The Ace Factor

book

review by Bill Rutherford

By Mike Spick, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD, 1988, 208 pp, photos, HB.

"Situational Awareness" (SA for short). That is the topic of this book. Spick examines carefully the ability of the few combat pilots who score most of the kills. THE ACE FACTOR consists of six chapters and an appendix. The first sets the stage, broadly explaining the basic principles of air combat, the phases of an air battle, the general effects of increased technology, and the characteristics of a successful combat pilot. The following chapters trace the history of air combat through WWI, WWII, the Korean conflict, and into the modern era. The equipment and tactics are covered, of course, but special attention is paid to the outstanding combat aviators of each era - their characteristics, their personal modus operandi -- in short, those things that made them successful. This book, though well written and filled with historical anecdotes, is mainly concerned with theory - not the sort of thi ng one would normally review i n a gaming magazine! What THE ACE FACTOR does is give prospective airwar gamers, no matter what the period, an idea of what they're about when they climb aboard their lead or plastic miniature fighter. The appendix, in fact, was written just after the Korean conflict by MG F.C. Blesse and is a fairly complete user's guide to air combat. It provides specific guidelines for offensive and defensive tactics, principles of air combat -- the works! This is one of those books you'll want to read to improve your game and is well worth the money.

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