• The Big Show

  • The Classic Account of WWII Aerial Combat
  • By: Pierre Clostermann
  • Narrated by: Julian Elfer
  • Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (177 ratings)

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The Big Show  By  cover art

The Big Show

By: Pierre Clostermann
Narrated by: Julian Elfer
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Publisher's summary

Pierre Clostermann DFC was one of the oustanding Allied aces of the Second World War. A Frenchman who flew with the RAF, he survived over 420 operational sorties, shooting down scores of enemy aircraft while friends and comrades lost their lives in the deadly skies above Europe. 

The Big Show, his extraordinary account of the war, has been described as the greatest pilot's memoir of WWII.

©1948, 2008 Flammmarion (P)2020 Tantor

What listeners say about The Big Show

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Finally in Audible

My father gave me a tattered copy of this book in the mid 1990’s. I’ve read it 4 times and at last, listened via Audible. The narrator sounds exactly as I imagined when I read the book.

The best fighter pilot memoir ever. Enjoy!

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2 people found this helpful

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Simply one of the best all time books on air combat ever written.

I was stoked to see The Big Show was coming out on Audible. I’ve probably read this book 6-7 times in my life. I’m half way through it and have to say, hearing it told is even more exciting and intense then reading it. The reader does a great job. If you love dog fights and flying you HAVE to get this one. Trust me. You will not regret it.

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Classic account of a WW2 fighter pilot-all action

Loved this book! After a brief introduction, almost every chapter was an account of another mission.

This book provides a different view of the fighter pilot's war from most accounts. For one, Clostermann was French, which provides a unique perspective on the war, he flew not only Spitfires but also Tempests, and he describes a ton of different mission types (fighter combat, train strafing, V1 site attacks...).

I learned a ton. For example, I thought that the Luftwaffe was pretty much gone by 1945. But, Clostermann was still involved in a lot of air to air combat right up to the end. In addition, it's kind of shocking to hear how many losses there were in Tempest squadrons.

Anyhow, this book is considered a classic and if you're into WW2 aviation, you really should check it out!

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    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic

amazing book especially if you like ww2 aircraft stuff otlr just ww2 in general, this guy is very descriptive and good at painting a picture in your head

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One of the best war books I ever read/heard.

This book was gripping, moving and lyrical. I really felt like I had gone through the war with the author. I felt the enthusiasm and excitement of the early days. Then I felt the increasing tension, dread and sadness of the last days of the war as the author’s squadron was relentlessly thrown into combat against a still potent Luftwaffe. Excellent book.

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French

Why do the Brits think that we of the US public school system speak French? Untranslated spoken French! I took Spanish not French.

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What a Beautiful written novel

One of the best aviation novels I’ve ever read beautifully read highly recommend this to aviation and history buffs.

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Unlike Any Other

Deeply personal. sometimes terrible, unimpeachably authentic. A super reading as well.... very muchworth the listening

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Best audio book I’ve ever listened to

This is the best audio book I’ve ever listened to with a superb voice talent.

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the bond between a fighter pilot to his fellow pilots and his plane and the respect towards the enemy

wonderful reading. a memoir of a french fighter pilot in service with the raf during ww2. vivid description of the battles fought in Europe's skies

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