Let me present my little but deeply felt contribution to this very interesting genre.
Pierre Clostermann The Big Show . Its various editions have sold over two and a half million copies. William Faulkner commented that this is the finest aviation book to come out of World War II. The book was reprinted, in expanded form, in both paperback and hardcover editions in 2004.
I read and reread it countless times, till the book fell apart and I got an other copy to read it again.
Leon Uris Battle Cry. " ... The role of the narrator is filled by the character of a tough veteran sergeant. He tells the story of how this rag-tag group came together as a fighting unit, as well as describing the battles they fought in, including the Battle of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and the Battle of Saipan." A must
Tom Clancy has written several military fiction books. Among them, two stand.
Red Storm Rising (1986) War between NATO and USSR. One narrative tread is a long trip across Iceland. Very vivid episods of air combat and tanks action.
Clear and Present Danger (1989) The Guerrilla action by a light infantry group in the Columbian mountains is one the best war descriptions I ever encountered.
Len Deighton Bomber is considered his literary masterpiece. I also like
Declarations of War that I am rereading on my Sony right now, for the nth-time.
C. S. Forester His novels
A Ship of the Line and
Flying Colours were jointly awarded the 1938 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, depicting a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen. A must