I just finished reading
The Longest Winter by Alex Kershaw and I highly recommend it. If you caught a recent episode of
ShootOut, which preceeds
Dogfights, they focused on a small American recon unit which blunted the German advance during the "Battle of the Bulge" or Ardennes Offensive. This unit, consisting of an 18 man platoon, stopped three German assaults and killing hundreds of soldiers until wounds and lack of ammo forced their surrender. The book covers their story from the battle through their captivity (equally harrowing) in German POW camps.
This unit didn't receive decorations for their service until over 30 years later with President Carter! They remain the most decorated WWII platoon.
Kershaw does a terrific job with the story (although he doesn't hide his disgust with General Patton over one incident I had never heard of - and with good reason if it is true). This is a great book of you need a break from airplane books.
However, if you must read about planes, Kershaw's newest book
The Few just came out and is about the Eagle Squadrons. That will be my next book purchase for sure. Happy reading!