Books on the Korean War

Yalu River 1950-51, Clayton K.S. Chun. Looks at one of the biggest defeats in US Military History, which saw the largely American UN forces pushed out of North Korea by the Chinese, and all the way back into South Korea, leading to the prolonged period of stalemate that dominated the later part of the Korean War. Good material on both sides of the conflict, helping to put a more realistic face on the Chinese side in particular (Read Full Review)

F-86A Sabre - Korea 1950-51, Peter E. Davies. Looks at the role of the F-86 Sabre in Korea, and in particular its battles against the MiG-15s of the Soviet, Chinese and North Korean air forces. Good material on how the two types of aircraft reached Korea, how their units were organised, how their pilots were trained and operated, and how the two types performed in combat (Read Full Review)

The Frozen Chosen - The 1st Marine Division and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, Thomas McKelvey Cleaver. Combines a history of the first stages of the Korean War with a more detailed examination of the 1st Marine Division’s battles around the Chosin Reservoir, which prevented the eastern part of the UN line collapsing like the US Army held western part.  Has some firmly expressed views on the reasons for the American failure to predict the invasion and for MacArthur’s failures during the invasion of the North, and a good understanding of why the North Koreans and Chinese were both initially successful. Combines it with a detailed examination of the Marines in battle, taking us down to the individual foxhole and the fights for numbered hills (Read Full Review)

From the Imjin to the Hook, James Jacobs. Interesting autobiography of a national serviceman who serving with the artillery in Korea before volunteering for a second spell of service late in the same war. A very readable account of life in the British Army in Korea, seen from a slightly unusual angle - I've not read an account from the artillery before. [read full review]

Images of War Korea The Ground War From Both Sides, Philip Chinnery. Wide ranging photographic history of the Korean War, with an emphasis on the mobile warfare of the first year of the conflict (as a result we see many unfamiliar topics) and pictures from both sides of the war (mainly UN and Chinese, but with few from North Korean sources). [read full review]

Armoured Warfare in the Korean War, Anthony Tucker-Jones. Focuses mainly on the ex-Soviet, American and British tanks that fought in Korea, supported by useful captions, a good brief history of the war explaining how the role of armour changed, with a selection of pictures that include good coverage of the tanks involved in the war, plus some that provide a more rounded view of the war. [read full review]

Unusual Footnotes to the Korean War, Paul Edwards, a selection of 33 short articles on unusual aspects of the Korean War, covering most phases of the war and a wide range of interesting topics that help remove the normal image of this as a fairly monolithic war. A nice way of bringing together a collection of interesting stories, most of which wouldn't have supported an entire book of their own. [read full review]

Captured at the Imjin River, David Green. A first-hand account of the experiences of a National Service soldier who served in Korea and was captured by the Chinese during the Battle of the Imjin River. This is a compelling story, and an invaluable account of life as a National Serviceman in Korea, and as a prisoner of the Chinese. [read full review]

MiG Menace over Korea: The Story of Soviet Fighter Ace Nikolai Sutiagin, Yuri Sutiagin and Igor Seidov. An invaluable account of the career of the leading Soviet fighter ace of the Korean War, this book gives us a fascinating view of life in the Soviet Air Force during its top secret involvement in the Korean War, the only time when Soviet and American fighter pilots clashed in large numbers during the Cold War. [read full review]

Sabres Over Mig Alley, Kenneth P. Werrell. Based on interviews with American pilots this book details the battles for air superiority over Korea, fought between the US Sabre and the Russian MiG-15 [see more].

A Conscript in Korea, Neville Williams. An autobiographic account of the life of a National Serviceman during the Korean War, from training, through the journey to Korea and onto the front line, where Williams served in signals, responsible for fixing broken phone lines, often under heavy fire. An unusual perspective on an often forgotten war [read full review]