For starters, I recommend "Fighter Command" by Jeffrey L. Ethell and Robert T. Sand (Motorbooks). It features gorgeous and quite rare full-color "real-time" photos of Mustangs, Jugs, Lightnings, etc. on various USAAF bases in England, Meditteranean and, later, Germany. All spreads are accompanied by voluminous "oral history" type dialogues from former pilots. I don't know how far it will go for you in terms of useful advice for cyber-flying, but as far as something that will give you a wonderfully immersive feeling in the atmosphere of the times, in addition to being a fantastic first-hand research source for modelers, it can't be beat.

I would also recommend anything in the Osprey Books' "Osprey Aircraft of the Aces" series, for example, "Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force", etc. for excellent commentary and some informative photos.

All of the above titles are available from Amazon.com.

Enjoy.

Can't forget the Brits, right?

Aircraft versus Aircraft
the Illustrated Story of Fighter Pilot Combat Since 1914

by Norman Franks

Published by Crescent Books, New York

A wholly new look at the evolution of air warfare, from dogfighting maneuvers devised during WWI and II to sophisticated weaponry used during the Middle East and Vietnam wars and the Falklands crisis. Combines 60 full-color panoramas and photographs with detailed charts and diagrams to trace the development of combat tactics, strategy and equipment covering the major battles from the European and Pacific fronts to Vietnam and the Middle East. Breaks down the complex maneuvers of the air forces of the United States, England, Germany, Japan and Israel, to reveal the fighter pilot's use of tactics such as the Thach weave, the high speed yoyo, the vertical weave, and many others.

Profiles such legendary heroes as the fames "Red Baron' Von Richtofen, Eddie Rickenbacker, Saburo Sakai, and Albert ball to re-create the dangerous and exciting world in which they lived and died.

AIRWAR's a good one, too. Heavily American-oriented in perspective, but a good overview of the conflict nonetheless.

If there's a big Barnes&Noble near you with a good used books section you should be able to pick it up cheap. Might be able to find it used on the Internet, too.