I am looking to learn and read more about the specific experiences American fighter pilots had during world war II. How often did they go on missions? How did they feel about the planes they were flying? What were they doing while waiting on the next mission? How often did they change bases?
The majority of the books I have found so far focus on bomber pilots (e.g., Bomber Boys) or provide an overview of the air campaign well beyond the perspective of the individual pilots.
I would love to find a slew of personal accounts or books collecting and summarizing first hand accounts of fight pilots during world war II.
USAAF or Navy? Which theatre? Or all of the above?
Extremely different experience (so not sure I have it in me to draft an all of the above answer) in India vs UK vs North Africa vs carrier based, etc. If you're looking for Bomber Boys like intensity, I'd start with early Pacific war carrier based when they were getting eaten alive by Zeroes.