Herky!: The Memoirs of a Checker Ace

by Herschel H. Green

Book Overview

The dramatic life story of one of the legendary USAAF fighter pilots of World War II who fought across the skies over the Mediterranean and southern Europe in the great aerial campaigns against the Luftwaffe - Herschel H. "Herky" Green. By the time Colonel Green was grounded by orders of higher headquarters, he was the leading ace of the 15th Air Force with eighteen aerial victories.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764300733
• ISBN13: 9780764300738
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Book Review

The book arrived much sooner than expected. It was an interesting and informative book written by a man that I had briefly known. It should be of interest to aviation types.

A real American hero

I met Herky and his wife when I moved to Southern California several years ago. I had heard of him, but wasn't familiar with the details of his exploits during WWII until reading his book. It is fantastic! Written by him alone, without the aid of a "professional author," it is a refreshingly honest, first hand perspective, on the life of a fighter pilot during WWII. The events that he experienced flying P-40s, P-47s, and P-51s from North Africa to Italy are facinating and cover a longer period than many of the aces that fought in the war. If you have been disappointed in the past by the personal shortcomings that some "heros" have exhibited in other parts of their lives, look no further than Herky. He is someone his peers looked up to during the war and is someone we would all do well to emulate in our lives... a real American hero.

Couldn't put it down. Great WWII Army Air Force history.

For the past ten years, I have been doing research, and for eight years, coordinating reunions for an Army Air Force Primary Aviation Flying School. The very first graduating class of this school produced at least three of the top fighter aces of WWII. Herschel H. Green was one of these. Over the years, I have heard numerous stories from several hundred former cadets and staff from the school. This, however, is one of only four books that I know of, written by these individuals. It is unique in that it is the complete history of an individual from childhood, to the present. It concentrates on all aspects of his life, which, as Tom Brokaw reflects in his book "The Greatest Generation", began with the way in which he was brought up as a child. His attitude, respect for others, and ability to want to succeed in everything he did enabled him to survive in situations where others failed. His accurate records of his missions show how he, and his fellow pilots, maintenance crews, and various planes, were successful, while others were not. He shows the human aspect of preparing for combat, participating in numerous battles, making the adjustments to survive in war as well as in peacetime, and finally retiring, and joining the civilian world. His ability to be flexible and function under change and pressure has insured his success in all aspects of his life. I had the priviledge of talking with Colonel Green a few weeks ago, and at the same time, request a copy of his book. In addition, I received an autographed picture to add to my museum collection with the others who were successful after completing training here. He is a very pleasant individual to talk to and have hopes of seeing at one of my future reunions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested not only in military aviation history, but specifically in WWII.