Like many of you, I have an affinity for the F-86, so it is natural that I'd find books on the men who flew it to be equally interesting. This volume from Osprey on the Aces of the 4th FW is an excellent book that tells the stories of many of the men who flew in the 4th FW from late 1950 until the end of the war in mid 1953.

It is as much a story of the aircraft as it is the men for the initial Sabres were not as good a plane as those received late in the war. In fact, they were seriously underpowered and unable to initiate combat with the superlative MiG-15s flown by the Chinese and Russians. It is really a testament to the skill and training of American pilots that made the Sabre such a potent weapon.

Warren Thompson is well known for his books on the Korean War, especially his much missed 'units in color' series that was stopped after only a half dozen books.  His story telling is among the best and takes what could be dry statistics and turns them into very readable prose.

The book does have the usual pilot reports and interviews that one would expect in this sort of book, and that adds considerable spice and insight to the entire volume. The photographs are also superbly chosen and there has to be at least as many in color as their are in black & white. This is all further enhanced by an excellent selection of profiles of many of the ace's aircraft.

This is all topped off with a listing of aces in the order they achieved that status, a combat chronology of the 4th FW, and some very nicely drawn profiles of the various Sabre variants.

Overall, a superb read and an excellent reference that I can recommend without reserve.

November 2006

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