Mustang Ace: Memoirs of a P-51 Fighter Pilot

By: Robert J. Goebel

Narrated by: Gary Goebel

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

When Bob Goebel left home to join the Army Air Corps in 1942, he was 19 years old and a high school graduate. Cadet Goebel worked his way steadily through Basic, Primary, and Advanced phases of military flight training, and found in himself an aptitude for flight. After graduation from flight school, with his new wings and new commission as a 2d Lieutenant, he and his classmates were posted to a fighter squadron defending the Panama Canal. By the spring of 1944 he was on his way to Italy and the 31st Fighter Group, one of the top fighter outfits of the war. He was also headed for a new aircraft, the legendary P-51 Mustang. After 61 combat missions now Captain Goebel was officially credited with 11 victories in his Mustang. Returning home in September 1944, he was not yet 21 years old.

Goebel's memoir is a classic of combat aviation, giving the listener a true sense of what it was like to fly and fight as a World War II fighter pilot. It covers stories about the often overlooked 12th AF in Italy, and tales of flying the classic P-51D, America's ultimate piston-engined fighter.

About the Author: Following the war, Robert J. Goebel attended college on the GI Bill, earning a degree in physics from the University of Wisconsin. Returning to the air force, he served on active duty for almost 30 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1966 after working on the Gemini launch vehicle for NASA. He then worked in the aerospace industry, including on the Skylab project. The author died in February, 2012, just days short of his 88th birthday. He was preceded into the unknown, in 2006, by his wife, June.

©1991 Gary M. Goebel (P)2016 Gary M. Goebel

Interesting personal account of a fighter pilot

It’s said right in the intro that the book was written in hopes of communicating his story and experiences as a pilot in WWII to future family members. That said, it’s still a great book full of interesting details about the war for everyone.

It is narrated by his son, who is unlikely a professional narrator, so the lack of performance is traded for hearing the story read in as close a voice as you can get to the actual author, which, does add to the authenticity of the audiobook.

All in all, a good book and worth your time if you like WWII aviation.

Great Story, listened at 1.5

As a pilot this is a great story to listen to and admire the amount of work and dedication that is placed to become a fighter pilot, a true inspiration.

Great

my grandfather was a world war II veteran. I have always loved to hear the stories about the experiences. hopefully stories like this aren't lost with time

Good listen

Good overview of life as a WWII fighter pilot, with insights into the personal and emotional aspects as well. Would have liked abit more discussion on the air battles.

excellent

go for it if your on the fence excellent book. I will listen again for sure!

Great story!

This book, is a great representation of a World War Two p-51 fighter ace.

Another great autobiography of a WWII pilot

Read by the author's son, the narration was done this way to try and capture the way the author sounded. The stories are wonderful and give one a strong sense of going through flight training and combat. As experience builds up, the author becomes a better pilot and fighter, making clear the vast difference between the new and old pilots. Similar to "A Thousand Shall Fall," one of the best WWII pilot books. "The Wrong Stuff" is another excellent WWII pilot autobiography.

Wonderful insight as what it was to be a Mustang Ace

Met Mr. Goebel at an air show many years ago. We talked a lot about his time in the war and having family from Wisconsin we connected immediately. This book is exciting to listen to and brought back the conversations we had in the past. The book is riveting and puts the listener in the mind of a heroic WWII fighter pilot and also detailed what a wonderful man Mr. Goebel was. Finished the book in two days as I couldn’t stop listening waiting to here about the next mission. I know Mr. Goebel has passed , but may God bless his soul and every American should be thankful for all the men and women who served in the armed forces and sacrificed so much for our freedoms we enjoy today. WONDERFUL BOOK!!!!!

Riveting Narrative of WW2 Combat Aviation

For those interested in the true to life stories of an aviator going from rookie to Ace, this is the book for you.

Detailed account

Excellent story and account of a young man’s fighter pilot experience in WWII over Africa and Eastern Europe. This was excellent coverage of the war against Germany originating mostly from southern Italy. He did a very thorough job, even discussing cockpit switchology, fuel management, combat aeronautics, and bomber escort tactics. It contains very detailed accounts of many of his missions and aerial victories. The descriptions of the Mustang’s performance vice the enemy’s were impressive. I have read dozens of WWII books but the ones about the European war seldom mentioned much about this part of the war so I was very interested and pleased to learn this information; it didn’t include much of the heavy bombers’ results of missions he escorted since that wasn’t their mission to report.

The author joined the cadet program shortly out of high school so he was a very young pilot and became a very experienced one. One of his sons narrated and did a good job except for a few mispronunciations. Great “read”.

Highly recommend.