Udet book in good shape from the older printings.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks Keith.
I may just have to do that.
Rob.

[fast.git]

Does anyone know if the book reviewed here by Herr Oberst is the same as Ace of the Black Cross: The Memoirs of Ernst Udet? Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Ace-Black-Cross-Memoirs-Ernst/dp/1848327080/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1389379978&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=ernst+udet
Thanks!

Chris

[Oberst Hajj]

I can't tell if it is or not. But i don't recall him having written two books. My best guess would be that this is another book compiling his letters and notes... if it's not exactly the same.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I am reading it at this very moment.
It was published first in 1935 under the title of Mein Fliegerleben and in 1937 by Newnes of London under its present title. From what I have read so far it does not seem at all like it was taken from letters and goes on into the inter war period to mention the Aircraft Factory and his Air Racing.
Could this tie in with your book Keith?
Rob.

[fast.git]

I am reading it at this very moment.
It was published first in 1935 under the title of Mein Fliegerleben and in 1937 by Newnes of London under its present title. From what I have read so far it does not seem at all like it was taken from letters and goes on into the inter war period to mention the Aircraft Factory and his Air Racing.
Could this tie in with your book Keith?
Rob.

Excellent. Sounds like this might be one I need to pick up... I'm not a huge fan of hardcovers (limited space in house taken up by far too many little airplanes), but I'm tempted.

[skyking20]

Price and source of the book might be good information for book reviews.

[Oberst Hajj]

I am reading it at this very moment.
It was published first in 1935 under the title of Mein Fliegerleben and in 1937 by Newnes of London under its present title. From what I have read so far it does not seem at all like it was taken from letters and goes on into the inter war period to mention the Aircraft Factory and his Air Racing.
Could this tie in with your book Keith?
Rob.

Sounds very much like it Rob. Does it talk about an adventure in South America?

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Sounds very much like it Rob. Does it talk about an adventure in South America?

Yes, Air racing in South America, although I have not got to that bit yet Keith, as Kyte keeps nicking the book and taking it into the Lavatory ( the John) to read.:mad:
Rob.

[Oberst Hajj]

Okay, I would say same book than.

[Baldrick62]

Book Title:
Ace of the Black Cross: The Memoirs of Ernst Udet Author:
Ernst Udet ISBN:
978-1-84832-708-5 Category:
Autobiography Format:
Hardback Summary:
Introduced by Richard Overy, this 202pp 2013 edition of Ernst Udet's partial autobiography appears to follow the same format as earlier, so Overy's six pages are all that is 'new'. The majority of the four-part book covers Udet's flying career in WWI, from joining the army through to command of J.4 and the loss of status and respect following the Armistice. As well as personal interests and commentary, the description of fuel starvation, even for the elite JG.I, is an interesting insight into the diminishing operational capability of the Central powers in the last year of the war. The final part deals with Udet's post-war adventures in the Americas, Africa (including a lion attack on a low flying aircraft!) and Greenland, finishing with the rise of National Socialism.

The final sentences offer a good insight into the mind of not just Udet, but surely many of his generation regarding what had befallen their country and what they believed the future held. 'We were soldiers without a flag. We have now unfurled our flag once more. The Fuhrer restored it to us. For old soldiers life is worth living again.'

I echo ObH's comments about wanting to know more, from the man himself, about his later life.

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[Nightbomber]

Thanks for the review, Herr Oberst. Never heard of that one. I love personal memoirs of military men, especially the famest;). Just found one on ebay.

[RJG173]

Ace of the Iron Cross was issued as a paperback by Ace Books as part of their Air Combat Classics series in 1970. One might be able to find it via Abebooks.

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