What is your favourite REAL WW2 aviation book?

[Bombphoon]

In light of the recent post about AI 'authors' manufacturing WW2 aviation books with little to no work behind them, what's your favourite REAL WW2 aviation book recommendation, that displays real original research, photos, analysis etc?

I'll start the ball rolling.

My favourite is Luftwaffe Fighter-Bombers Over Britain: The Tip and Run Campaign 1942-43 by Chris Goss, with Peter Cornwell and Bernd Rauchbach. I recommend the 2003 hardback first edition by Crecy.

Although there had been information in the landmark After The Battle The Blitz Then & Now Vol.3, up until this book's publication, for 60 years, there had been no specific published work on these fascinating and somewhat overlooked Luftwaffe Jabo raids along England's east and south coasts.

The author majorly rectified this in his 336-page work, packed full of rare photographs - including some astonishing photos of strafing south coast gas holders, hotels etc taken by the pilot from the cockpit - no mean feat whilst flying a single-seat fighter at speed with (possibly) light anti-aircraft fire and RAF fighters about!

The author expertly uses multiple sources from both sides, RAF and Luftwaffe aircrew etc, to give a more complete story of the campaign (often, Luftwaffe authors rarely use UK ground/ARP sources for balance). (The only anomaly in the book is that the infamous and controversial January 1943 Sandhurst Road School bombing is barely mentioned/no photos).

Also included are bomb plot/flight maps of some of the raids, plus 10 extensive appendices, sources/bibliography and an index.

The larger 10" x 8" hardback book size is a bonus and the photo reproduction is of good standard (not sure about the reprint paperback versions?)

A great example of how a campaign history should be written.

Five star/thoroughly recommended.