tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453592063265138002024-02-08T05:46:47.542-08:00Best Military BooksYour number one source for information and reviews of military books.BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-70336188535360363882011-01-07T12:51:00.005-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.163-08:00Aircraft Down!: Evading Capture In Wwii Europe (potomac Books' History Of War Series)<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574887548?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:90.44px; height:140px; padding:0 25px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YG9AG657L.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574887548?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:180.88px; height:280px; padding:0 50px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YG9AG657L.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574887548?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1574887548' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Aircraft Down! recounts the thrilling stories of six extraordinary adventures that took place in Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Albania, and Greece during World War II. Based on interviews with the airmen and the Europeans who helped them at the risk of their own lives.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Detailed & Entertaining, October 31, 2001</strong><br/><i>By B. Barrett</i><br/><br/>I found this book gives a lot of insight to evaders and some of the less well known facts of the war. The book has a fairly fast pace but also has a lot of detail. The first three stories deal with downed flyers in France and Belgium who eventually made it to Spain and then British held Gibraltar. Spain was sympathetic to Germany, and treated evaders harshly until 1943 when it became politically necessary for them to develop a better relationship with the Allies. The fourth story is of a later evader in Belgium who was able to meet the oncoming Allies in 1944 instead of going to Spain. The fifth story details the evasion of an entire bomber crew from the island of Corfu over to Albania. They stayed at a guerilla camp in the mountains and eventually escaped by ship to Italy after much hardship. The final story is of of a flyer who evaded through Italy. Originally captured by the Germans upon landing, he was released from jail with many others when Italy signed an armistice with the allies. He spent the rest of his time evading the Germans and travelling around Italy (with much help from Italian partisans) and finally escaping to the Allied lines after many setbacks. One of the central themes of the book is the sacrifice made by the occupied population to feed and help the Allied fliers escape. Every story has a follow-up at the end about the later life of the evader and what happened to the people that helped them evade (if known). <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Personal Memoirs., May 25, 2004</strong><br/><i>By John P. Rooney "John"</i><br/><br/>"Aircraft down" by Philip D. Caine, sub-titled: "Evading Capture In WWII Europe". Brassey's, Dulles, Virginia, 1997 The author is a retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force, where he was once responsible for training at the Air Force Academy for "SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, escape). This gave him a professional interest in the history of evaders in Nazi occupied Europe. Philip D. Caine has also written books on Americans serving in in the Royal Air Force, (e.g. in the "Eagle Squadron") including "American Pilots In The RAF". In this book, "Aircraft Down", he has drawn on his training and experience to write six separate stories, of individuals and crews, shot down behind the lines in enemy held Europe. The first three stories deal with Americans who were flying in the RAF. These three were fighter pilots, who came down alone. They were not alone on the ground, however, as they all needed the help of the local populace to escape Nazi searchers. The fifth story is different: the entire crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress comes down on the island of Corfu, off the coast of Albania/Greece. Here, again, the common thread is that he local populace has to work together to first provide refuge for the evaders and then to provide a means of escape. In all of the stories in this book, the author has worked to put a human face on the evaders. His research has been sufficient to give a personal memoir flavor to each story, and his follow-up on post war meetings, provides a sense of closure to the story. He relates the excitement when an evader meets the same woman working in the same field as on the day he was shot down, some 40+ years ago. The book is concluded with a very short chapter entitled, "The Art Of Evasion And Survival", which points up that the personal resourcefulness of the downed pilot is often the key to a successful escape. General Caine has avoided the usual impersonal book, often written by General Officers, dealing with statistics numbers and unit identification, all at the "higher" strategic level. Instead, happily, he has used personal interviews and much research to provide a fine book telling the stories almost as if they were all personal memoirs. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Great stuff!, February 19, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Eugene W. Harmes III "World War II History Buff"</i><br/><br/>Fast paced and very hard to put down, this book really gets you into the WWII evasion experience. The sense of urgency and suspense really comes through...my heart was racing as I read about downed airmen stealing clothes to blend in with the locals and racing away from the scene of the crash, sometimes right through German troops. This book really highlights the efforts and risk of the collaborators, and just how dedicated they were to doing their part in the war effort. A very highly recommended read! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Gripping, August 4, 2000</strong><br/><i>By timothy c dooley</i><br/><br/>Do not start reding this book if you have important things to do because you will not be able to put it down. The book chronicles the evasion of several downed airmen in WWII Europe, how they evaded, the people that helped them and the trials and risks they endured. It is well written and informative and will make you glad that you never had to fly in combat, bail out of a plane or crash land and find yourself in a lonely and hostile land. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>True stories make the best stories, April 7, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Pat M</i><br/><br/>A very good read. And what makes it fascinating is the fact that they are all actual events. It vividly illustrates what lengths the locals went to to help these airmen. Literally putting their lives at stake to help strangers for a common cause. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/4stars.gif'/> <strong>Great look back at an interesting part of the war, April 9, 2010</strong><br/><i>By Donald L. Taylor "Donald T"</i><br/><br/>I enjoyed this book. <br>Interesting part of WWII history. It shows great courage of both the pilots and Europian families willing to risk their lives to help. <br><br>I respect all involved. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/4stars.gif'/> <strong>Highly Entertaining, October 9, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Jerry B. Wilt "JBW857"</i><br/><br/>This book is a highly readable tome of the experiences of downed bomber crews and fighter pilots. The willingness of the underground and the general population of the occupied countries to help these evaders at the risk of their own lives in highly inspiring. Mr. Caine describes the terrifying experiences of the evaders - their fight against hunger and the cold, their courage, the loneliness. This book make for exceptional reading and is worth a space in your library. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1574887548?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-62869082253861331482011-01-07T12:51:00.003-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.168-08:00Experimental & Prototype U.s. Air Force Jet Fighters (specialty Press)<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580071112?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:135.8px; height:140px; padding:0 3px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IWOXVvejL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580071112?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:271.6px; height:280px; padding:0 5px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IWOXVvejL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580071112?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Specialty Pr Pub & Wholesalers</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1580071112' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>The United States Air Force was late in developing a jet fighter, definitely behind Germany and the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, a small number of Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars did make it to the European and Mediterranean<br>theaters of operations before VE Day, although they did not see combat. After the war, the sheer size of the U.S. aviation industry guaranteed that American fighters would soon dominate the skies.<br> However, the state of the art was advancing so fast that many development efforts never resulted in production aircraft; concepts that had seemed reasonable, even ideal, at the time were quickly overcome by newer and better technology. In the United States alone, several dozen different fighter designs made it to the prototype stage during the 1950s and 1960s.<br> In this book, Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis look at the variety of different jet-fighter concepts developed by the U.S. Air Force after World War II. These pages cover all experimental and prototype jet fighters that made it to the hardware stage design studies and paper airplanes are not<br>discussed since other current books are dedicated to those subjects. The rationale for developing each aircraft is covered, along with a discussion of the technology needed to build it, its flight-test program, and the reasons it was cancelled or ordered into production. The text is derived mostly from official Air Force documents, and all of the aircraft are well covered photographically, usually with seldom-seen images showing<br>them as they appeared during their flight-test program.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>One of the Best Aviation Books in Years, May 16, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Terry Sunday</i><br/><br/>No one presents aviation history better than the team of Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis. Few authors match the scope and breadth of their research, their painstaking accuracy and their meticulous attention to detail. Virtually none match their ability to unearth previously unpublished information on interesting aircraft. "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" is an outstanding example of Jenkins and Landis at their best. Very much in the tradition of their earlier works "Valkyrie: North American's Mach 3 Superbomber" and "Hypersonic: The Story of the North American X-15," this latest book covers some of the most fascinating aircraft ever built. There are no "paper airplanes" here. All of them reached the hardware stage. <br><br>The decade just after the end of World War II saw a bumper crop of experimental and prototype aircraft, as the U.S. Air Force, faced with the nuclear challenge of the Soviet Union in the Cold War, tried to tame the relatively new jet engine technology for its fighters and bombers. This was the time when the famous "Century Series" fighters--the North American F-100, McDonnell F-101, Convair F-102, Lockheed F-104, Republic F-105 and Convair F-106--first flew, and when other even-more-advanced concepts, such as the Republic XF-103 and North American XF-108, were on the drawing boards. <br><br>The first eight chapters of "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" (about 75 per cent of the book) cover this period, separated into logical, bite-sized chunks such as "The First Jets," "All-Weather Fighters," "Point-Defense Interceptors" and "Penetration Fighters." Chapters 9 through 12 look at later aircraft, such as the Lockheed YF-12, General Dynamics F-111 and F-16, Lockheed F-117 and the Boeing and Lockheed Martin prototypes that led to today's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). <br><br>Exquisitely printed on thick, glossy paper, "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" is filled with crisp, sharp, well-captioned photographs and drawings (some of them in stunning full-color) that perfectly complement the authoritative, comprehensive, informative text. The balance of illustrations and text is perfect. Jenkins and Landis did a superb job of digging up rare photographs from government and private archives, and of unearthing hidden details about the aircraft of this period. Their efforts make this volume an exceptional addition to any aviation enthusiast's bookshelf. As an added bonus, you'll find an appendix with historical summaries of the companies that built these aircraft. Most of them eventually succumbed to the frenzy of takeovers and mergers that created the three mega-firms that today dominate America's aerospace industry (Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman). But true aviation "buffs" will never forget storied names, now vanished, such as Bell, Chance Vought, Seversky and Vultee. Here you'll find out what happened to them. Most highly recommended. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Another Winner from Specialty Press, May 16, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Fleener</i><br/><br/>This is another outstanding aviation book from Specialty Press and is a fitting companion to their U.S. NAVAL SUPERIORITY: DEVELOPMENT OF SHIPBORNE JET FIGHTERS - 1943-1962. The quality of the writing is excellent and authoritative, and the protographs are of high quality and illustrate the subject matter very well. More color would have been welcomed; however, the quality of the black and white photos in the book is probably far superior to most surviving color photos from the 1940s and early 1950s. <br><br>Coverage of the topic is comprehensive and begins with some of the last propeller-driven designs that were developed in an attempt to squeeze out the last bit of performance prior to the transition to jets. It finishes with the JSF prototypes, which brings the book right up to the present. <br><br>I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in military aircraft development. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>5 Stars for Jenkins and Landis, May 13, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Michael L. Shakespeare</i><br/><br/>In 2001, Lockheed Martin struck the mother lode of aircraft design contracts -- the Joint Strike Fighter. The winning design team amalgamated the F-35 fighter in three high-grade versions that will please the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps for a long time to come. <br><br>Back in the cold war days, enterprising aircraft designers like Jack Northrup scrambled against other greats like Bud Flesh and Alexander Kartveli to develop a wide range of jet fighter types. The Air Force's shopping list included all-weather fighters, point-defense fighters, penetration fighters, interceptors and long-range interceptors -- lots of development work for all the manufacturers. <br><br>Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis, also authors of X-15 Photo Scrapbook, cover these gold rush days and have delivered just what Air Force junkies have always wanted: the bonanza of jet fighter development books. <br><br>They have done a superior job of explaining the ancestral charts of successful and dead-end jet fighters in great detail with a clear, concise, readable style. <br><br>"Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" is a high quality, glossy, format book with a "jackpot" of intriguing photographs (many in color), instructive drawings and illustrations in 12 chapters. <br><br>Many of the wonderful interior photographs, diagrams and engineering drawing were taken from U.S. Air Force documents. The graphics alone make this one of the finest aircraft books, I have ever seen. <br><br>Readers will enjoy the extensive coverage of the famous Century Series from the cold war days, as well as jet fighters participating in the Gulf Wars. <br><br>Of great interest, the authors have featured the development of the hot new stealth fighters such as the Lockheed Martin YF-22, and Lockheed X-35 as well as their rivals: Northrop YF-23 and Boeing X-32. <br><br>Surprisingly, the flashy Lockheed XF-90 penetration fighter from Kelly Johnson's famed Skunk works assayed out as only pyrite. Jenkins and Landis explain, "the airplane looked every inch the modern, high-performance fighter, but produced disappointing results." A thorough reorganization at Lockheed lead to a steady flow of high-grade designs to the present day. <br><br>During the cold war, fighter technology had not progressed enough to deliver a good all-purpose fighter. Using the 'shotgun' approach, manufacturers were simultaneously tasked with developing specific jets to fill the all-weather, point-defense, penetration fighter, and long-range interceptor missions. <br><br>Readers will rediscover fool's gold in the comprehensive chapters of long forgotten early jets like the Lockheed XP-80, Bell XP-83, Republic XP-84 Thunder series, and Curtis XP-87 Blackhawk -- complete with excellent photographs. <br><br>This book is a must buy for jet fighter fans. "Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters" continues the publishing excellence of previous works from Specialty Press. <br><br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>pure enjoyment, July 27, 2008</strong><br/><i>By David M. Peoples</i><br/><br/>I have always enjoyed reading and watching film and videos of the history of flight,especially the early days of supersonic flight. This book is a terrific historical tome on the evolution of the US AIR FORCE fighter force during the years since the days of the P-80 and the early supersonic testbeds that have lead to legends such as the F-86,F-100, F-4 Phantom and the other fine jet fighters of the second half of the 20th century. <br><br>I recommend this read to anyone who loves aviation and is interested in its history <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Ditto, December 29, 2008</strong><br/><i>By L. Shuler</i><br/><br/>Well, I'll echo what the others have said. I've resigned myself to buy everything these guys have put out. I already had Magnesium Overcast: The Story of the Convair B-36(Specialty Press) that I bought from a vender at a local show. I got the cheaper book on the XB-70, but now I'm somewhat compelled to get this one: Valkyrie: North American's Mach 3 Superbomber (Specialty Press). I've waited for years and tried many other books, but these are the first comprehensive works I've seen that satisfy my curiosity. Keep it up, you two. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Outstanding!, July 13, 2010</strong><br/><i>By TheeeHC</i><br/><br/>Any aviation book produced by the Jenkins & Landis team is worthy of consideration, and their latest effort easily clears the high bar that they have set with their previous works. The depth of research is outstanding, the stories intriguing, and the photos marvelous in both number and quality. As an aviation artist, I find this book to be an invaluable mainstay of my research efforts. As an aviation buff, I find that this book is really fun to graze simply for fun. This is a truly remarkable work and an important addition to any aviation library. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>This book pushers the outside of the envelope!, August 27, 2008</strong><br/><i>By G. Loseby</i><br/><br/>Any aviation enthusiast will enjoy this book as it documenters the early years of Edwards Air force base testing jet aircraft beyond mach one to the super fast X15 to the present day fly off of the joint strike fighter project. <br><br>Full of high quality photographs and brief history of each aircraft from prototype to production models and some that only made the mock-up stage. <br><br>Highly recommended. <br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1580071112?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-67046960920232650082011-01-07T12:51:00.001-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.173-08:00P-47 Pilots: The Fighter-bomber Boys<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076030548X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:93.726315789474px; height:140px; padding:0 24px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410T7B3VEFL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076030548X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:187.45263157895px; height:280px; padding:0 47px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410T7B3VEFL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076030548X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Zenith Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=076030548X' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'><DIV>P-47 Pilots Glenn Subtitled: The Fighter-Bomber Boys. Join the Fighter-Bomber Boys as they terrorize the crack German ground troops and battle-wise panzer divisions. Live with a squadron of these glory hungry air warriors who dive into battle at 5mph with their bombs, and fight at treetop level with their machine guns. Glenn vividly conveys what it was like to fly the magnificent Thunderbolt into combat, and tells how WWIIs maniacal P-47 pilots lived life in the fast lane, on and off duty. </DIV><br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Two Jobs Well Done, July 23, 2000</strong><br/><i>By robert budnik</i><br/><br/>We owe Mr. Glenn a double debt of gratitude. He put his life on the line as a P-47 pilot in WWII and now he has put his experience in writing which has to be a courageous act in itself. I have read many accounts of aerial warfare. Mr. Glenn's Fighter Bomber Boys is by far the most exciting and captivating. This book is destined to become a military history classic. Finally a book to fill in a critical missing gap in the history of airwar, that of the P-47 pilot's down and dirty and tragic story of the strafing and bombing of the enemy. Mr. Glenn has a thoroughly unpretentious and enjoyable style of prose. His chapters are short, to the point, and graphic. You simultaneously feel that you are looking over his shoulder as he progresses through the war and you feel as if you are sitting across from him in his living room as he recounts his experiences. The book is a sheer joy to read. Mr. Glenn pulls no punches. Be prepared for the real nitty-gritty of the fighter pilot's struggle for survival. I am the son of a 9th Air Force P-47 Fighter Bomber pilot. My Dad could only tell me very little before emotionally choking up. Thank you Mr. Glenn for having the courage to put your experience in writing. You have helped me to further understand and appreciate my father. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>P47 Pilots The Fighter Bomber Boys, August 2, 2000</strong><br/><i>By Susan A. England</i><br/><br/>Tom Glenn tells an exceptional story exceptionally well. Glenn brings you into his cockpit and his muddy tent. There you can inhale the horrifying, glorifying experiences of these air warriors. In their Thunderbolts, the fighter bomber pilots soar beyond incredible and dive to the brink of impossible. The book is insightful, riveting and an eye-opener. If you only have room for one book in your current time/money budget--pick this one. Sadly, the missions, the contributions, the victories (& the staggering casualty rate) of the fighter bomber pilot is barely mentioned or omitted entirely from most WWII chronicles. My thanks to Tom Glenn for not letting this bit of history disappear and to he and his fellow pilots who risked all for us. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Window on their World, March 16, 2000</strong><br/><i>By Joseph Ormond</i><br/><br/>I read this book and loved that Tom Glenn pulled no punch in telling the story of himself and other pilots who did one of the most dangerous pilot jobs in WWII - Air Ground attack. Both my father and uncle were fighter pilots who did not survive the WWII. Tom's book gave me a window into their world which I would not other wise found. There is some much written about air to air combat but so little about this critical part of WWII History. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Roy Downing's> >Fighter - Bomber Boys Review, May 5, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Charles L. Roy Downing</i><br/><br/>This has got to be the best publication on P-47 air to ground work. The author details information such that you feel that you are right in the middle of the action. A very well put together piece of work. well worth the expense of purchasing and reading, for those interested in this type of action and history of the WW II Air War. I did. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Outstanding book, August 20, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Ken</i><br/><br/>Ihave the good fortune to know someone who flew with Mr. Glen, who wrote this book. I have read the book over and over. It makes you feel as though you are right there in the cockpit with them, which is something I have dreamed about doing since I was a child. These men truly were a breed apart. This book is time well invested for the Thunderbolt enthusiast. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>One of the Best WWII Memoirs, November 28, 2009</strong><br/><i>By D. Keel "dkeel1"</i><br/><br/>I have read several WWII pilot memoirs. IMO, Tom Glenn's account of his days as a fighter-bomber pilot in a P-47 in the last year of the war is one of the best-on a par with Charles Lamb's classic account of his Fairey Swordfish career "To War in a Stringbag". The P-47 did double duty in WWII-as a fighter plane in air-to-air combat and as a primarily air-to-ground aircraft. Glenn flew his in the air-to-ground role, hence the title "Fighter-Bomber Boys". <br><br>Glenn provides great insight to the "citizen soldier" concept of America in WWII. Death and carnage would shock most people in everyday life, but Glenn shows how the fighter-bomber boys had to rise above such squeamishness and sensibilities and become numb to such horrors in order to continue doing a dangerous and important job. A telling story is when Glenn describes accidentally running into a pedestrian who had walked in front of his car after he returned home from the war. Glenn felt bad for the old guy, but was ready to move on from the accident almost immediately. He had lost the ability to stand around and grieve and angst over such an event, because that was what was required of a pilot in WWII. One could not get lost in loss and grief when it was a day-to-day occurrence as it was for the fighter-bomber boys. He really shows the difficulty of returning to normalcy after daily exposure to death and destruction. <br><br>Glenn describes the strategy behind the use of the P-47 as a ground attack weapon. Patton felt that the fighter-bomber boys could serve as a protective flank for his ground troops as they moved across France and Germany. Strafing and troop support were their primary occupations in the final campaigns. He vividly describes the shock when the Battle of the Bulge showed that the Germans were not yet totally defeated, and the allies still had a life-and-death battle ahead of them before the war in Europe was truly won. <br><br>Another interesting episode is his squadron's encounter with a Hollywood entertainment group headed by Bing Crosby. Glenn got to spend some time with Fred Astaire (who got stranded with the tour). Astaire was visibly awed and moved to be in the presence of men who were fighting and dying for the freedom; quite a contrast to some of the Hollywood types today. <br><br>I have read this book a couple of times, and will re-read it many more times. I was fortunate to order a copy direct from the publisher in which Glenn autographed a copy for me. The gratitude we owe to men such as Glenn is immeasurable, and one gets a sense of this when reading this well-written and entertaining book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>You will enjoy this book a lot..., March 14, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Honest John</i><br/><br/>I completely agree with all the previous reviews about how written this book is and how the chapters convey personal war experiences and viewpoints which others have not described. I've read many personal memoirs of WWII, and this is one of the best. And if you've ever wondered what fighter pilots do when they need to "answer nature's call", then you will learn things like that as well as more substantive experiences in WWII. Truly a classic war memoir and a good read. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/076030548X?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-69925910370682998152011-01-07T12:50:00.039-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.178-08:00Dutch Naval Air Force Against Japan: The Defense Of The Netherlands East Indies, 1941-1942<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078642365X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:98px; height:140px; padding:0 21px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517QiDtCpXL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078642365X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:196px; height:280px; padding:0 42px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517QiDtCpXL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078642365X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Mcfarland & Company</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=078642365X' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>December 7, 1941, opened up a new theater of war in the Pacific and a new threat for what was then the Netherlands East Indies. The Dutch, with their Naval Air Force or Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD), made a significantâ"and often overlookedâ"contribution to the Allied effort. With their 175 aircraft, the MLD in Southeast Asia outnumbered American and British naval air reconnaissance forces combined. Three months of intense fighting left the Dutch bereft of thousands of naval personnel and over 80 percent of their aircraft. This work details the actions of MLD during the Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies. Beginning with a look at the origins of the MLD, it provides an overview of the force, including an analysis of its aircraft, equipment, personnel and training. Operations of the United States Navy and Royal Air Force seaplane units are included in order to provide a thorough history of the campaign. Final chapters cover the MLDâs ill-fated attempts at evacuation of the island battleground and offer an overall review of the MLDâs performance. Appendices contain such information as Allied and Japanese aircraft specifications, squadron tables of organization, and MLD bases and operational areas. The result is by far the most comprehensive English-language account of the Allied naval air war in the Netherlands East Indies.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>I Am The Author Of This Book, February 16, 2006</strong><br/><i>By T. Womack</i><br/><br/>As the author of this text, I am perhaps being somewhat biased when I say that this book easily represents the most complete description of the naval air war in the Netherlands East Indies compiled to date in any language. The result of 11 years of research, it details the role of the Dutch Naval Air Force (MLD) and its doomed from the start effort to stem the Japanese invasion of the former Netherlands East Indies between December 1941 - March 1942. While there have been a number of English language sources highlighting the role of American and British naval air operations few, if any, have detailed the actions of their Dutch allies in any measurable detail. It is for this reason that I undertook this project. <br><br>At the same time, the invasion of the Netherlands East Indies represented a fundamental reason for the pre-emptive Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Yet, this key fact eludes many casual readers and amateur historians of the Second World War alike. In addition to providing a brief overview of the who, what, when, where, why and how of Japan's prewar strategy, I have also sought to provide a detailed review of the savage, yet hopeless, air campaign fought by the Dutch in order to preserve a colonial empire that had stood for 300 years. It was a magnificent fight by the airmen of a valiant and loyal Allied nation whose story deserves to be told. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Too Little Too Late, March 8, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Gary Warne "Gary Warne"</i><br/><br/>This is an area of warfare I am very interested in. Unfortunately, books like this only come along once every 10 to 20 years. This fills a gap in our knowledge of events leading up to and through the Pacific War against Japan. <br> The MLD, or Dutch Naval Air Force of the Netherlands East Indies, probably had the best organized reconnaissance force in the southwest Pacific area at the time. Maintaining neutrality in wars spreading around the globe was difficult, but the Netherlands East Indies were doing all they could not to become involved, and to be a haven for those trying to escape the European, African and Chinese theatre wars. The Japanese had different plans. <br> Once the fighting started though, the MLD was right in the thick of it, fighting hard right alongside their British, Australian and American allies against a Japanese war machine far superior to anything the allies could cobble together. Flying older German designed Do-24s, American PBYs, and Fokker seaplanes, the MLD kept up what pressure they could as the Japanese invasion forces swept through the East Indies, southeast Asia and into the Indian Ocean in the late fall of 1941, and the winter and spring of 1942. Most of the MLD crews paid with their lives to keep the allies abreast of where the Japanese forces were located and what they were doing. Some of the "invincibility" that became associated with the superb Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter, and in general the Japanese naval forces, was established and enhanced during this campaign. <br> When the smoke cleared, the Japanese were in control of the Netherlands East Indies, and the remaining MLD crews and ground personnel, if not captured, were evacuated to Australia or Ceylon. It was a story of too little, too late. The Dutch had tried to get more aircraft, AA guns and ordinance prior to the Japanese invasion, but a lack of interest on the part of her future allies, and a greater concern for the European conflict, even by the Dutch government-in-exile, left the MLD with only a handful of aircraft and hardware with which to face battle-hardened Japanese forces. <br> The book has many excellent and previously unpublished photographs of personnel, aircraft, and bases of the MLD. If your interests are for stories of some of the little known campaigns and more exotic places that became embroiled in the global conflagration known as World War Two, you will enjoy this book. Tom Womack is to be commended for researching, compiling and fleshing out this story, <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An Unknown War gets some light shined upon it, April 4, 2007</strong><br/><i>By N. Trachta</i><br/><br/>Over the past few years I've been expanding my knowledge of WWII by focusing on the early portion of the war, more specifically, the war in the South Pacific. For awhile, Amazon has been recommended this book to me because of my rating of other related books. Anyway, I decided to give this book a try. <br><br>I'll open by saying this book only deals with the Dutch Naval Air Force (referred to as the MLD [Marine Luchtvaart Dienst]), the aircraft they flew, and the missions they performed in defense of the Netherlands East Indies. Passing references are made to US, British, Australian, and the Dutch Army Air Force (ML-KNIL). These passing references are usually related to the different patrol aircraft used by these forces, occasionally to the fighters or bombers. <br><br>Mr. Womack opens by describing the aircraft used by the MLD and the MLD's state of condition, prior to the start of WWII for the Dutch and once the Netherlands had been overrun by the Germans. While Mr. Womack describes all of the aircraft used by the Dutch, particular attention should be paid to his descriptions of the Dornier Do24's (called X boats by the MLD) and the PBY Catalina (Y boats). At times the other aircraft of the MLD are mentioned, but usually it's the X and Y boats going to war with the Japanese. <br><br>Having established pre-war conditions and how the Dutch attempted to improve their position, Mr. Womack brings us to December 1941 and the initial actions between the Japanese and Dutch. This is followed (rather rapidly) by the steady advancements the Japanese made in the South West Pacific and ending with the fall of Java. The book concludes by describing how the MLD evacuated from the East Indies and their general participation in the rest of WWII. <br><br>This book is a very solid 4.5 star book. The writing is clean, Mr. Womack describes things as a historian, not one translating oral history. There are some great photo's in the book showing the Dutch aircraft and other equipment. The maps are nice, but a little on the weak side, they show where the Japanese are able to threaten at any one time but I found it a little difficult finding where the different bases were that the aircraft were operating from. The appendices are nicely put together, providing very good information on the aircraft (there's a breakdown of what happened to every X and Y boat), squadrons, and losses. The charts should have been done considering a black and white printing (because of the grey scaling used, you can tell that the originals were in color). Also I wish Mr. Womack would have given us a little more of his analysis than he did. However, since Amazon doesn't grade on half stars, I need to decide on 4 or 5. Since this is obscure material and Mr. Womack has put together a very informative book on something most people aren't aware of, and he used excellent references (without regurgating what the original author said), I'll give him the nod to 5 stars. A very good job sir! <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Great book on MLD, April 25, 2006</strong><br/><i>By F. van de Peppel</i><br/><br/>Tom Womack has written an very thorough book on Dutch naval aviation in the East. As a Dutchman it's interesting to read about the history of the MLD from an outside perspective. Well, researched, nice new pictures. Well worth reading! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A great read, February 5, 2010</strong><br/><i>By David M. Knights "David Knights"</i><br/><br/>I was able to read this book over the last week. I've always had a special interest for the period of history in the Pacific that is covered by the first few months of WWII. A friend recently allowed me to borrow this book, which he read and highly recommended. <br><br>As usual, he was right. This is an excellent book and a quick read. It covers the subject well. I particularly liked the fact that even though it was a big picture history of the events of the time, it had lots of personal stories and detail. The appendix alone makes it a must have for any modeler considering building any of the MLD (Dutch Naval Air Service) aircraft of the period. Highly recommended. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Dutch Naval Air Force, December 11, 2010</strong><br/><i>By mr katcup "red"</i><br/><br/>This is the first book I've seen covering this aspect of the begining of WW 2 in the Pacific. The author has done a fine job but leaves a few questions. Namely how this ties into the overall picture of the lose of the Dutch West Indies in regard the land campaign. I assume that the Dutch Army had an air arm-how did this effect the Navy for instance. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Enormous Info on Obscure Battle, May 17, 2006</strong><br/><i>By Mark Tate</i><br/><br/>Mr. Womack is to be commended for his attention to a particular element of World War II. Rather than trying to encompass the entire war into a single book he spends time examining a pivitol yet widely unknown saga of WWII. Historians and war buffs will want to read this book. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/078642365X?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-16668271324287795732011-01-07T12:50:00.037-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.183-08:00Flying Through Time: A Journey Into History In A Wwii Biplane<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574884476?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:94.021052631579px; height:140px; padding:0 23px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PJWW2Q8EL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574884476?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:188.04210526316px; height:280px; padding:0 46px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PJWW2Q8EL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574884476?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1574884476' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Relive history on an 8,000-mile journey to historic airfields in a classic aircraft <P>Meet the men who fought World War II above the clouds <P>An aviation travel book similar to best-sellers Biplane (Bach) and The Cannibal Queen (Coonts) but the first to weave in the stories of the pilots who flew these planes decades ago. <P>Imagine what it would be like to talk and fly with the men who flew the airplanes of World War II. What was in their minds as they made their first solos? And what was air combat like? Flying through Time is the closest many of us will come to understanding what it was like to be a WWII aviator. <P>Tens of thousands of Americaâs pilots during World War II trained in the Boeing Stearman biplane. For most, it was their first airplane in a series of larger, faster, and more dangerous aircraft that they used to fight the war. The pilots would never forget their first flights in a Stearman and the adventures that followed. Jim Doyle, owner of a restored 1941 Stearman, retraced the wartime journeys of his plane, crossing the country twice, flying over California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas, and touching down at each of the eight bases at which it served. <P>Flying Through Time is the story of Doyleâs challenging flight, of the uncertainties of piloting a sixty-year-old biplane almost 8,000 miles. His experiences meeting, talking, and flying with the men who flew the legendary Stearman paint a vivid picture of the intense, emotion-filled days of World War II. The pilotsâ recollections, refreshed for many when they took the controls of Doyleâs plane, are woven throughout the narrative of his trip. These anecdotes, and new information from an archive discovered during the flight, tell of fears, courage, humor, and the sheer adventure of the events that owned the veteransâ youth. This is seat-of-the-pants flying at its most thrilling, recalling a time when ordinary young Americans were called upon to be heroes.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Retracing 8,000 miles of journeys in a restored biplane, August 6, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Midwest Book Review</i><br/><br/>Flying Through Time: A Journey Into History In A World War II Biplane by aviation expert James M. Doyle is an aviation history book that examines the legendary Boeing Stearman biplane, featuring the author's personal experience in retracing 8,000 miles of journeys in a restored biplane. Conversations with World War II survivors who piloted a Stearman; the exciting impression of flying through time, space, and history; the expansive description of both the wonder of flight; as well as the more mundane problems of mechanical upkeep on an aged plane distinguish Flying Through Time as a very highly recommended read for Aviation History reference collections and biplane enthusiasts. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Good Reading for Everyone, June 3, 2003</strong><br/><i>By J. L. Matthews</i><br/><br/>Not being a history reader and not partial to aviation, I was reluctant to read this recommended book. However, I was pleasantly surprised and after just a few chapters, I was completely drawn into Flying Through Time. These stories, from both past and present pilots, are captivating and often times humerous and makes one truly appreciate the significant impact these pilots had on our future. This book is good reading for anyone! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A trip that few will duplicate!, July 17, 2003</strong><br/><i>By milton sue</i><br/><br/>This is one of those books that would make a great PBS documentary! I can just see Mr. Doyle doing the local station PBS tour and maybe bringing some of the WWII pilots from his book along to talk about their exploits. I am enjoying this book like the author flys his Stearman, slow and leisurely. And enjoying the sidetrips to places I'll (unfortunately) probably never be able to go. The book is half an engaging walk through WWII air combat and half modern-day adventure. Buy and read this book-it's funny, enlightening and you'll know more about a Stearman than you ever thought you would! Happy flying! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A great book that is hard to put down, June 15, 2003</strong><br/><i>By T. Law "teddylaw"</i><br/><br/>Even though I know little about airplanes and flying, this book held my attention and kept me turning the pages. The old soldiers' stories are funny and touching and exciting. The author has caught just the right tone in relating them, frequently displaying a dry sense of humor. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Flying through Time: History in a WWII BiPlane, September 25, 2010</strong><br/><i>By Dr Willis</i><br/><br/>Book was effectively new and came faster than anticipated. <br>Will SEARCH for this vendor when buying other books. <br>Dr Willis <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Flying Through Time: A Journey into History in a WWII Biplane, September 13, 2010</strong><br/><i>By Don "Woody" Wood</i><br/><br/>I have always had an interest in WWII aircraft but knew little about the pilots that flew them. This book has a wonderful way of transitioning between the author's own experience in flying the Stearman Biplane that most of the WWII pilots trained in, their experiences with it and many of their battle stories. A very easy reading book good for most age groups. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An excellent read, December 9, 2005</strong><br/><i>By ragwing</i><br/><br/>Ho hum, another 'flying across America' book ... it's been done before (e.g., "Zero Three Bravo", "Flight of Passage", "Flight of the Gin Fizz", "The Cannibal Queen", "Biplane", etc. etc.); do we really need another? Suffice it to say that "Flying Through Time" is superbly written. The author's personal experiences are carefully interwoven with 'flashback' narratives from former WWII pilots, a literary technique that works surprisingly well. Highly recommended! <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1574884476?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-10215850333485184772011-01-07T12:50:00.035-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.189-08:00Flying Legends: A Photographic Study Of The Great Piston Combat Aircraft Of Wwii<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0952958805?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:140px; height:97.852631578947px; padding:22px 0;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DEE6HZPML.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0952958805?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:280px; height:195.70526315789px; padding:43px 0;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DEE6HZPML.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0952958805?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Airlife Publishing Ltd</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0952958805' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Magnificent Photographs of WWII Aircraft...., April 18, 2004</strong><br/><i>By K. A. Stevenson "WIAPilot"</i><br/><br/>"Flying Legends - A photographic study of the great piston combat aircraft of WWII," is an exceptional book of photographs by John M. Dibbs. The book is written by Tony Holmes, who does a wonderful job - but the real focus is almost 250 pages of WWII aircraft that have been BRILLIANTLY photographed. It has more photographs than most books, for which I have paid TWICE this price. As vice president of an aviation company that restores military aircraft, I tend to collect a lot of aviation books, which feature restored aircraft. This is one of the best. It is unfortunate that a photo of the book is not featured at Amazon because this book is worth the money and worth the wait. The book is divided into 20 chapters. Some of which include: P-40, Spitfire, F4F Wildcat; P-51 Mustang; B-17, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat; Mitsubishi A6M Zero; P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning. Each chapter is remarkable. The P-40/ Kittyhawk Mk I are my favorite planes and these are some of the BEST photographs that I have seen of these planes. (And I've seen a lot.) This book is worthy of being, "coffee table" material because there are so many pictures, but it is also a book that will delight the most obsessed aviation fan as well. It would be an excellent gift for a pilot or aviation enthusiast. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Absolutely stunning!, January 25, 2000</strong><br/><i>By T. E. Vaughn</i><br/><br/>Having long admired the photography of John Dibbs in the Flying Legends calendars, I was very pleased to find this collection of his work. This book is absolutely stunning. The photography is both beautiful and evocative. In war, the aircraft rarely maintained the pristine look captured in these photos, but that is the way, I'm sure, that the aviators remember them. Most of these photos are of refurbished warbirds being flown by enthusiasts or collectors. I have always liked it that the flyers in the cockpits of the Dibbs photos are always wearing the right gear... no postwar hardhats with visors here, this is leather helmets and goggles! It is a wonderful thing indeed that the beauty of these machines is so lovingly captured. I browse the book frequently and am always a bit sad to close the covers. This book is a wonderful tribute to men (and some women ferry pilots) who flew these aircraft in the defence of freedom. Truly a wonderful buy. I sincerely hope a second volume is in the works. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Warbird Legends/Flying Legends...beautiful photography..., February 23, 2005</strong><br/><i>By matthew hill</i><br/><br/>...this book has glorious mainly color photographs and interesting text too...watch out though, if you order both this and "Warbird Legends", you will have the same book twice! not that it is such a bad thing! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Stunning..., October 31, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Photogs-Wings</i><br/><br/>As a rabid hobbiyst avaition photog myself I am always interested in seeing what everyone else is doing. And this book makes my best efforts look amatuerish. His sense of composition and editing is nothing short of amazing, his ability to capture the spirit of the aircraft is stunning. Something that I thought was interesting is that most of these images where shot on film originaly.. If you are looking to see what realy skilled aviation photog can do with his camera. This is the book to buy! <br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A must have for warbird enthusiasts, August 12, 2006</strong><br/><i>By W. Amend</i><br/><br/>Beautiful contemporary photographs balanced by just the right amount of historical photos and insightful quotes from the men who flew and fought in them. The best photographic study I have seen. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Thank you Mr, Dibbs, February 18, 2006</strong><br/><i>By mantas "Bernardo"</i><br/><br/>All shots were superb, specially the dual aircraft, great dynamics, brillant colors, contrast and claraty. Can't ask for better! <br><br>Bernardo <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Lots of Great Color Photos of World War II Aircraft, November 26, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Jeffrey T. Munson</i><br/><br/>This great book is loaded with brilliant and breathtaking photographs of some of the most famous Allied and Axis aircraft of World War II. There are twenty chapters in the book, each being devoted to a different aircraft. From heavy bombers such as the B-17 Flying Fortress to nimble fighters such as the P-51 Mustang, photographer John M. Dibbs brings each one of these warbirds back to life. Accompanying each series of photographs is an informative textual background describing each aircraft and some of the great missions for which it was used. <br><br>I found this book in a bargain bin, and what a terrific find it has turned out to be. The photos are simply dazzling, while the text does an excellent job of describing each aircraft in expert detail. My six-year-old son loves to flip through the pages of the book with me, and he's very eager to know about each of the aircraft in the book. <br><br>I give this book my highest recommendation. This fine book brings the images of some of the most popular Allied and Axis aircraft to life, and the text is very informative. Open up this book and watch as some "old ghosts" leap off the pages. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0952958805?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-91059040747821614152011-01-07T12:50:00.033-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.195-08:00Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens: Uniforms, Wings & Insignia Of Usaaf Airmen In Wwii (schiffer Military History)<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887405789?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:105.56px; height:140px; padding:0 18px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41H3ypKmrBL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887405789?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:211.12px; height:280px; padding:0 35px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41H3ypKmrBL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887405789?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>ISBN13: 9780887405785</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Condition: USED - Very Good</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0887405789' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>This new look at the uniforms and insignia of the USAAF during the World War II years covers a broad range of clothing, collar insignia, rank insignia, shoulder/sleeve insignia and squadron patches. Additionally, there is an in-depth examination of wing qualification badges.Actual items are presented in nearly 600 illustrations in full color, and also as they appeared in actual war-era photos. Actual uniform regulations and illustrations from the 1943 and 1944 Officers Guides are also provided.Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens will be a useful addition to the libraries of collectors, historians, modelers and veterns alike. Jon Maguire is also the author of American Flight Jackets, Airmen & Aircraft: A History of U.S. Flyers' Jackets from World War I to Desert Storm(with John Conway). Jon lives in Oklahoma City, Ok.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>this book has many appealing aspects, February 25, 2000</strong><br/><i>By Jesse I. Carnes</i><br/><br/>I am 2LT Jesse Irwin Carnes [USAF-CAP, 16010th Composite Squadron]. I REALLY recommend this book by Jon Maguire, i.e., "Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens." Anyone who is SERIOUS about collecting WWII militaria, especially uniforms, pilot's wings, etc., then THIS book is SINE QUA NON ... it is indispensable. So, how is it SO indispensable? It helps you know WHAT to look for when you collect militaria from this genre. It helps you to develop an "eye" for what is correct in authentic items. Secondly, Jon Maguire's descriptions enable you to KNOW what WIEGHT or colour or texture a GENUINE article should be. Any suggestions for a "Revised" edition by Maguire? He might want to add a 1-2 page writeup on the "Best-of-the-best" militaria items, such as A-2 flight jackets by "RoughWear" [no longer in business] or uniforms [and especially officer's visor service caps] by the inimitable "Luxenberg" [also no longer in business] and so forth. Secondly, sometimes his foto light was a shade deviant, so that the reddish-russet officer's officer's shoes looked more tan-brown. How do I know? I own an "NOS" [new old stock] pair of UNissued officer's low quarters. They are a burnt-orange reddish-brown, like some of the early war visor service caps. I also own a full set of officer's PINKS, and under flourescent light, they look mauve/pink. His fotos looked more khaki. But this can be improved in time. Nonetheless, this book rates 5 stars for EFFORT and for its overall USEFULLness. BTW, if Jon Maguire reads this, can he write me for suggestions and queries? thanx ; *salute* 2LT Jesse Irwin Carnes <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>More Silver Wings, March 18, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Henry L. Johns</i><br/><br/>Wonderful reference on U.S. Military Air Corps Uniforms and Insignia. This is the first of three must have books! Very informative, great photos. A must have for any collector or historian. Very well worth the money. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens, February 23, 2006</strong><br/><i>By Glynn R. Furr, Jr.</i><br/><br/>Only book of its kind I could find. Referred to me by a true expert in WW2 Army Air Corp flight ware, patches and pins. I found it not only complete, factual and full of information but very personal at times; <br><br>Glynn Furr.. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Outstanding clarity on the photos, March 26, 2010</strong><br/><i>By Kasey Smith "@ Kays Place"</i><br/><br/>I got this for my husband who is a collector; the color & descriptions allow him to find and research whatever it is that he is trying to document. If you looking to add to your research library, don't overlook this book. It is well worth the money. Just a great book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Great Research book, February 11, 2010</strong><br/><i>By C. Shows "AF-dad"</i><br/><br/>I really liked this book. I am trying to put together my dad's old service dress uniform and it really helped me to see how things are arranged on it. The information is great, I have started to collect some other uniform Items from WWII, and it has made me more selective of what I am buying. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens: Uniforms, Wings & Insignia of Usaaf Airmen in World War II (Schiffer Military History), March 9, 2007</strong><br/><i>By C. T. Hartney "C.T. Hartney"</i><br/><br/>First and Last stop for WW II U.S. Army Air Force uniform information ! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A must for any collector, December 10, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Douglas Bryant "CV-63 wc670"</i><br/><br/>loaded with color photos, info on everything you would look for when you are shopping for your collection building. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0887405789?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-30878020171067055082011-01-07T12:50:00.031-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.200-08:00America's Hundred Thousand: U.s. Production Fighters Of World War Ii<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764300725?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:105.56px; height:140px; padding:0 18px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NSUyowbBL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764300725?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:211.12px; height:280px; padding:0 35px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NSUyowbBL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764300725?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0764300725' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>America's Hundred Thousand covers in detail the eleven U.S. fighter aircraft types produced just before and during World War II - with a combined production total of just over 100,000 aircraft. Covered are the Army Lockheed P-38 Lightning, P-39 Airacobra,<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An indispensable book for WWII aviation enthusiasts., June 2, 1998</strong><br/><i>By Eric Bergerud</i><br/><br/>I have been writing about and studying modern military history for fifteen years and it is very rare to discover a book that genuinely deserves the term "definitive." Francis Dean's _America's Hundred Thousand_ is one of them. Table top books or pictorial essays about various WWII fighters are common. Dean's work, however, is a long (nearly 600 pages and large format) and detailed study of the ten most important US fighter aircraft of the war. It includes solid data on every major subsystem as well as overall aircraft performance. Crammed with graphs and charts, Dean analyzes the crucial but often neglected fine points that made the difference between life and death in air combat. Lastly, he does a long and extremely interesting comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the various planes. Throughout the work are comments from WWII pilots who knew the craft first hand. Dean, a former Boeing engineer and well known aviation writer, spent six years researching this work and it shows. This book belongs on the bookshelf of every serious student of the air operations so crucial to the Second World War. Highest possible recommendation. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Dean's remarkable effort is a technical tour de force!, March 4, 2000</strong><br/><i>By "historywriter"</i><br/><br/>There are a few books that the World War Two aviation enthusiast absolutely must have in their collection. America's One Hundred Thousand is certainly one of those books. Any compilation of WWII works would be the lesser for not including this monumental volume. Having offered up this rather strong statement, I can assure the reader that Dean's book measures up to this standard of approbation. To this writer's knowledge, no other book produced comes close to America's 100k in depth nor in scope. Dean presents the major American fighter types with the goal of defining every aspect of the aircraft's history, design, construction and performance. In his quest, the author has been successful in the extreme. Mr. Dean covers the following types: The Air Corps' P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, P-61 and P-63. For the Navy and Marine Corps, Dean presents the F2A, F4F, F4U and the F6F. From the title page on, America's 100k displays the finest period photography available. Much of these wonderful images come from Mr. Dean's extensive personal collection. In addition, Dean has enlisted Pete Bowers and his huge library of photos and negatives. If the book was no more than a photographic history, it would worth every penny. However, there is much more here than the outstanding photography. There are hundreds of charts, stats and manufacturer's drawings. Each system and sub-system of the eleven featured fighters are described in great detail. As are the individual flying qualities, design and construction of each type. Yet, Dean does not stop here. His accompanying text is rich with details and a wealth of data. Virtually every one of the 606 pages is jammed with the kind of information that most aviation enthusiasts tend to drool over. In terms of design and layout, the book is impeccable. America's 100k is structured in a manner that allows for easy reading and research. Paper quality is first rate and typical of Schiffer's recent top-notch efforts. The binding is excellent and the dust jacket is remarkably attractive as one can see above. Indeed, this may very well be the best investment you will ever make in an aviation book. Corey C. Jordan, Editor The Planes and Pilots of WWII Internet Magazine <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Absolutely Wonderful!, January 7, 1999</strong><br/><i>By Mark K. Mcdonough "Mark McDonough"</i><br/><br/>I would have to agree with the good Prof. above (whose books are also excellent, btw). This one is truly a definitive work. Among other wonders, the author explains "compressability" in a few short sentences in a way that is instantly comprehensible -- that's a subject I've seen butchered in dozens of books. I guess being a retired avation engineer helps. This book isn't just large and comprehensive -- it's really good. It's well-written, well-organized, and just thoughtful on every level. Granted, you have to be sort of a maniac to buy a 600-page $60 book on WW II fighters. But if you're that kind of maniac, buy it now! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>excellent and comprehensive, May 11, 2005</strong><br/><i>By D Alcazar</i><br/><br/>Make no mistake, this book isn't for military enthusiasts who want to know about the operational history of the planes mentioned and who shot down what with it, leave that to the hundreds of other books out there on the same subject. The purpose of this book is to give you a true in-depth and technical understanding of each of america's fighter aircraft. <br><br>This is a true technical resource book that is also fun to read and will educate you on the true handling characteristics of the aircraft contained in it. It constitutes more of a pilot-related information bible than anything else, this is the book to hit if you ever get lucky enough to be offered to fly a warbird, it also makes an excellent resource to those who want to create simulations or wargames. <br><br>In the end, military aviation buffs will find it extremely interesting, but this is truely a pilot's guidebook. <br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The best overall book on American Fighters of WW2., October 19, 2004</strong><br/><i>By Jon Tisor "GTORA2"</i><br/><br/>If you need info on how these planes worked, real detail, not the typical picture book fluff, in the average book, this is the book for you. <br><br>Nuts and bolts info you can really learn from. <br><br>A complete Day to Day timeline for each plane, pilots comments on everything from the cockpits to the ground handling and how good of a gun platform. <br><br>Info about all the systems and structures. <br><br>Simple the best, short of Warren Bodies Books on the P-38 and P-47. <br><br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Incredible amount of data., February 13, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Birgir Thorisson</i><br/><br/>I second Dan Fords review in its entirety, except that I do not think the book either too big or heavy. I would have liked even more, at least the P 35A, P 36 and P 43. It is an incredible compilation of data. It is obviously not Mr. Deans fault that some of it is wrong, (e.g. If the data was right, the P-39 would have had enough climbing capacity to perform well over Guadalcanal in 1942.) It is too much to ask to expect him to tell us everything. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>This book brings useful data for WWII aircraft's nuts., November 18, 1999</strong><br/><i>By Marcos Berenstein</i><br/><br/>Thank you Mr.Dean for this magnificent book.There's b&w pictures and the drawings are great ! I recommend this book for those who loves WWII american fighters such modelers or historians.I regard this book as a treasure in my WWII collection. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0764300725?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-68198300660794710322011-01-07T12:50:00.029-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.205-08:00Slacks And Calluses: Our Summer In A Bomber Factory<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156098368X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:102.48px; height:140px; padding:0 19px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QPz2Mi8XL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156098368X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:204.96px; height:280px; padding:0 38px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QPz2Mi8XL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156098368X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>ISBN13: 9781560983682</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Condition: New</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Smithsonian Books</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=156098368X' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'><B>The classic, firsthand account of two women who assembled B-24 bombers during WWII.</B> <P>In 1943 two spirited young teachers decided to do their part for the war effort by spending their summer vacation working the swing shift on a B-24 production line at a San Diego bomber plant. Entering a male-dominated realm of welding torches and bomb bays, they learned to use tools that they had never seen before, live with aluminum shavings in their hair, and get along with supervisors and coworkers from all walks of life. And they learned that wearing their factory slacks on the street caused men to treat them in a way for which their "dignified schoolteacher-hood" hadn't prepared them. At times charming, hilarious, and incredibly perceptive, Slacks and Calluses brings into focus an overlooked part of the war effort, one that forever changed the way the women were viewed in America. 30 b/w illustrations.<br/><i>"</i>You<i> build bombers!" they howled. "An </I>art<I> teacher and an </I>English<I> teacher!"</i><p> In 1943 America's defense industries were so desperate for workers that school teachers were asked to work in factories during summer vacation. <I>Slacks and Calluses</I> is the story of two women--the image of "dignified schoolteacher-hood"--who went to work for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft, building bombers on the swing shift. Constance and Clara Marie traded their linen suits and "swooping" hats for blue cotton factory slacks and sturdy shoes, filled out dozens of government forms, packed up their few tools in what they hoped would pass for tool boxes--"small lunch boxes, the unpleasant color of unripe green olives"--and presented themselves for work. Over the next two months, they learned to use a wide range of tools, climbing in and out of B-24 Liberator bombers performing final installations--electrical wiring, seatbelt brackets, life rafts, bomb bay doors, the works. They also learned to deal with aching muscles and feet, grimy hands, lost sleep, and "dural termites"--slivers of duraluminum from the aircraft walls that worked their way under the skin. Even more trying was the change in the way they were treated--because they were wearing slacks. Female sales clerks were no longer polite, while men no longer offered their seats on crowded buses yet felt free to grab or whistle at them on the street. "Clothes, we reflected sadly, make the woman--and some clothes make the man think that he can make the woman."<p> Throughout the summer, the women kept pencils and notepads in their toolboxes, Constance noting stories and profiling her coworkers, Clara Marie making sketches. A few months later, in 1944, their memoir was first published. The resulting text sparkles with immediacy and with the women's ebullient wit. With its first-hand look at women war workers and its behind-the-scenes look at the building of the B-24, <I>Slacks and Calluses</I> provides a refreshingly different angle on World War II. <I>--Sunny Delaney</I><br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Refreshing look at a unique slice of american history, January 14, 2000</strong><br/><i>By Bonnie Hines</i><br/><br/>This Book evokes a unique time and experience for women in this country. It accurately depicts the rigors and effort that came as a surprise to all of the work force as women pitched in for the war effort. That it is cleverly done with good humor and the ability to poke fun at the situation, makes it even more of a jewel. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A First Hand Account, June 12, 2002</strong><br/><i>By Martha E. Crites</i><br/><br/>This book is a find--a first hand account of two Rosie the Riveters. The contemporaneous memoir of two school teachers who spent the summer of `43 building B-24s in San Diego fascinates with details--getting hired, what was security like in wartime factories, how were these two educated women treated differently when they donned slacks and became factory workers? The writing is quick and humorous, like Betty MacDonald's The Egg and I which has remained popular since 1945. Constance Bowman Reid's epilogue, written in 1999, is a touching finale. You'll want to know what she's been up to in the intervening 50 years. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Highly recommended!, October 14, 2003</strong><br/><i>By prfb</i><br/><br/>This is a wonderful little book! Written in an easy and unpretentious style, it has merit not just for "women's studies" readers, but for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of period airplane manufacturing and indeed, the whole spirit of Homefront America in World War II. This book is both very entertaining and a real slice of "you are there" in a bygone era. Good history and good writing. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>brings back memories, April 7, 2010</strong><br/><i>By Ed C. Fields Jr. "Doctor Perverso"</i><br/><br/>I plan to order a copy on payday. My mother worked in that plant at the same time that those women did. Farm girl from the hills of Eastern Kentucky becomes Rosie The Riveter. I wonder if the authors ever met my mom. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Slacks and Calluses, July 4, 2009</strong><br/><i>By J. M. Perry "teach"</i><br/><br/>I loved this book. It shows the point of view of two female workers in a aircraft factory during WWII. It was an interesting and often times humorous look into this time period and women's roles during this time. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Amazing read!, June 28, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Robin Leaette "Robin Leaette"</i><br/><br/>I love to read about women war workers of WW2. I have many books about the subject and this is hands down my favorite. Perfectly written. Very descriptive. Detailed. My only complaint....it's not 500 more pages! It left me wanting more...much more. If the author ever reads these comments, I want to thank her for her service during the war. Way to go! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Outstanding real world depiction of WWII life!, June 3, 2007</strong><br/><i>By P. Nailon "Screnwriter"</i><br/><br/>"Slacks and Calluses" was exactly what I'd hoped it would be and then some. The honest, unvarnished depiction of daily life for young women war workers at a bomber factory. The two women recount the insane process for getting their jobs (after an interview that consisted mainly of being asked, "Are you available? Good, you're hired.") and the many stations and stamps and officials that they were required to endure. Their training in building bombers was scant - they were responsible for not terribly important parts at first, but the parts still had to go on, and the factory had to have bodies to put them there. <br><br>Co-workers were - then as now - a collection of the hard working, the working hard at hardly working, the brilliant and the stupid. Bosses were much the same, but more to be listened too. Life outside the plant - the officers who were no gentlemen for refusing to give up bus seats to these women who were building 'their' bombers, the sadistic woman ice-cream vendor who flat out refused to serve the women, the never ending attempts to wash all the dirt, aluminum dust, grease, and oil from skin and hair, and the inability to have any time for a real life outside of work. <br><br>The authors were two high school teachers, who subjects - English and Art - made them the perfect duo to write this book. <br><br>Too often books are written solely because the author wants to; this book would have been missed by the world if not written. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/156098368X?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-63768320173812237792011-01-07T12:50:00.027-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.210-08:00A Wing And A Prayer: The "bloody 100th" Bomb Group Of The U.s. Eighth Air Force In Action Over Europe In World War Ii<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060169419?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:91.56px; height:140px; padding:0 25px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Gl5NISmNL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060169419?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:183.12px; height:280px; padding:0 49px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Gl5NISmNL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060169419?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Harpercollins</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0060169419' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>A riveting memoir of a World War II Air Force navigator brings the reader on a series of harrowing missions over Germany, facing walls of flak and machine gun fire, and his raunchy, boisterous exploits between missions. National ad/promo.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>One of the best accounts of the Air War in Europe, July 16, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Philip A. True</i><br/><br/>Harry Crosby's account of the 100th Bomb Group and the air war against Naze Germany from mid-1943 till the end is one of the most informative and thoughtful memoirs of those dark days. Crosby relates many stories in his accounts, of his own experiences as a navigator, of the impact that Curtis LeMay and other group commanders had on combat techniques, of the sometimes touchy relationships between AAF personnel and their British hosts, and some thoughtful observations of the nature of war and the overall bombing campaign. Crosby with a degree in English and considerable writing experience writes lucid, stripped-down prose, and his accounts of navigating under difficult circumstances brought a reality than few other accounts--written mainly by former pilots--have done. His story of an early mission to Trondheim, in Norway, is a gem of the navigator's problems--of unexpected cloud cover, of flying over Norway where, as Hobler put it, one fjiord from the air looks like another, and the element of luck and chance in any mission. As a WWII navigator in the Pacific, these types of details were welcome, as was his understanding of the "place" of navigator's in the AAF pecking order. When I was informed in December 1945 that I was on a preferred list of those to man the postwar Air Force, I politely declined knowing that navigators would be highly unlikely to advance at the rate of pilots. (I did, however, remain the reserves for 20 years}. What comes through most clearly, however, was the terrible losses that the 8th suffered in its campaign against Germany's manufacturing capacity and infrastructure, and of the courage and perseverence of those who served. The 100th BG, for example, arrived in midyear, 1943, with 35 crews; only one intact crew completed 25 missions, though a few other crew members from crews broken up because of casualities and other reasons also survived. Was it worth it? Did the damage done justify the loss in life, not only of the air crews but also those of German civilians and others killed by the raids. Crosby is a bit ambilavent--he joined the anti-war movement in the 1960s. Nonetheless, no one can take away from the aircrews, and those who did not return, their courage and belief that they were part of a grand but terrible endeavor to bring the war to an end and of the demented policies of Hitler and his Nazi cohorts . May they rest in peace. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Great story of the air war over Europe, March 28, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Rob Morris</i><br/><br/>Harry Crosby was a navigator in the 100th Bomb Group in World War II. He was one of the original members of the 100th, a bomb group that, because it ventured into battle with less training than groups preceding it, and because of its unenviable position flying in the lower part of the formation on many missions, suffered heavy losses and became known as "The Bloody Hundredth". Crosby uses his obvious skill as a student of the English language to recreate the drama, the humor, and the terror of flying B-17's out of East Anglia in the war. He describes many of the historic missions flown by the 8th Air Force as an eyewitness. I have read the book several times and it is good history as well as a good study of human beings and the stresses they face daily in war. I highly recommend this book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A must read, July 24, 2009</strong><br/><i>By J. Lord</i><br/><br/>This is the best book I have ever read regarding the B-17 over Europe. Harry Crosby descriptions and memory of his experiences are vivid and detailed. This is one book that I truly had a hard time walking away from. After reading it, I gave it to my daughter and son to read. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A great book, June 22, 2009</strong><br/><i>By D</i><br/><br/>This is a great book. Harry Crosby tells a very moving story about his life in the 8th AF and also his personal life. <br>The book is well written and insightful. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Being there, April 4, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Mark E. Brotherton</i><br/><br/>Harry captures it all. Being a navigator in one of the most colorful bomber groups of the 8th Air Force in WWII, (if not the most colorful.) Harry is there as an original crewmember of the Bloody Hundredth. In a time where your life expectancy was 8 missions and you had to fly 25... Harry's a one off, what a story, what a history. Should be mandatory reading for anyone who claims to be American.. Well done. <br>Mark <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Amazing recaptured experience of B-17 missions over Europe., November 5, 1998</strong><br/><i>By Don Struke</i><br/><br/>Author Crosby's graceful, sensitive memoir of the contributions and sacrifices made by U.S. airmen high over Europe is a landmark work not only in combat literature but as a study of men (and women) in the epoch that was WWII. His musings about what future poets, artists. and statesmen did not survive this war (or any war, I say) helped put all of world history in perspective. Bravo, Mr. Crosby, and thank you so very much. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Incredible Account of Strategic Bombing Campaign, July 13, 1998</strong><br/><i>By Scott A. MacPhee smacphee@juno.com</i><br/><br/>Dr. Crosby's book is an engaging read, providing many insights into the day-to-day operations of a bomb group in the ETO during WWII. This work has been an invaluable source for my own examination of the strategic bombing campaign. Before I read it I knew the numbers, the big picture, but Dr. Crosby has helped me to understand the lives of the crews and the pressures and demands they faced during missions. My grandfather was a flight engineer on a B-24, twice wounded and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star for gallantry. By learning the terminology of the crews and the tasks they performed I am now able to talk with my Grandfather intelligently about the war. Thank you Dr. Crosby for making that possible. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0060169419?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-72290978191627954082011-01-07T12:50:00.025-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.214-08:00Great Book Of World War Ii Airplanes<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517160242?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:110.82105263158px; height:140px; padding:0 15px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VX29FX3XL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517160242?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:221.64210526316px; height:280px; padding:0 30px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VX29FX3XL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517160242?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Gramercy</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0517160242' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>A remarkable overview of World War II aviation encompasses more than four hundred full-color photographs and illustrations, twenty-four foldout panels, detailed cutaway views, and authoritative profiles of twelve aircraft that changed the course of the war.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Best of the best..., February 22, 2005</strong><br/><i>By A. D. Morrill</i><br/><br/>I bought this book new from the Smithsonian Museum bookstore when I was just a kid. Now some 20-odd years later it still sits on the shelf right behind my desk, and I still frequently comb through its pages with the same enthusiasm I had when it was new. I will never let this book out of my possesion. <br><br>It's so valuable to me I had to find another copy for my business partner and fellow R/C fanatic so that he wouldn't have to keep borrowing mine! ;D ...that's why I decided to drop my 2-cents in here. <br><br>If you are an airplane buff, or more importantly, if you have any passion for the top planes of WWII, this book is not optional. You MUST have it. Period. Once you open it, you will understand what I am saying. <br><br><br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Must Have for WWII Aviation Enthusiasts, November 7, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Jerry L. Crosby</i><br/><br/>If you enjoy WWII aircraft, and appreciate the breath taking detail and accuracy of Rikyu Watanabe illustrations, you must have this book. I found my copy 3 years ago at OshKosh, and have been offered (...)for it - no way was I parting with it. It is, without question, the finest piece of reference / art work on these 12 aircraft I have ever seen. Vet, IFR Priv. pilot, R/C aircraft modeler. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Great drawings, April 17, 2000</strong><br/><i>By A WWII airplanes enthusiast</i><br/><br/>I can say it's really one of the best WWII airplanes I've ever seen. I think the best part of the book are the drawings, profiles, cutaways etc. For only this reason I would say it is worth having it (and don't forget the written information about each airplane). As other reviewers I like modeling and I found this book a very good reference, because of the drawings by Watanabe. These huge profiles make the book something special; so if you like WWII airplanes and want the greatest drawings an enthusiast can find, this is the the book you are looking for. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Lots of nostalgia, July 4, 2000</strong><br/><i>By John D. Williams</i><br/><br/>In my opinion, the most beautiful book of WWII aircraft which has ever been published. I have flown the F4U-5NL Bu.No. 124511 found in the picture on page 253 with Ens. Cawley's name on the side. He was one of our squadron mates in VC-4, NAS Atlantic City in the early 'fifties. Brings back many fond memories. Highly recommended to all aviators and aviation enthusiasts. J.D. Williams Lcdr. USNR (Ret) <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Bible of World War II Aviation, November 19, 2008</strong><br/><i>By T. B. Engvig</i><br/><br/>I fell in love with this book when I was 10 years old, and I can say without hesitation that I owe my subsequent fascination with military history directly from thumbing through its pages at that early age. The other reviewers are not exaggerating, this book is THE BIBLE of WWII aviation. The aircraft profiled, though limited to 12 key models, are wisely chosen, all having had an enormous impact on the war, being in service through most, if not all, of the conflict, and all being instumental in their nations war efforts (and final victory as in the case of the Allied machines). <br><br>This book occupies a proud space on my bookshelf, and every now and then I will take it down and nostaligically thumb through its slightly worn pages. It never gets old. If this book was $300 it would still be a good buy. <br><br>What really takes the cake is without a doubt the full color fold outs by Watanabe. If you can find better ones elsewhere I am Kaiser Willhelm! The planes practically leap out at you; every screw, nut, and bolt is there. On several profiles the detail is so astounding you can see the oil streaks on the engine cowling and the weathered paint at the wing root where the pilot would have stepped time and again to climb into his cockpit and zoom into history. <br><br>Even if you only have a passing interest in WWII, you must buy this book. Do it now, before it is too late! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Superb, October 6, 1999</strong><br/><i>By Jerry L. Crosby (prn@eskimo.com)</i><br/><br/>As a private pilot, vertern, and long time aviation enthusiast, this book is an incredible reference for those interested in the details and specifics of these famous WWII fighters. As a scale R/C aircraft modeler, I have found no book better. I discovered this book by accident in the War Birds store at Oshkosh. It is a must have! I could not recommend this book more strongly. It is worth every penny and you will not be disappointed. That's a promise. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Great Book of World War II Airplanes, January 9, 2000</strong><br/><i>By mhdugger</i><br/><br/>January 8, 2000 A friend loaned me this book when he found out I construct model airplanes from wood. He found the book at a garage sale and it was not of the best quality ie; coffee stains, rips and tears, even so, this book has been valuable as reference material. The scaled drawings were very useful in detailing the models. The color panels and illustrations were exceptional. Not only does it show many various color schemes, but it details the units, locations, and pilots associated with them. I found it limiting only in one area: it only contains 12 planes. For information on airplanes, such as the P47, P30, P40 you will have to look elsewhere. The information on each airplane is so immense, that if all of the World War II airplanes were contained in this book, it would probably weigh 100 pounds. I found this book to be the best reference book on the twelve aircraft it contains. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0517160242?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-32591988647460194152011-01-07T12:50:00.023-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.219-08:00World War Ii Wrecks Of The Truk Lagoon<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0911615067?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:113.76842105263px; height:140px; padding:0 14px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M0FF6BX1L.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0911615067?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:227.53684210526px; height:280px; padding:0 27px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41M0FF6BX1L.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0911615067?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: North Valley Diver Pubns</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0911615067' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Truk was an important World War II island stronghold functioning as a vital airbase and headquarters for the Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet. It became a potential "roadblock" for the American Pacific Fleet in its advance towards the Japanese Empire. These islands were targeted twice by US Navy carrier striking forces with a powerful group of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers for support. Target objectives included the destruction of the shipping, aircraft, and installations. In addition, land-based US Army Air Force B-24s and B-29s carried out an extensive bombing campaign against the islands. The Japanese defenders were overwhelmed by the concentrated bombing, torpedo, rocket, and strafing attacks by the planes of the US Navy carrier forces and by the heavy pounding given them by land-based Army Air Force bombers. Huge rusting guns in the Japanese-built caves, pillboxes, open emplacements, and a lagoon filled with ship and aircraft wrecks are an important legacy from World War II in this tropical central Pacific island group. The sheer number and diversity of the wrecks found in the relatively shallow lagoon waters brings thousands of divers to this remote location every year. Truk, now known as Chuuk State, has become one of the most desirable dive locations in the world. <P>This 533-page volume documents the Japanese occupation and build-up of Truk into a strategic naval base, the air campaign against the ships, aircraft, and installations, and the exploration/descriptions of the ship and aircraft wrecks that remain. Many new details of the Operation Hailstone raids of February 17-18, 1944 and the Japanese reaction have been included from information found in intelligence file references. Emphasis on the aerial combat between the Japanese and American planes, descriptions of Japanese installations and defenses, and information on the intensive US fast carrier raids of April 29-30, 1944 against Truk have been published for the first time. A total of 173 maps and drawings, 101 black and white photos, and 150 color plates are included in this book.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>By far the best book on Truk, October 3, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Michael Zinsley</i><br/><br/>I would recommend this book to all divers and war history buffs interested in the wrecks of Truk. Especially for divers who are planning a trip to Truk. This is the perfect dive planning text for learning about the wrecks before the dives so divers can maximize their bottom time experience. Each wreck has its own chapter with maps and a guide to the highlights of the wreck. There are also photos of the wrecks before they sank and a history of each ship. After a trip to Truk, it is the perfect souvenir -- better than any details in log books! Lots of GREAT underwater wreck photography in color, too. <br>Mike Zinsley, author of the Rapture of the Deep <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Outstanding Work for Divers and Historians, March 24, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Jonathan Parshall</i><br/><br/>I can't say enough good things about this book. It is an exemplary work that meets the needs of several audiences. With 250+ color and black&white photos (the majority being color), and 173 maps and illustrations, it has all the "eye-candy" anyone would ever want, and is handsome enough for display. Yet it is also incredibly detailed in its historical treatment, and provides the serious WWII historian with a wealth of useful, well-organized information on the battles around Truk. Anyone who is even moderately interested in Truk should own a copy--it is worth every single penny you'll spend on it. "A+" rating.. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The ultimate Truk Lagoon history book, March 27, 2003</strong><br/><i>By "bcdiver"</i><br/><br/>If you are a history buff or a scuba diver or if you know anyone who is, this is the book to get. Not only does this book go over the history of Truk (Chuuk as it is now known) Lagoon but also the history of all the wrecks contained there from WWII. It also details the attack that the US Navy completed in February of 1944. From the force of ships that participated in the attack to the ships that were sunk. <br>It has in complete detail of all ships that sunk, what they were carrying, size, etc. I have been to Truk Lagoon once, bought this book when I came back, and now going back again now that I know more of the history of the ships and planes that I will be diving on again. This book also makes for a great coffee table book that many friends and family will enjoy looking through.!<br>It is well put together and worth the money for it. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An unbelievably complete work, July 13, 2001</strong><br/><i>By "n2yfy"</i><br/><br/>I received a copy of World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon by Dan Bailey a few days ago. I can not get over the detail with which this book covers this subject. In addition to being a diver's reference book (and a large one at that...an 8 by 11 inch+ hardcover), it is also a highly detailed historical reference. Included are US Navy reconaissance photos, pilot reports from the pilots who were flying missions in Operation Hailstorm attacking these ships, layout drawings of the Japanese installations on the islands, not to mention the history of the sunken ships. This book contains virtually everything I can imagine regarding Truk (and stuff I never thought of). Lots of archival photos and present day photos. This book is a must for any Truk afficionato. A great addition to my library. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Work of True Passion, September 29, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Stephen L. Wolborsky</i><br/><br/>A magnificent and definitive work by Dan Bailey. This is the reference book long-time Truk Lagoon divers and liveaboard operators use as a source document. Dan Bailey made over 40 trips to Chuuk, diving the wrecks multiple times. He enlisted the support of some noted underwater photographers to capture images of the ghost ships of Truk. Better yet, in many cases he researched and listed original photgraphs and specfications for the vessels, giving life to the wrecks that now cover the sea floor. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An unbelievably complete work, July 13, 2001</strong><br/><i>By "n2yfy"</i><br/><br/>I received a copy of World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon by Dan Bailey a few days ago. I can not get over the detail with which this book covers this subject. In addition to being a diver's reference book (and a large one at that...an 8 by 11 inch+ hardcover), it is also a highly detailed historical reference. Included are US Navy reconaissance photos, pilot reports from the pilots who were flying missions in Operation Hailstorm attacking these ships, layout drawings of the Japanese installations on the islands, not to mention the history of the sunken ships. This book contains virtually everything I can imagine regarding Truk (and stuff I never thought of). Lots of archival photos and present day photos. This book is a must for any Truk afficionato. A great addition to my library. You can find more information about the book at... <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Definitive History and Dive Guide for Truk, March 14, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Dan Carey</i><br/><br/>An extremely complete and accurate volume on the diving at Truk, or Chuuk. Probably more information than a diver needs, "WWII Wrecks" answers the question "what's down there?" and also how all the wrecks were sunk. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0911615067?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-9562035828716502322011-01-07T12:50:00.021-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.225-08:00Crossing The Line: A Blue Jacket's World War Ii Odyssey<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557504555?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:93.24px; height:140px; padding:0 24px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WEV0T69VL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557504555?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:186.48px; height:280px; padding:0 47px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WEV0T69VL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557504555?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1557504555' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Crossing the Line is a classic coming-of-age account, it achieves the rarest possible right tone for looking back on the self at an earlier stage, less sophisticated, less knowledgeable, but with the essential characteristics in place without apology or impatience.<br/>Alvin Kernan, seeing no prospects in his native Wyoming, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the spring of 1941. As a seaman on the U.S.S. <i>Enterprise</i>, he saw the destruction and smelled the fires still burning as the aircraft carrier returned to Pearl Harbor from maneuvers on the day after Japan's surprise attack. Years later he would see and smell much the same thing in Japanese harbors. In the time between, Kernan had some exceptional adventures, which are chronicled in <i>Crossing the Line</i>. This reflective memoir is utterly unpretentious in providing an engaging view of ordinary Americans at war. Leaving the grand historical themes for other writers, Kernan tells us what it was really like for the sailors in the fleet, during fierce combat as well as during some lively recreation. <br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A real page-turner!, July 24, 2005</strong><br/><i>By R. W. Russell "midway42.org"</i><br/><br/>. When you think of an east coast university professor who specializes in the humanities--Shakespearean literature, in this case--you probably won't be visualizing someone who started adulthood by engaging in vicious aerial gunnery duels with Japanese fighters and otherwise living the stressful, profane, hazardous life of an enlisted sailor on three World War II aircraft carriers, one of which was sunk while he was aboard. Such is the case, though, with retired Yale professor Alvin B. Kernan, author of "Crossing the Line," one of the most interesting and often gripping sagas of navy life that I've read. <br>. The book came as a surprise to me, on two counts. One, I knew that Kernan had been an aviation ordnanceman on the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway, and later an aerial gunner. But I had very little notion of the depth of his wartime experiences, not only as an aircrewman but also in escaping the sinking of the USS Hornet in the Guadalcanal battles and in a harrowing deployment aboard the escort carrier USS Suwanee (CVE-27). Suffice to say in this short review that Kernan earned a Navy Cross, a DFC, and five air medals from inside the turret of a TBF Avenger! <br>. And two, I had previously read Kernan's fictitious account of the Battle of Midway, "Love and Glory," which I thought was interesting but flawed in a number of regards (see my review on Amazon). For that reason, I was a little dubious about reading "Crossing the Line." Would this be another "interesting but flawed" piece of work that would cause me to keep my red pen handy while I read it? No. Crossing the Line is simply outstanding. Anyone with an interest in WWII naval air action will also want to read this book. I highly recommend it. Yes, there are a couple of minor nits that a very knowledgeable historian might want to pick, but they are so insignificant as to be unworthy of mentioning here. "Crossing the Line" will not disappoint you. In fact, you'll probably find it hard to put down. <br>. (Reviewed by R. W. Russell, Battle of Midway Roundtable, www.midway42.org) <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A wonderful memoir of the life of a young Navy sailor during, March 5, 2001</strong><br/><i>By J. Taylor</i><br/><br/>Alvin Kernan's "Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey" is a wonderful memoir of the life of a young Navy sailor during World War II. Written in a humorous and sophisticated writing style, it provides the reader with a strong sense of what it was like for a young boy to leave his home and spend four years growing up in the midst of a war at sea. I am sure that Kernan's experience parallels that of my grandfather, who left rural Arkansas for the first time ever as a young 17-year old to take part in large Pacific invasions. If only young people today could understand the sacrifice and hard work that these young men faced. Kernan vividly makes his youth come to life with "Crossing the Line." A must read for avid readers of Navy and World War II subjects. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A wonderful little book, December 30, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Michael T Kennedy</i><br/><br/>Alvin Kernan was a 17-year-old from a poor family when he enlisted in the Navy in 1941. He was assigned to the carrier Enterprise and was aboard on Dec 7, 1941. He served aboard carriers most of the war, including a tour aboard the Hornet and he was aboard when she was sunk. He spent most of the time with the torpedo squadrons and gives a vivid account of the Battle of Midway. Most war histories are written by or about the leaders and it is unusual to find someone who was there for all the battles but who was seeing it all from the bottom up. After the war, he went to college on the GI Bill (as did I) and eventually ended his career as dean of the graduate school at Princeton. This is a vivid and knowledgeable account of the carrier war from one who was there and is a skilled writer. Anyone interested in the navy in World War II should read this book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A little-known modern classic, December 23, 1999</strong><br/><i>By Daniel Akst</i><br/><br/>The modesty and intelligence of this amazing book are equalled only by the gripping story it tells. One of the best memoirs of youth, war and manhood I have ever seen. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>One of The Best, February 14, 2006</strong><br/><i>By William McClellan</i><br/><br/>Alvin Kernan has written one of the best books on WW2 I have ever read, and I've read a lot of them. His descriptions of his wartime experiences are crisp, vivid, and relevant. <br><br>If any of us are ever tempted to generalize in a negative way about sailors in the U.S. Navy, I suggest they read this book all the way to the end. What Kernan went on to do after the war is just as impressive as what he did while he served Uncle Sam. <br><br><br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An autobiographical treasure, May 8, 2008</strong><br/><i>By David Kolb</i><br/><br/>Dr. Kernan's four years overseas, which encompasses the full length of the War in the Pacific during 1941-45 is an autobiographical treasure that is as true a war story as any can be. This book takes us not on a pleasure cruise, but a voyage into a long-forgotten world of young, Depression-era ranchers and shoe clerks turned aviation ordinancemen and pilots. These we meet, however briefly, snaking up the stairs in a long line at the New Congress Hotel whorehouse in old Honolulu, in a below-decks poker game on a rusting, inflammable escort carrier, or seen for a fleeting moment, unconscious in the gaping seas as the result of a slight but deadly flight miscalculation, sinking beneath the waves, impossible to save, gone. Those voices of the past, their thoughts, fears and dreams, are recorded here with a painful honesty and without much sentiment for, as the author admits, he never really intended it for general publication at first. Those of us who appreciate history poured straight up will be forever in his debt that he changed his mind. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Absolutely Wonderful, December 19, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Terrence Feenstra "Story Lover"</i><br/><br/>War, of course, is the antithesis of wonderful, and yet Alvin Kernan's memoir is so vividly and beautifully written that I wish to have been at his side during that time. The other reviews give a sense of Mr. Kernan's story, but I want to spend my praise on his writing: clear, direct, unadorned prose, which nevertheless conveys an absolute sense of place. If you want to learn to write well, you will read this book repeatedly. If you teach writing (not making up), consider Crossing The Line as a textbook. <br><br>Highest recommendation. You can order new copies online at Yalebooks.com. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1557504555?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-10306928008158458282011-01-07T12:50:00.019-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.230-08:00Japanese Aircraft Of The Pacific War<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087021313X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:89.010526315789px; height:140px; padding:0 26px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VM387XP5L.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087021313X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:178.02105263158px; height:280px; padding:0 51px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VM387XP5L.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087021313X?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=087021313X' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>The most significant types of aircraft operated by the Army and the Navy immediately before and during the Pacific War are described in the two main sections of this book, while a series of appendices provides information on less important Japanese military aircraft, foreign-designed aircraft operated by Japanese forces, aircraft carriers and tenders, aero-engines and aircraft armament.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Excellent!, May 7, 2001</strong><br/><i>By Jean-Pierre Valenzuela</i><br/><br/>I am a WW2 aircraft afficionado and I am all too familiar with aircraft used in the European theatre. But when it came to Japanese aircraft I have been limited to being familiar with only the famous Zero's and Betty's. This book by Rene J Francillon introduced to me the entire Japanese military aircraft inventory of the war! It begins by providing a background on Japan's aircraft industry during that era as well the history of its army and naval air forces. A section on designation systems, camouflage and markings is also provided before it covers in detail all the Army and Navy aircraft. It closes with appendices on lesser known types, engines and armament, and a designation index including an alphabetical list of the allied code name system. Each aircraft presented includes specifications, 3-view line drawings, several photos and are briefly discussed with very good narration. Very easy on the eyes and a wonderful read. This is the only book I'll ever need on Japanese aircraft. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A complete listing of japanese aircraft in the Pacific war, July 2, 2001</strong><br/><i>By E. RABOSO GARCIA-BAQUERO</i><br/><br/>This book is a complete guide of the japanese aircraft of WWII. Every aircraft is featured with technical data, a three view plan and a short text depicting its development and basic operational records. The author is fully knowledgeable in the topic. Most aircraft are also shown in black and white photographs. This is a good reference book and should be in the bookshelf of everybody seriously interested in Pacific war history. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>THE Bible of WWII Japanese Aviation., August 29, 1998</strong><br/><i>By William S. Vaughn (segues@aol.com)</i><br/><br/>There is no other single source of such comprehensive knowledge of World War II Japanese Aviation. Whether one has an interest in fighters, bombers, trainers, recce or transports, Francillion has provided the ultimate reference source. Not only are there synopses of period aircraft replete with technical details, but there is also a lavish photographic compendium. The historical review of the Japanese aircraft manufacturing industry and IJA and IJN aviation is priceless in its own right. And the addendum on powerplants and armaments is icing on the cake. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Rene is the expert!, March 6, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Robert Clark</i><br/><br/>Much in the same way that William Greene is the expert on German Aircraft of WW-II, Rene J. Francillon has researched this subject (off and on) over a period of about 30 years. The orignal edition of this book came out in the 1970's and has been updated as information from the files of the US Department of Defense has become declassified and "Pubic Domain".<br>One of the most interesting of the facts that one may come across is that many talented German Aircraft designers TRAINED Japanese aircraft design engineers during the 1920's and early 30's, because the Germans were prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles to engage in the design of war planes in their own country. This led to a close working relationship between German and Japanese warplane designers and a great deal of commerce between the two countries in war time designs.<br>Someone may eventually write a refernce book on this subject. I would if I had time.<br>Bob Clark<br>President <br>International Military Technology Historians<br>fsearch@yahoo.com <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Amazing book for serious readers, January 2, 2006</strong><br/><i>By WW2 READER "GLUJANO"</i><br/><br/>this is the best book about Japanese Aircrafts ever done...my first impression was: an old book..it smells like grandpa... where are the colours???, but when I read the first page, I understood I had got the best information in a resume book...More than 100 aircrafts, each aircrat has one or more black and white picture, specifications, three view draw and extensive text with explanation of variations, roles, desperate missions, etc. <br>You can find a clear explanation about the japanese code name used by Navy and Imperial Army and of course American Code Name. <br>Finally you can find at last pages a sinopsis like index to get easily the page in the book for each aircraft....did you know japanese had aircrafts to catch easily P-51s, Corsairs and B-29s???...read it, and understand why they couldn't use them. <br>You have to waste a lot of time trying to get and resume this information by internet and even so, I'm sure you won't get all....My respect for this work. <br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A must, December 15, 2001</strong><br/><i>By J. Harrington "harringtonjj@comcast.net"</i><br/><br/>This book has been extremely helpful in my understanding of both Japanese Army and Navy Aircraft of World War II. The book contains not only information on the various models of each aircraft with views and pictures and their performance stats, but when and with what units the planes were placed in service, production numbers by manufacturer, paint schemes, the Allied code name development, aicraft engines and armaments and great narratives on each plane. A great book, you won't be disappointed. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Excellent reference material, September 10, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Johnny the Boy Robot</i><br/><br/>This book is very detailed and for the most part satisfyingly complete. The illustrative photographs (or in the case of airplanes that were never photographed, rare original concept drawings) are very clear and effective. Service histories are often sparse in favor of development and technical details, but if you're in the market for a concise dictionary of Japanese aircraft you'll probably appreciate the attention to the harder to come by details. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/087021313X?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-25152849287031748512011-01-07T12:50:00.017-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.236-08:00Lonely Vigil: Coastwatchers Of The Solomons (bluejacket Books)<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591144663?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:93.24px; height:140px; padding:0 24px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DJ66FVEWL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591144663?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:186.48px; height:280px; padding:0 47px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DJ66FVEWL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591144663?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Us Naval Institute Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1591144663' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>This is Walter Lordâs best-selling account of the Coastwatchers of the Solomonsâ"that remarkable band of individualists who operated deep behind Japanese lines in the dark days of 1942-43. Living by their wits, with the help of friendly natives, they passed along critical intelligence, rescued downed flyers, and saved men from their sinking shipsâ"including John F. Kennedyâs PT 109. In Admiral Halseyâs words, "The Coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal and Guadalcanal saved the Pacific." <P>It is also the story of the natives who helped them, the missionaries they worked with, the downed flyers and castaways they rescued, the Marine patrols they guided, the pilots and submariners who serviced them, and even the Japanese who chased them. <P>To piece the story together, Lord traveled 40,000 miles to interview the participants, pore through archives, and examine private letters and diaries. He even made a three-day hike through the Guadalcanal jungle to inspect the coastwatcher hideout on Gold Ridge, to put readers in their shoes. The result is a major contribution to the history of World War II told by a master storyteller. <P>"A stirring tale of forgotten heroes, splendidly told by a master narrator."--Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. <P>"So much of this exciting tale is new to me. I knew some of these valiant men well. Walter Lord has brought them to life again, and all of us who fought in those distant islands, in the seas around them and in the skies above them, may renew our thanks to those who kept the lonely vigil."--Samuel B. Griffith II, Brigadier General USMN (Ret.)<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Exciting story of forgotten battles, May 18, 2004</strong><br/><i>By Andrew S. Rogers</i><br/><br/>Notwithstanding the impression you might get from some of the other reviewers here, "Lonely Vigil" is not a book about John F. Kennedy. Far from the coastwatchers being a footnote in JFK's biography, I prefer to think of JFK -- at least during these years -- as a minor bit of trivia in the far more interesting story of the coastwatchers themselves. Fishing JFK out of the drink was far from their most important contribution, either to the war effort or to history. I first read this book when I was in my teens, and I was captured even then by the drama of the coastwatchers and their Melanesian allies, hiding in the jungles while reporting on Japanese convoy and aircraft movements through the evocatively named "Slot" through the Solomon Islands. If you're familiar with Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific," you already know a little about the coastwatchers, since the mission embarked on by Lt. Joe Cable and planter Emile de Becque was modeled on the true-life exploits described in this book. It's too bad that the exciting story of the coastwatchers is still all but unknown in the U.S. But if it's true, as Admiral Halsey said (and who are we to doubt Admiral Halsey?), that "the coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal, and Guadalcanal saved the Pacific," then this well-researched, well-written, and engrossing book by Walter Lord deserves to be read by all students of the war in the Pacific. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Coastwatchers save the Pacific during WWII, February 21, 2002</strong><br/><i>By Clint L. Nash</i><br/><br/>I am partial to this book becuase Walter Lord interviewed my Father during the writing of this book. My Father Benjamin F. Nash was the only full time American Coastwatcher during WWII and was with Reg Evans when they spotted the fire ball that turned out to be the wreck of PT 109 when the Jananese destroyer ran over it. I met Mr. Lord during the days he talked to my Father during the Summer of 1976. I think it was '76. I have read the book several times. It is a fascinating history filled with facts, so you have to take your time in reading it to get the full impact. My Father told me that the facts that he knew of where 100% accurate in the book. Great book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>"Forty bombers heading yours", April 22, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Smallchief</i><br/><br/>A few hundred coastwatchers of the Solomon Islands, mostly Australians, played a crucial role in winning World War II in the Pacific. These men -- including one family and one woman missionary -- were mostly planters, officials, and missionaries who had been living in the Solomon islands before World War II and who remained in place in 1942 and 1943, often behind Japanese lines. They set up their cumbersome radios on mountain tops and reported the movements of Japanese aircraft and ships to the embattled Americans on Guadalcanal. <br><br>In the early days of the Guadalcanal campaign it was the laconic radio reports -- "forty bombers heading yours" is an example -- of the coastwatchers who gave the American marines almost two hours notice of Japanese bombers heading their way. This enabled the ragtag "Cactus Air Force" to get into the air and swoop down on the Japanese planes when they arrived. Without the coastwatchers the vital battle for Guadalcanal might have been lost. Later the coastwatchers also became rescuers of downed US pilots and sailers, notably of a young naval lieutenant named John F. Kennedy whose PT Boat was sunk. Perhaps the most remarkable story in the book is that of Jacob Vouza, an island native who was shot, bayoneted, and left for dead by the Japanese but survived to report the advance of a Japanese batallion readying an attack on the Americans. <br><br>Author Walter Lord tells in "Lonely Vigil" what had been the untold story of the coastwatchers. Much of the book is compiled from interviews with about 100 participants. It's a fascinating and exotic tale of unconventional warriors, heroes, and colorful characters that should be on the reading list of essential World War II books. <br><br>Smallchief <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>"Forty bombers heading yours", April 22, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Smallchief</i><br/><br/>A few hundred coastwatchers of the Solomon Islands, mostly Australians, played a crucial role in winning World War II in the Pacific. These men -- including one family and one woman missionary -- were mostly planters, officials, and missionaries who had been living in the Solomon islands before World War II and who remained in place in 1942 and 1943, often behind Japanese lines. They set up their cumbersome radios on mountain tops and reported the movements of Japanese aircraft and ships to the embattled Americans on Guadalcanal. <br><br>In the early days of the Guadalcanal campaign it was the laconic radio reports -- "forty bombers heading yours" is an example -- of the coastwatchers who gave the American marines almost two hours notice of Japanese bombers heading their way. This enabled the ragtag "Cactus Air Force" to get into the air and swoop down on the Japanese planes when they arrived. Without the coastwatchers the vital battle for Guadalcanal might have been lost. Later the coastwatchers also became rescuers of downed US pilots and sailers, notably of a young naval lieutenant named John F. Kennedy whose PT Boat was sunk. Perhaps the most remarkable story in the book is that of Jacob Vouza, an island native who was shot, bayoneted, and left for dead by the Japanese but survived to report the advance of a Japanese batallion readying an attack on the Americans. <br><br>Author Walter Lord tells in "Lonely Vigil" what had been the untold story of the coastwatchers. Much of the book is compiled from interviews with about 100 participants. It's a fascinating and exotic tale of unconventional warriors, heroes, and colorful characters that should be on the reading list of essential World War II books. <br><br>Smallchief <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A great, but somewhat overlooked book by Walter Lord, March 9, 2010</strong><br/><i>By Solomon</i><br/><br/>Walter Lord has written some of the best narrative histories - "A Night to Remember", "Day of Infamy" and "Incredible Victory", to name just three. In my opinion, this book is in the class of those three, but since it covers a less dramatic aspect of WWII it has received much less attention. The lonely vigil was that of the Coastwatchers of the Solomon Islands who reported on Japanese shipping and flights to Guadalcanal. This was critical work and in the words of Admiral Halsey, "The Coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal and Guadalcanal saved the Pacific" - a remarkable contribution of a few brave men who worked in relative isolation, knowing that capture meant torture and death. <br><br>Actually, the book is about much more than a lonely vigil. It not only tells the stories of the "official" Coastwatchers who were assigned to this work, but also of the planters, missionaries, island natives and rescued pilots and sailors, all of whom were caught up in the Japanese advance through the Solomon Islands. It shows how many conducted their own wars against the Japanese, not only by reporting on Japanese movements, but sometimes actively fighting them on islands such as Guadalcanal, Bougainvulle, New Georgia, Valla Lavella and a host of much smaller islands. The book tells how the Coastwatchers were organized and selected, and how many American flyers and sailors (including JFK) were rescued and shuttled through Japanese held territory to the American lines. <br><br>I recommend this book to anyone who likes a well-written book - one that makes you feel that you are in the midst of the action. It is a great book for those who like history, especially the history of WWII. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Heroes At Their Best, July 10, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Bob T "Mister Boog"</i><br/><br/>I like how Walter Lord took his time for each Coastwatcher and told their stories. This book gave me a great sense of how interconnected the entire operation was for WWII, how every person had to do their job in order for the entire mission to be successful. But even more than that, I loved the individual stories, the details of what they encountered and how they adapted to each situation. From the rugged jungle, to the hot wet weather, to the natives switching allegiance between Japanese and Allied Forces, to the betrayer who gave away information, this book gives a complete sense (including many photographs of the people involved) of what it was like to operate behind enemy lines to get information that saved countless lives. God Bless them all. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Cloak and Dagger in the Jungle, January 30, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Dru Preston Jr. "Pacific Theatre Enthusiast"</i><br/><br/>Lonely Vigil is an absolute page turner from beginning to end. Walter Lord did a fine job putting together the story of the many coastwatchers in the Solomon Islands. There are many first person accounts of incidences on all the major islands. I especially liked the chapter on Donald Kennedy and his native guerilla army and their incredible exploits against the Japanese. Why a movie hasn't been made about this guy I don't know. The book covers a number of different coastwatchers and holds the readers attention very well. The photos and maps are a big plus as well. It's to bad that most people in the US don't know more about these brave and resourceful men. During this period of WW2 the issue was still in doubt and the coastwatchers played a tremendous role in turning this around. It would have been a priviledge to serve with and know these men and the brave Solomon Islanders who risked everything by standing by them. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1591144663?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-35672279839456006152011-01-07T12:50:00.015-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.241-08:00U.s. Naval Air Superiority: Delevelopment Of Shipborne Jet Fighters - 1943-1962<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580071104?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:140px; height:140px; padding:0px 0;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/614Cr5WFZPL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580071104?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:280px; height:280px; padding:0px 0;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/614Cr5WFZPL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1580071104?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Specialty Pr Pub & Wholesalers</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1580071104' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>As World War II came to a close, piston-powered fighter aircraft were at their zenith, and Navy fighters, such as the Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought Corsair, dominated the skies over the Pacific. As these fighter designs reached their peak, a new propulsion technology was being developed that held great promise. When introduced, the first jet aircraft were underpowered, and in many ways inferior to propeller-driven aircraft of the time. Naval Air Superiority examines the Navy's internal struggle to adapt the jet engine to its style of warfare as well as the development and evolution of carrier-borne fighters and their airframes and engines, from the closing days of World War II through Vietnam.<br> For the first time, U.S. Naval Air Superiority profiles the turbulent design and development stage of the Navy's carrier-based jet fighter program. From the successful designs, such as the Fury, Banshee, Crusader, and Phantom II, to the also-rans, like the Fireball, Demon, Pirate, and Cutlass, the Navy's needs are measured against contractor and political demands and the limits of the evolving engine and aerodynamic technologies of the day.<br> This book includes engine cut-aways, aircraft comparison diagrams, and details the safety improvements made to aircraft carriers to enable higher speed and high-gross-weight jet operations.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Superior Book on Developing Superiority, March 22, 2008</strong><br/><i>By W. L. McRae</i><br/><br/>This is an excellent must read book for anyone interested in the Navy's jet fighter development from its start thru about 1960. The book is not about statistics as Mr. Thomason says. The book is describing an era and pretty much all that it encompassed for its subject. He goes into detail on how each program came about, how the contracts were awarded, the development of each type to service or cancellation. There is a tremendous amount of information that leads one to understanding of the times and how quickly things were developing. I would not consider the chapters dealing with armament and carrier development with the adoption of the British steam catapult, "canted" deck, and mirror landing system as side trips as each had a direct effect on carrier aircraft design. <br><br>There are only three chapters out of fifteen that deal with a specific aircraft and it's understandable that the planes are the F7U, F4D, and F3H as the sum up the problems of defining a mission and manufacturing that the Navy was encountering at the time. The Panthers, Banshees, Cougars, Furies, Tigers, and Crusaders are explained in detail too. One interesting nugget of information concerns the F7U Cutlass. The Cutlass was known for breaking its long nose strut in service and being a hard aircraft to land on a carrier. Mr. Thomason points out the last cruises the Cutlass went on didn't have the accident rate on landing that its reputation making first cruises did. This corresponded to being on carriers with an angled deck so a pilot had a clear deck in front of him and with no need to slam down on the deck to land. Besides its Westinghouse engines the plane was a victim of timing. The book is filled with uncommon information like that. The only things that I noticed that seemed missed were the J79 in connection with the F5D and the development of the Sidewinder 1C beam rider that helped the F8U-2NE play interceptor to replace the F3H on the Essex-class carriers. My impression based on the rest of the book is that it was most likely there but edited out to get the page count right. <br><br>This is an impressive book using some of the best resources on the subject such as George Spangenberg. The last naval aviation book that read where I thought the author really described the subject really well was Michael O'Connor's"Mig Killers of Yankee Station" this book is similarly as detailed in its subject. Mr. Thomason you've written the "A Number 1" book on Navy fighter development 1943-1962, thank you. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Navy Jets: The Good, The Not So Bad, The Sort of Ugly, May 30, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Michael L. Shakespeare</i><br/><br/>When ground forces in Iraq run into trouble, they have on-call air support -- Navy F18s in orbit -- ready to come into action. Although these fighters are based on aircraft carriers far out to sea, they are able to remain on patrol in Iraq all day by repeatedly refueling from aerial tankers. <br><br>In his new book, Tommy H. Thomason skillfully describes a time when the Navy struggled to find ways to keep its fuel-hungry jets in the air for minutes -- not hours. In those days, an aircraft's endurance was key to naval air operations. Early carrier operations depended on carefully cycling thirsty aircraft on and off the ship. <br><br>"U.S. Naval Air Superiority: Development of Shipboard Jet Fighters 1943-1962" is a comprehensively researched volume is stuffed with engrossing photographs, first-rate 3D Drawings, and very helpful charts and tables. <br><br>The author has meticulously gathered information on Navy aircraft starting with the modest McDonnell FH Phantom I, through the all-world McDonnell F4U Phantom II. <br><br>I found Mr. Thomason's coverage of several lesser-known designs to be very interesting. <br><br>Very early in the Korean War, Grumman touted its bulbous Grumman XF10F Jaguar to be the Navy's first general purpose fighter. Based on a Nazi inspired variable sweep wing design, its poorly designed control system made it dangerously unpredictable in flight tests. After lengthly delays and substantial modifications, its overall performance was mixed -- the complicated Jaguar was just too heavy. Grumman's overambitious XF10F proved so troublesome only one test pilot ever agreed to fly it. <br><br>Consider the FJ-1 Fury, which was an updated version of the famous U.S. Air Force F-86 fighter that adapted surprisingly well to the aircraft carrier -- it was loved by its Marine pilots. <br><br>What Navy fighter had great success against the Migs in Korea? The harmless-looking 2-man F3D Skyknight night fighter bagged 7 Migs against only one loss. <br><br>His book comprises 15 chapters arranged in chronological order. The Navy jets have been marshaled into chapters chronicling first designs, second-generation jets, Korean War fighters, supersonic jets, and mach 2 fighters. <br><br>The author has dedicated a full chapter each to the innovative Vought F7U Cutlass -- the "Ensign Eliminator"; the well-mannered Douglas F4D Skyray -- a very fast climbing, radar equipped all-weather fighter; and the standard setting McDonnell F3H Demon -- the only all-weather, radar-missile-armed fighter in the fleet before the F4 Phantom II. <br><br>The Navy had three jets operational in the Korean War. The F2H-2 Banshee, F9F-2 Panther, and F3D-2 Skyknight. Most of the Navy missions were flak suppression and cutting communist supply lines. Air battles were rare because Migs did not often go into the areas of Navy jet operations. <br><br>Due to problems with Westinghouse jet engines the Navy could not deploy swept wing jet fighters that were more of a match for Mig-15s. The Korean War proved that refinements to Navy carriers were needed including better catapult systems, lighting, navigation and instrument approach aids for night and all-weather landing operations. <br><br>In analysis, Mr. Thomason reveals that carrier based aircraft by nature have more difficult design requirements than land based aircraft. He suggests that this contributed to lower speed and range performance in early Navy aircraft. <br><br>In retrospect, Mr. Thomason, also the author of Strike from the Sea: U.S. Navy Attack Aircraft from Skyraider to Super Hornet, 1948-present, explains, "The Navy's approach to creating a world-class fighter was straightforward. It simply funded successive aircraft programs with five different manufacturers until experience and competition generated one." The Navy did not give up on its traditional suppliers even after successive failures. <br><br>In many cases, Navy fighters suffered most from inadequate power. Mr. Thomason argues, "As engine companies were challenged to produce more thrust with less fuel and at a lower weight, engine durability and reliability occasionally suffered." <br><br>Looking back on this period, the author explains, "As it turned out, straight-wing jets were relatively easy to operate from aircraft carriers with minimal changes to the carrier itself. Swept wing aircraft took considerably longer to put into service, partly because the Navy was too ambitious with the mission requirements in the late 1940s and partly because Westinghouse could not repeat its early engine success." <br><br>Ironically, the Navy fighter's highest priority of defending the fleet from attacks by supersonic bombers was never put to the test. <br><br><br><br><br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Looks like the first in a series of great aviation history books, February 22, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Gregory K. Myers "bigiron383"</i><br/><br/>This book is certainly much more than I expected. I would have been happy with a few color photos covering the jets of the fifties and sixties. .Looking through some of the many photos I did discover a few from other older books in my library, but they were few and far between and didn't distract from the work. The interesting thing about the book is the many different chapters the book goes over. It's not just chapter after chapter following one plane after another, but takes side trips to the whys and wherefores of some of the development and needs of the navy. One chapter covers the changing development of the carriers for example. I was disappointed to find no chapter covering the Grumman Cougar / Panthers. They were talked about in many of the other areas however. At any rate a beautiful work all the way up to the Phantom II. This isn't something you'll read through to fast. The ten by ten format is also nice. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Great Addition to an Aviation Collection, September 11, 2008</strong><br/><i>By F. Stop Fitzgerald "f/stop"</i><br/><br/>This book is a worthwhile investment not only of your money but also your time in reading it. This book isn't exactly for the novice reader of naval air material. It presupposes that you bring something to the table in terms of basic knowledge and perhaps some aerodynamics. But that shouldn't preclude an absolute beginner from picking up this book. Just looking at the photos (which are excellent) and reading the captions will provide a decent grounding in naval air for the period covered. If that novice should delve into the text, so much the better for there is a wealth of detail that true aeroaficionados will love. The only disappointing aspect of this book is its illustrations (not the photographs). The drawings of aircraft profiles are amateurist, misleading, and definitely not in keeping with the tenor of this book, which is high-class and informative. But that pales in comparison to what is otherwise available between the covers. You will enjoy this book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Excellent, absolutely Excellent, January 9, 2009</strong><br/><i>By William A. Hensler</i><br/><br/>Happiness is getting this book for your anniversary. Honestly, I loved this book. It gives you your money's worth. Example, this book not only gives you a run down on every major jet fighter produced from 1943 until 1962, but it gives additional information on carriers, landing development, and weapons systems. <br><br>I was pleased with how the book starts with the F1H Phamtom's story and concludes it with the development of the F4H Phantom II (F4B). Also, this book gave an honest history of the much maligned F3N-3 Demon. The J-71 was not a great engine. Indeed, it would have been interesting to see how the F3 Demon would have developed had it been given the much more dependable J-57. But after the Wright engine fiasco the McDonnell engineers came up with a very good all weather fighter. Indeed, the book says that the F3 Demon went on over 57 deployments with the Navy and gave good service from 1957 until 1962. That is over five years of service and many hundreds of flights from a carrier. Indeed, when a person looks at the F3N it's fairly clear that in the modern USN the aircraft would have been given a new engine (the J-57) and an avionics upgrade. The F3N could have served as long as the F4N. But the point is the F4N was a jet in a class by itself and the only reason it was phased from service in the mid-1990s was because of cold war draw downs. That is amazing for a design started in mid-1950s. <br><br>I liked all of the chapters of the book. What was weird is reading how Grumman really blew it with the F10F Jaguar. That jet and the Westinghouse engine debacle nearly killed the company. Grumman first get design, the F9F Panther, was not as good as the better McDonnell F2N Banshee. Indeed, the book gives a proposed swept wing F2N-5 design that McDonnell proposes but by that time they were far along on the design on the F3N Demon, an advanced design by any standard. The F9F is a tubby design and is a full 60 miles per hour slower than the F2N. Grumman comes out with the modified F9F-6/8 by the mid-1950s. McDonnell is getting the may kinks out of the Demon but the fact is McDonnell is one generation ahead of Grumman at this point. Then in the late 1950s Grumman produces the F11F, a good fighter but not as good as the F8U Crusader. And by this point it's hopeless because the F11F is in a design fly off against the McDonnell F4N and that jet is in a class by itself. Then the author runs quotes of a Grumman engineer bad mouthing the F2 Fury saying it's not as good on station as the Cougar. Well, the Furys were holding the line against a MiG threat when Grumman was trying to get the lead out of their designs. <br><br>Vought had as many problems with their designs as the rest. They made the mild failure, the F6U Pirate, a get with half the thrust of the F2N. Then Vought made the dreadful F7U Cutlass, perhaps one of the worst operational jets in the USN. Vought did a great job with the F8U Crusader, one of the best "gunfighter" jets ever made by any nation. <br><br>All in all I found this book from Amazon to be quite enjoyable. I got my money's worth. Now, I have one quibble with the book: there was no break down on jet engines nor much information. That was not a big deal for me because I used to work on F-4C, F-4E, F-100, and the F-105 aircraft. So, I know the engines (J-79, J-57, and J-75 respectively). But if you're an aircraft buff that means you'll be scratching your head on keeping all the engines correct. There is one saying in this book that's true, "You can fly a Pratt & Whitney farther than you can ship an Allison". That goes for Westinghouse. <br><br>This book is great and I now remember why I used to love aircraft when a kid. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Outstanding overview of early jet development, June 6, 2008</strong><br/><i>By James Atkins</i><br/><br/>This book is an outstanding look at the most fertile period in aviation, the transition to jets, specifically the creation of high performance aircraft that could accomplish the most difficult feat in flying- carrier operations. Thomason reviews the misfires as well as the world-beaters, from the little-known Vought Pirate to the masterful McDonnell Phantom. Well written, concise and authoritative. Highly recommended! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Invaluable Reference, October 20, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Paul F. Austin</i><br/><br/>An outstanding review of post-WWII US Navy fighters. This is a fairly technical book, discussing not just the history of the aircraft but also giving a good view of US jet engine development during the forties and fifties, aircraft systems and an interesting take of how successful each type was based on numbers of squadrons and number of deployments made. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1580071104?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-30772645846113198802011-01-07T12:50:00.011-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.252-08:00Inferno: The Epic Life And Death Struggle Of The Uss Franklin In World War Ii<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760329826?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:88.48px; height:140px; padding:0 26px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518R4gsduyL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760329826?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:176.96px; height:280px; padding:0 52px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518R4gsduyL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0760329826?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>ISBN13: 9780760329825</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Condition: New</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Zenith Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0760329826' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Known throughout the fleet as "Big Ben," the USS Franklin was christened for the legacy of the four prior U.S. Navy ships named after Benjamin Franklin. The Franklin was a creation of World War II, one of twenty-four Essex-class fast carriers built during the conflict, forming the backbone of the U.S. Navy's war against Japan. By the time the war had moved to Okinawa in the spring of 1945, "Big Ben" had already seen substantial combat, having participated in the island campaigns of the central and western Pacific and the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, where she sustained heavy damage from the new and deadly Japanese kamikaze. <P>On March 19, 1945, the Franklin was launching her aircraft against Honshu, the Japanese mainland, including the shipping industry in Kobe Harbor. Suddenly, a single enemy aircraft pierced the cloud cover and made a low level run on the ship, striking it with a 250kg bomb which pierced the deck and set off a chain reaction of exploding ordnance and aviation fuel. The aircraft carrier, now on fire, listing heavily to starboard, and with over 1,000 casualties, appeared to be mortally wounded. Inferno tells the heroic tale of the efforts that saved "Big Ben." It is a tremendous story of endurance and seamanship, told in harrowing detail in the survivors' own words. Inferno makes for gripping reading.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Harrowing True Story of "Big Ben", January 4, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Jeffrey T. Munson</i><br/><br/>In this exciting book, author Joseph A. Springer tells the tale of the USS Franklin and her fight to survive against the Japanese. <br><br>"Big Ben" was one of over twenty Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Measuring over 800 feet long and carrying 90+ aircraft, Big Ben and her sister ships had brought the war right to Japan's doorstep by the early spring of 1945. The Franklin had served in numerous campaigns since her commissioning, earning a remarkable battle record along the way. <br><br>In March, 1945, the Franklin and the rest of the Big Blue Fleet were poised less than 60 miles from Japan. Franklin's planes were assigned to bomb airfields suspected of housing kamikaze aircraft. The Franklin had a run-in with a kamikaze the previous fall which resulted in the loss of many men and necessitated her return to the mainland for repairs. While undergoing refit, the Franklin received a new captain, Leslie Edward Gehres. He was a by-the-book captain who regularly belittled his crew. The crew members took an immediate dislike to Gehres, and this only grew worse as time went on. <br><br>On March 19, 1945, a single Japanese Judy dive bomber weaved through the intense flak put up by the Americans and dropped a single bomb square on the deck of the Franklin. During the next twenty-eight hours, the Franklin fought for her life as huge explosions racked the ship. Hundreds of men were killed and many were blown off the ship due to the raging fires. There were numerous acts of heroism and gallantry as the crew fought to save the ship. The light cruiser USS Santa Fe moved alongside the Franklin to assist with the firefighting as well as evacuating the wounded. <br><br>Finally, the ship's fires were brought under control and a tow line was rigged between the Franklin and the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh. The Franklin was towed out of harm's way until she could steam on her own. In the end, the Franklin was able to steam all the way back to New York for repairs. But, 798 men were killed and 487 wounded in this terrible attack. Captain Gehres threatened to court-martial the men who had left the ship, including the ones who were blown over the side. He made up little cards and distributed them to the men who had remained on the ship. He also refused to let the survivors who left the ship sail back to the United States aboard the Franklin. <br><br>This is an excellent book. What makes the book so good is the oral histories provided by the surviving crew members. These brave men give the reader a vivid picture of what it was like to serve on the Franklin. They also pulled no punches in describing their dislike of captain Gehres. The best part was the survivors' description of the dive bombing attack and how they banded together to save the ship. <br><br>I give this book my highest recommendation. Oral histories are the best way to really learn about an event, and Joseph Springer has used the oral histories contained in this book to paint a picture of what it was really like to serve on a fleet carrier in World War II. The interwoven text provided by Springer is informative as well. World War II history fans will definitely enjoy this fine book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Big Ben Lives On., November 8, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Dennis Thomas</i><br/><br/>You watched the PBS documentary, The War, from Ken Burns which purportedly was an oral history depicting WWII from the soldier-level point of view. It was a fine attempt but fell short of the goal in comparison to Joseph A. Springer's Inferno as he takes us on board the USS Franklin (a.k.a Big Ben) and into battle with the sailors and airmen who fought for our freedom. The reader benefits from a reduction in scope from global conflict to one in which a sailor blown overboard cannot see beyond the next ocean swell. From this perspective, one can begin to understand the war in a personal way. <br><br>A well-crafted book, we are taken "from the keel, up" as Inferno begins with Big Ben's specifications and construction as well as crew training and shake down. After laying the proper groundwork, the book quickly moves the reader into naval operations as a fast fleet carrier, dealing death and destruction along a vast swath of the South Pacific including many famous battlegrounds; Iwo Jima, Peleliu, Luzon, Manila, Leyte, and Honshu. In carefully organized interviews, we are taken into the cockpits and gun turrets of dive-bombers, torpedo planes and fighter aircraft in the words of the men who were actually there. Riveting action reports, aircrew survival stories and eyewitness bomb damage assessments make it seem as if we are inside the minds of the frightened, but brave young men risking their lives to do their duty. <br><br>Inferno notes that aircraft carriers were high-value targets commanding the special attention of Japanese aviators who flew through the Battle Group to zero in on flattops. Big Ben's size and importance led to one of the the Navy's first encounters with Japan's Divine Wind - their suicide Kamikaze attack planes - where they delivered a severe blow to the Franklin off of the Philippines in October 1944. This first successful attack by the Kamikaze forced Big Ben back to Bremerton, WA for repairs. Call it fate or bad luck, but this was not to be the last time that she would taste the sting of battle and catastrophic damage. A few short months later in March 1945, she would experience the near-fatal bomb attack off of Honshu that would define her crews' courage and valor as they saved the ship and brought her back to New York where she was nearly rebuilt - but never the same. <br><br>The book strives to restore honor to the entire crew as the vindictive actions of a misguided captain attempted to segregate the crew into the Big Ben 704 Club - those sailors and airmen that remained on board during the entire ordeal - and those who did not; even if they were blown overboard by exploding ordnance, forced off due to flames and heat, removed to a rescue vessel as a result of injury or simply because they were ordered to abandon ship. Springer's Inferno makes it clear that All Hands of the U.S.S. Franklin, and those on the rescue vessels, were the real heroes of this heart-rending struggle. <br><br>First class photos, maps, illustrations and an information-packed Addendum lend clarity to the story and help to hold the many details together in a concise and compelling manner. If you are ready for a hard-to-put-down book, Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in WWII should be on your Christmas list. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>So you think you know about WWII..., October 17, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Mary Roach "Lady Bug"</i><br/><br/>Okay, Boomers, you saw Saving Private Ryan, and you think you know just how bad WWII could be? That was war in Europe, that was the Army. There was also the war in the Pacific and the BlueJackets. The boys in the Navy, you know, the ones that had the cushy assignments: 3 hots and a bunk. <br><br>This book is a must read for anyone who fancies themselves WWII history buff, but really it's a great read for anyone, it's so well written and so compelling. It's an oral history, so a great deal of the material is told in the words of the men who were there. Springer has a perfect ear for capturing just the right material from his interviews to move his story forward and yet still capture the flavor of the real deal. He's also not afraid to put conflicting accounts justaposed, which ironically gives it more credibility (fog of war). He also puts in just the right amount of his own prose to give the reader the historical context. There are also excellent diagrams, maps and appendices to provide more detail. <br><br>The other thing any reader needs to know before purchasing is that this is a very specific account of life (and death) aboard the USS Franklin, it's not and does not try to be a history of the war in the Pacific. I have no clue why Amazon is suggesting patton, italy or eisenhower as tags. <br><br>It's a wonderful account of the truly astounding acts of bravery of the younger members of "the Greatest Generation" in their own words, captured thankfully before we lose these precious people to the winds of time. It's also an account of the incredible and intractable ego of their commander, which led to the devastation of the Franklin in the first place. Ego can be a great thing in a leader but it can also lead to stupidly irrational 'reasoning', and truly disastrous results, as demonstrated here. <br><br>A minor regret: I wish someone (anyone) who thought Gehres was a good leader (Springer states there were many) would have gone on the record with some detail as to why they felt that way. It would have made the story more complete in my mind. Who were these people and why did they feel that way? I can accept that somebody would be a good leader in peace but not in war, or that a commander would be a good leader on a cruiser or a battleship but not on a carrier, or that he had managed to control his ego previously, but as he got older, it raged out of control. I just wish I knew what the case was here. In any case, Springer certainly makes his case that Gehres was a catastrophe leading the Franklin. <br><br>Most of all, the book truly proves at all levels, large and small, that individuals matter, even (or perhaps especially) in the military. I can't wait to get Springer's The Black Devil Brigade: The True Story of the First Special Service Force in World War II <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A welcome addition to naval and World War II history shelves., November 3, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Midwest Book Review</i><br/><br/>Retired Aircraft Weapons Specialist of the United States Air Force Joseph A. Springer presents Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II, the true story of the aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13), known throughout the fleet as "Big Ben". One of twenty-four Essex-class fast carriers built during World War II and formed the backbone of the U.S. Navy during the war against Japan, Big Ben participated in island campaigns of the central and western Pacific, the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, and strikes against Honshu and Kobe Harbor. Big Ben suffered casualties from the dreaded Japanese kamikaze, and was nearly sunk by a 250-kilogram bomb that set off a chain reaction of exploding aviation fuel and ordnance. Though Big Ben appeared mortally wounded and endured severe loss of life - a loss that would have been even greater if not for the heroism of the remaining crewmembers and the efforts of the USS Santa Fe to take the wounded to safety. A gripping true story of bravery and sacrifice, featuring the words of men who served aboard "Big Ben" as well as a handful of black-and-white photographs. A welcome addition to naval and World War II history shelves. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A Great Story, not to be forgotten., April 13, 2008</strong><br/><i>By craig brammer</i><br/><br/>For 5 years, I served as a Docent on the U.S.S. Hornet, CV 12 in Alameda, California. This museum ship, sister of CV 13 Franklin, is open to visitors who care to see what these ships were about. In my Engine Room tour, taking 20 visitors down to bottom of the ship for an hour, I would spend some 10 minutes telling the story of the Franklin. As often as not, there would be tears. In the Forward Engine Room, at the bottom of the main control panel, there is mounted a control box with the brass label CV13, originally from the Franklin. <br><br>A.A. Hoehling had written The Franklin Comes Home, a good book that earned it BlueJacket Navy. Inferno was much richer in its read and the human elements. Highly recomended. <br><br>With all of the WW2 men rapidly dying off, it is not likely that we'll get the stories of most of the other Essex Carriers. Each fought the war from its own unique perspective and accomplishments. Thank you Mr. Springer for telling this story. As a high school teacher, our students have no sense of reality or proportionality about war, gallantry, and 1,000 men dying in less than an hour. It's here, in this book. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A splendid story well told, October 1, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Barrett Tillman</i><br/><br/>Joseph Springer has emerged as an accomplished WW II historian. Following his Special Service Force history with the gripping story of USS Franklin, he demonstrates an impressive mastery of the field. <br><br>Two aspects of Inferno that particularly impress me are the excellent integration of multiple oral histories in describing the same event(s), and the historiography inherent to the CV-13 story. For decades the incomplete accounting of "Big Ben's" casualties was accepted as final, but Springer clearly demonstrates how the erroneous figure of 724 KIAs was compiled and not re-examined. (In truth, nearly 800 Franklin men lost their lives in the conflagration of 19 March 45.) <br><br>There's also the intensely human story of the wretched relationship between new skipper Captain Gehres and his mostly veteran crew--a genuine HMS Bounty tale moved forward to mid 20th century. For that reason alone, Inferno serves as a study in command failure. Even a cursory reading of the multiple accounts leaves no doubt: Big Ben was saved by the efforts of numerous small teams of sailors devoted to their shipmates, who received almost no constructive leadership from the CO. <br><br>How Gehres rose to so important a command--he was the only non-Annapolis officer to conn a fast carrier in WW II--would make interesting reading. The behind-the-scenes maneuverings in the Navy Department may be unknowable at this late date, but Adm. Nimitz had been dissatisfied with Gehres' performance in the Aleutians 1942-44. However, other than that, and a few minor errors, Inferno delivers a comprehensive "black gang" to aviator look at the men who lived one of the most dramatic events of WW II at sea. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>From a FRANKLIN relative, October 18, 2007</strong><br/><i>By WW II HISTORIAN "BOB B"</i><br/><br/>As a relative of a survivor of the FRANKLIN, I would say this is a fantastic book. I think I have just about everything written on the FRANKLIN except the battle reports as well as over 300 volumns on the Pacific champaigh having studied it for twenty years. I have also met many of the crewman qouted in the book. The coverage of the first cruise is unique not having been covered previously. This gives such a realistic and personnal touch. The details are forthright and reflect the actual conditions. As to a "Pro-Gehers" opinion, there is a man from Capt.Gehers' home town who is suppose to be writing the captain's biography. I agree holdhartedly with the previous review. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0760329826?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-77152142720353639042011-01-07T12:50:00.009-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.257-08:00In The Shadows Of War: An American Pilot's Odyssey Through Occupied France And The Camps Of Nazi Germany<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805057528?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:91.957894736842px; height:140px; padding:0 25px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5155FTC19EL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805057528?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:183.91578947368px; height:280px; padding:0 49px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5155FTC19EL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805057528?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Henry Holt And Co.</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0805057528' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>In a small village in France during the fateful summer of 1944, three disparate lives converged in an unlikely secret alliance. Just after D-Day, Colette Florin hid downed American bomber pilot Roy Allen in her rooms above the tiny girls' school where she taught. While concealing him not only from the Germans but from her neighbors in the small village, she was drawn deeper into the clandestine world of the regional underground. There she met the local leader of the resistance: Pierre Mulsant, a young Frenchman trained by the British secret service who had parachuted into France in the spring of 1944. Drawn from extensive interviews, letters, and archival documents in Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, In the Shadows of War tells their interrelated stories, following these three fascinating people from their Resistance activities in rural France, to Paris and captivity by the Gestapo, to Germany and Buchenwald concentration camp. It is a human story of love and loss, of courage and sacrifice by ordinary people who did not make policy or formulate strategy but whose lives were profoundly altered by war.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The best book I've read in years, April 7, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Richard E. Hourula</i><br/><br/>"In the Shadows of War" is a triumph on numerous levels. First it's one helluva story. The true adventures of Roy Allen, the US pilot shot down over France in June 1944, are remarkable. Moreover, Childers is a skilled writer. The reader will feel transported to France and Germany in 1944-45. The experience of being an Allied pilot, of hiding from the enemy, fearing for one's life, suffering horrible depravations and barbarity are vividly presented. The bravery of the French resistantce fighters is inspiring as the cruelty of the SS and Gestapo is frightening. Concentration camps are not so much described as guided through. The forced march during a snowstorm from one POW camp to the next is similarly endured.<br>The central character, Roy Allen, is cast as a heroic figure, with an indominable will to survive, all the while doing the right thing. (How Childers tells Allen's story apparently without ever having met him is also a noteworthy acheivement). But it is also evident that there were many Roy Allens who served the Allies in WWII.<br>"In the Shadows of War " also has a strong supporting cast. Most especially, Colette Florin the school teacher who risked her life to hide Allen in her apartment. Childers wisely takes the time to fully introduces and present Florin and the rest of the "cast."<br>This book will not just have appeal to World War II buffs. Anyone who likes a cracking good story and appreciates good writing will be drawn into the "Shadows of War." <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A Gripping Account of Heroism and Tenacity, February 12, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Dr. Eugene J. Bass</i><br/><br/>Thomas Childers, a most distinguished professor of history and scholar, has written a gripping true account of an American aviator whose B17 was shot down over occupied France shortly after D-day in 1944. No work of fiction could approach the compelling story of Lt. Roy Allen who was rescued by members of the French resistance and was ultimately the victim of Nazi orchestrated treachery. Protected by a French schoolteacher, her family and friends, in a rural and forest region populated by patriots, his need to return to combat led to months of a hellish existence in the prisons and camps of France and Germany.<br> Professor Childers writes in a style that is very readable as was his earlier book "The Wings of Morning" and I found it very difficult to put "In The Shadows of War" down. It is definitely an outstanding read! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>History That Reads Like A Novel., April 19, 2003</strong><br/><i>By John P. Rooney "John"</i><br/><br/>"In The Shadows Of War" by Thomas Childers. Sub-titled: "An American Pilot's Odyssey Through Occupied France And The Camps Of Nazi Germany". Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2002. This book is so well written that it reads like a novel, with suspense building up as you turn each page.<br>Will the B-17 pilot, Roy Allen, escape from his badly damaged aircraft? Will he be captured by the Germans? Or be rescued by the French Resistance? The French get to him first and he is assigned to a hiding place in a small village. The young teacher, Colette Florin, hides him as they all await liberation by the Allied Armies coming from the Normandy Beaches. But the Allies are delayed by fierce fighting that Summer of 1944, and Roy Allen decides to leave the relative safety of Colette Florin's rooms above the girls' school. He wants to travel to occupied Paris to reach the Resistance pipeline to get him out of France. It was here that the "novel" aspects began to overwhelm me. I said to myself that I would not write it that way; it would be more realistic if the American flyer stayed with the French teacher in the so-called "Golden Cage" and wait for the Allied Armies. Then I saw the photo section (between pages 240 & 241), and I was reminded that Roy Allen actually existed! He was NOT a fictional character. Nor was Colette. They, along with Pierre Muslant, lived and struggled in wartime France. Pierre Muslant was a member of the French Resistance who was to help Roy escape via Paris. Along with Roy, Muslant was captured and died in Buchenwald, so there is only a sketch of him, not a photograph. The excellent writing along with the actual story of this adventure made it almost impossible to put this book down. Just remember, as you read the book, it is fact, not fiction. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>searing account of life on the run and in Buchenwald, March 26, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Daniel Ford</i><br/><br/>I'd give this book 6 stars if the software permitted! Childers has created a searing account of an American airman's life on the run in occupied France, in the hands of the Gestapo, and in the stinking hell of Buchenwald concentration camp. As others have pointed out, the identity of the French resistants can be confusing, as their code names change with different missions, but all you need bear in mind are Colette the schoolteacher, Pierre the secret agent, and Roy Allen the American pilot--their are the "three lives" of the Amazon.com sub-title. Note that the sub-title of the published book is different, as is the photo of the Lysander on the dust jacket. -- Dan Ford <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Roy Allen, a personal friend of my family, October 16, 2004</strong><br/><i>By Marie Hazzard Smith</i><br/><br/>When I was growing up as a young child, Roy Allen and his wife May were very dear friends of my parents. I remember he and May would spend time with us on my parents boat. Roy was always a jokester and made everyone laugh. Now that I am grown, I was extremely excited to find out that there was a book writen about his story. I had no idea of the difficult experiences that he had. Knowing him with his great humor, who would have thought! I can't put this book down, reading each page makes me want to turn to the next so that I can learn to know Roy. I can't wait to see the movie on T.V. - Marie Hazzard Smith <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>GRIPPING ODYSSEY, January 2, 2005</strong><br/><i>By john melsheimer</i><br/><br/>i must say i am not the most advid reader in the world but when i bought this book i could not put it down. this book has it all, great adventures rich with texture and amazing characters! <br>there are many subplots to this book which also help advance the story to a wonderful ending. what a great movie this book would make and the fact that it really happend makes it even more compelling. thomas childers is a wonderful rich story teller. thanks for a great read! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A MUST READ!!, December 2, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Don Graeter "dgraeter"</i><br/><br/>I just finished this superb work a few moments ago. Warning: once you start, you will not be able to put this book down. <br><br>As others have said, this is a true story which reads like a finely crafted work of fiction of the historical "thriller" genre. The constant tension is palpable as our heroes, the downed American airman desperately seeking help in occupied France, the young, small town schoolteacher who decides to risk all to hide him, the brave French Resistance fighter, all attempt to evade capture and death at the hands of the Nazis. That's all you need to know. Treat yourself...get this book and find out what happens to them. As the story draws to its end, you will truly care. I promise. <br><br>I love stories of the WWII era in occupied Europe and have read many, both history and fiction. Alan Furst's works of fiction are good, especially the earlier ones. Robert Ryan's works, The Blue Noon and Early One Morning, are both superb. They are based on actual events and real persons, with additional fictional characters inserted. A central "real" character in the latter, race car driver Robert Benoist, appears briefly in The Shadows of War. <br><br>Airey Neave's They Have Their Exits is a thrilling true memoir of escape from a Nazi prison camp. Neave also appears briefly in Ryan's The Blue Noon. Clare Francis' Night Sky is by far the best fictional work I have enjoyed of this genre. <br><br><br>All these books are excellent page turners. If you only read one, however, read In The Shadows of War. Whether you are interested in WWII and/or clandestine operations in occupied Europe or not, you will love this book and be moved by it. <br><br>I first encountered Thomas Childers in his excellent courses for The Teaching Company. His full history of WWII and his course on Hitler's Empire are excellent. Childers is a highly regarded U. of Pennsylvania professor of history. I recommend those works as well. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0805057528?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-60807882608406993802011-01-07T12:50:00.007-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.263-08:00The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat From Pearl Harbor To Midway<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870211897?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:99.326315789474px; height:140px; padding:0 21px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51753ZZFHCL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870211897?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:198.65263157895px; height:280px; padding:0 41px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51753ZZFHCL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870211897?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0870211897' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Hailed as one of the finest examples of aviation research, this comprehensive 1984 study presents a detailed and scrupulously accurate operational history of carrier-based air warfare. From the earliest operations in the Pacific through the decisive Battle of Midway, it offers a narrative account of how ace fighter pilots like Jimmy Thach and Butch O'Hare and their skilled VF squadron mates - called the "first team" - amassed a remarkable combat record in the face of desperate odds. Tapping both American and Japanese sources, historian John B. Lundstrom reconstructs every significant action and places these extraordinary fighters within the context of overall carrier operations. He writes from the viewpoint of the pilots themselves, after interviewing some fifty airmen from each side, to give readers intimate details of some of the most exciting aerial engagements of the war. At the same time he assesses the role the fighter squadrons played in key actions and shows how innovations in fighter tactics and gunnery techniques were a primary reason for the reversal of American fortunes. After more than twenty years in print, the book remains the definitive account and is being published in paperback for the first time to reach an even larger audience.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>In a Word: Superb, December 20, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Barrett Tillman</i><br/><br/>Both this book and the subsequent Guadalcanal volume deserve at least six stars on a five-star scale. John Lundstrom broke new ground with publication of The First Team in 1984 and continued with the sequel in '94. (By that schedule, it's about time for his Next Book, a long-awaited biography of Adm. Frank Jack Fletcher.)<br> Previously, few American authors had access to so much detailed Japanese material, and none made such excellent use of it. Lundstrom raised the bar for WW II aviation history, and reminds us that the majority of leading authors in the field are nonprofessionals, or at least lack a string of letters behind their names. Rich Frank and the late Jeff Ethell are two more who immediately come to mind. More power to 'em.<br> Though a nonflier, Lundstrom possesses a thorough understanding of carrier aviation and the Pacific War circa 1942. The same cannot be said of some others with longer lists of publications or best sellers to their credit. Nearly 20 years after its release, "The First Team" remains the standard against which similar volumes are measured. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>First Team Scores!, January 2, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Ned Barnett</i><br/><br/>The First Team - Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway <br>and <br>The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign <br>John B. Lundstrom <br>Naval Institute Press <br><br><br>I have been studying naval aviation combat since the early 1960s, and I have never come across a book half so comprehensive, from a historical basis - nor half so useful, from a modeling perspective - as this two-volume set recently reprinted by the Naval Institute Press. The title - "The First Team" - refers to US Naval Aviator fighter pilots who were in service at the start of World War II; a convenient way of focusing on naval fighter combat from December 7, 1941 to the end of the Guadalcanal campaign in early February, 1943. This was a time when the F4F Wildcat bore the brunt of the aerial warfare - a few F2A Buffalo fighters served in the Navy during this time-frame, but the only Buffalos that saw combat were serving with the Marines (who are outside the scope of this two-volume study). <br><br>This book covers literally every incident of aerial combat that included US Navy fighter aircraft from December 7 through the end of Guadalcanal. I mean EVERY incident, every American shoot-down (and every American shot down) and every American carrier attack on a Japanese island target fought during the first 14 months of the war in the Pacific: the Wake relief force, the Gilbert, Marshall and Marcus Island raids, the assault on Rabaul, and the attacks on Tulagi, Lae and Salamaua - and of course, Guadalcanal. The books also cover every carrier vs. carrier battle that was fought in the Pacific before 1944: Coral Sea, Midway, Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz. In short, The First Team two-volume book is incredibly comprehensive. Maps and charts illustrate each battle, each significant combat incident, each movement of carriers and air groups - the detail is remarkable. Author John Lundstrom makes these battles come alive in ways that no other history I've read have been able to accomplish. But for all their value as pure history, these books go way beyond that. <br><br>For instance, The First Team covers combat tactics - the prime reason why the vastly-inferior F4F-4 Wildcat was able to best the incredible Japanese Zero in almost every encounter (including decisive victories at Midway and Guadalcanal). Pre-war, the US Naval air service - alone among the world's air forces - trained its pilots to successfully use deflection shooting, permitting pilots to attack from beam positions, instead of just from directly astern. To perform a deflection-shooting attack successfully, the pilot couldn't aim at the target; instead, he had to aim for where the plane would be when the bullets arrived. <br><br>Deflection shooting is a kind of lead-the-target targeting performed by duck hunters and skeet shooters; a process vastly complicated in aerial combat because both the attacker and the target are moving at several hundred miles per hour, generally in different planes. However, when successfully executed, deflection attacks are almost unbeatable. This kind of deflection shooting permitted American Naval fighter pilots to attack the enemy with limited risk of counter-battery fighter from defending aircraft. Deflection attacks were decisive in attacks on bomber aircraft, but this approach also gave U.S. Naval aviators a significant advantage over the more maneuverable and - at most altitudes - faster Japanese fighters. <br><br>Other tactical elements explored in great detail were the comparative tactical formations - American transition from four-aircraft divisions to two-aircraft divisions while the Japanese held onto the far more awkward and inflexible three-plane formations - as well as the evolution of the "Thatch Weave," a mutually-supportive defensive formation the Japanese were never able to effectively counter. <br><br>The First Team also looks - in depth - at the training of Japanese and US Naval aviators. In 1941, Japanese naval aviators were, man-for-may, the best-trained pilots in the world, yet thanks to different tactical approaches, they were consistently outfought, first by well-trained US Naval Aviators and later even by grass-green Ensigns not long out of advanced training programs. Training and organization were critical - Japanese were taught to move in units of three aircraft, and to take advantage of their aircraft's incredible maneuverability. <br><br>American Naval Aviators were trained in deflection gunnery, in pilot-wingman cooperation and in emphasizing mutually-supporting defensive tactics culminating in the unbeatable Thatch Weave - which remarkably was under development before the outbreak of the war, though "conventional wisdom" has held that Commander John "Jimmy" Thatch developed the mutual-support tactics in response to initial combat with the Japanese. <br><br>Another factor that The First Team explored which worked against the Japanese was the very different organizational structure of the two countries' carrier air groups. In the US Navy, carrier air groups were fungible organizations - new squadrons and new pilots could be shuffled through the air groups, and these groups could be shuffled from carrier to carrier as needed. By contrast, Japanese carrier air groups trained as a unit, and were permanently assigned to a specific aircraft carrier. <br><br>When a Japanese group suffered significant combat casualties, not only were the individual squadrons no longer combat-capable, but the carrier itself was out of the battle. As a result, after the bloody draw at Coral Sea, surviving Naval aviators from the sunken Lexington were able to go back into combat onboard the Yorktown at Midway - less than a month later - effectively replacing losses the Yorktowners suffered at Coral Sea with combat-tested pilots. Even though the Yorktown had been badly damaged, it was patched together and able to field a combat-ready air group that proved decisive at Midway less than a month later. <br><br>However, as explained in The First Team's assessment of Japan's carrier air group organization, the Zuikaku - which, unlike the surviving Yorktown, was undamaged but which also suffered heavy pilot losses - was unable to serve at Midway because the Zuikaku's carrier air group had been decimated, and a carrier without an air group is little more than a target. Although sufficient combat-experienced pilots from the heavily-damaged Shokaku had survived and were at least technically available, because of a long-standing organizational policy, the Japanese were unable to restore the Zuikaku's group. <br><br>Instead, both air groups had to be restored to full combat capability only after receiving infusions of trainees, which required a long work-up period. The Yorktown's presence at Midway was decisive; the absence of Zuikaku was at least potentially just as decisive. Had two Japanese carriers - Zuikaku and Hiryu - survived the first devastating US Naval attack, their return strike may have done more than just knock out the Yorktown. <br><br>The books even get into fascinating controversies, such as the odd decision to put six .50 caliber machine guns into the Navy's new folding-wing F4Fs, even though they'd add a further weight penalty that would - along with the weight of the wing-fold mechanism -cripple the Wildcat's climb, range and overall combat capabilities. The early-war fixed-wing F4F-3 carried four .50 caliber machine guns - which US Navy fighter leaders felt was sufficient to knock down unarmored Japanese bombers and fighters. However, the fixed wing took up deck and hanger space and sharply limited the number of fighters a carrier could handle. With fighter squadrons growing from 18 to 27 to 36 aircraft, the need for folding wings was essential, even though the weight penalty imposed by the folding mechanism would inevitably degrade performance. <br><br> The initial decision to go with six .50 caliber guns in a folding-wing Wildcat was made by the British Fleet Air Arm, which did not routinely face fighter-to-fighter combat - minimizing the need for high-end performance - yet rightly felt it needed the heavier firepower inherent in six .50 calibers to swiftly knock down armored and well-armed German and Italian bombers. Oddly, instead of listening to their own fighter leaders, the US Navy's "Brass Hats" listened to the Brits, and decided - in the name of production efficiency - to standardize on the British design. <br><br>The result was the F4F-4 - a sluggish, slow-climbing short-range fighter which had six .50 caliber machine guns but fewer total rounds of ammo (and, therefore, a much shorter firing time) than the older F4F-3. This plane had a harder time climbing to a decisive altitude. It had difficulty conducting CAPs of more than a couple of hours or escorting bombers farther than 175 miles; and when it did find targets, this new Wildcat all-too-quickly ran out of ammunition. When front-line Naval Aviators complained about being asked to fight what was arguably the best carrier planes in the world with an increasingly second-string fighter plane, the Navy Brass in Washington told these front-line troops to fly their Wildcats with a 2/3rds fuel load and two unloaded guns - absurd advice to pilots who knew they needed every bullet and every gallon of gas every time they went head-to-head in combat with the best-trained naval aviators in the world, the Japanese. <br><br>These limiting factors for the new F4F clearly had an impact in the loss of the Yorktown at Midway, as well as the loss of so many torpedo planes at that same battle - and these F4F deficiencies may have also contributed to the loss of the Hornet at the Battle of Santa Cruz four months later. Nobody from the greenest Naval Aviation Ensign all the way up to Admiral Chester Nimitz had a good thing to say about the F4F-4 - but it was only after the end of the Guadalcanal campaign that the General Motors-built FM-1 reverted to a four-gun armament - too late to face down the Japanese. <br><br>Yet remarkably, the US Navy seldom fought the Japanese head-to-head without coming out on the winning end. Ultimately, the Wildcat scored a three-to-one winning margin over the Japanese - not because the Wildcat was a better fighter aircraft, though it did have some advantages, but because American Naval Aviators had better tactics, from the two-plane division to the Thatch Weave. <br><br>As noted, while it had dramatically shorter range, at least a marginally lower speed at most altitudes - and it was far less maneuverable than the Zero - the Wildcat that fought the Japanese from December 7, 1941 to February, 1943 did have some significant advantages over its adversary. The Grumman was solidly built - earning for its manufacturer the affectionate nickname "Grumman Iron Works." The Grumman fighter was also well-armored (at least where it counted), and - early in the war - it began to receive functional self-sealing fuel tanks that would absorb a 7.7 millimeter (.30 caliber) Japanese machine-gun bullet. <br><br>While it was slow to climb, the Wildcat could dive like a bat out of hell - given enough altitude, American Naval Aviators could always break off combat with Japanese Zeros - and given an initial altitude advantage (hard to come by, but not impossible to achieve), the Wildcat could initiate combat - attack Zeros and other Japanese aircraft - with no recourse by the Japanese. They couldn't escape a diving Wildcat; they could turn and fight, but couldn't run away. <br><br>Further, in a head-to-head attack, the Wildcat's rugged structure and .50 caliber armament (either four-gun or six-gun) easily outmatched their Japanese adversaries. The Japanese Zero's 20 mm cannons were low-velocity weapons useful only at short range; the longer-ranged Japanese 7.7 mm (.30 caliber) machine guns had too little hitting power to ensure a quick victory over the Wildcat. On the other hand, the standard American .50 caliber Browning heavy machine guns were fast-firing, long-ranged and hard-hitting enough to knock down any Japanese fighter - or bomber - they could hit. <br><br>All of these factors were covered in fascinating detail in The First Team, making them a feast of information, insight and factual data for the historian - and the history buff. <br><br>Beyond that, the two "First Team" volumes also offer a great deal to modelers. Each book is heavily illustrated with contemporary photos which show evolving markings on US Navy fighters. Not a few of these photos will also offer modelers display and deck-handling diorama ideas. <br><br>In addition, Appendix 3 of The First Team and Appendix 4 of The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign each features side-view profiles of F4F fighters in use during the time periods covered by the books. Together, these let modelers authoritatively paint-and-mark virtually any F4F that fought off one of the USN fleet carriers during the first year of the war - including carrier-based planes that temporarily served on Guadalcanal. With the recent spate of new F4F Wildcat releases in 1/32nd scale (including the soon-to-be-here Trumpeter Wildcat), this kind of reference will prove invaluable to modelers. <br><br>Bottom line: These two books are remarkable. For those interested in carrier-based fighter combat during the dark early days of World War II in the Pacific, these are "must-reads." The books have been released in Trade Paperback format by the US Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland - it's also available from Amazon.com. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Without Peer, August 9, 2004</strong><br/><i>By Jonathan Parshall</i><br/><br/>For the hardcore Pacific War enthusiast, particularly for one with a hankering to understand the Japanese side of the story, it's hard to find better work than that produced by John Lundstrom. This volume, as well as his subsequent work on the Guadalcanal campaign, set new standards for how one treated the topic of air-to-air combat. Lundstrom is not only intimately familiar with the American side of the battles he covers, but is able to produce an equal wealth of detail regarding the Japanese side. In the course of preparing my own forthcoming Midway volume, this book has been one of my bibles--it's absolutely indispensable for understanding both the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. <br><br>-jon parshall- <br>Imperial Japanese Navy Homepage <br>http://www.combinedfleet.com <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Excellent overall, but a superb reference on the Battle of Midway, October 27, 2006</strong><br/><i>By R. W. Russell "midway42.org"</i><br/><br/>This is an amazing book for a number of reasons, including the fact that all of the reviews previously posted (as I write this) are four or five star (mostly five). The text of some of the four-star reviews even sound like they should have rated a five. Few books on Amazon get near-perfect appraisals--the fact that this one does is a telling mark of its quality. <br><br>Today (in 2006) John Lundstrom enjoys a much-deserved reputation as a preeminent author and historian in the field of U.S. naval aviation, particularly when the subject is his core specialty, the early years of World War II. That said, it is interesting to go back and read this 1984-vintage volume and compare it to his later award-winning works. Does it exhibit the growing pains of a budding expert still learning his craft, or does it rate as world class not only today but among its peers when it was first published? The short answer is: five stars, then and now. <br><br>This reviewer's specialty is the Battle of Midway, which only comprises the final third of the book. But even though his primary focus is on the fighter squadrons, Lundstrom's short history of that battle is among the very best references available anywhere. It is meticulously accurate, thanks to the author's deep research into archives and veteran testimony not available or not explored by other Midway chroniclers, including Lord and Prange. That it came out many years before other modern references on the battle that similarly improve upon earlier works is a tribute to the author's diligence. As a Battle of Midway resource, I rate it in the top three or four along with Cressman's "A Glorious Page in Our History" and "Shattered Sword" by Parshall & Tully. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>An essential part of any WWII fighter library, January 5, 2003</strong><br/><i>By David Parsons "Hey Joe"</i><br/><br/>John Lundstrom has written an authoritative and definitive account of US Naval fighter combat in the South Pacific in the earliest days of WWII. It can truly be called a masterpiece of research and writing. While many of the early skirmishes and battles leading up to Midway have been covered in many books, Mr Lundstrom brings a detailed perspective virtually on a daily basis and from both sides of the conflict. In key battles such as Coral Sea and Midway, he lays out tactics and formations down to names of opposing aircrew and where they flew. He also does a superb job of describing the earlier carrier raids that counted as the First Teams initial scrimmages before the big game. This has set an entirely new standard rivaled only by his sequel that picks up where this volume leaves off. As a modern day naval flight officer with carrier combat experience in the F-14 Tomcat, I found myself able to draw direct correlations with the experiences of the First Team thanks to his illuminating writing style. Of particular note is his depiction of day by day and sometimes moment by moment experiences of the First Team in battle (and between battles). This made the book very real and topical and I give it the highest recommendation to anyone in the business or with the slightest interest in the subject. Both books have a very special place in my collection. I found myself hoping that he will continue to address the entire war at this same superlative level of detail. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Lundstrom's scholarship is first rate, June 17, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Steve Conslaw</i><br/><br/>I can't believe that I'm the first one to review this book because it's been out for awhile. If you look at the various lists of WWII books that have been posted, it's frequently mentioned. The First Team is the name that author Lundstrom gives to the naval pilots that were in service at the start of the Pacific war. For the most part, these pilots fought all the battles through the Guadalcanal campain Aug-Nov 1942. The pre-war pilots were skilled and experienced and usually knew each other. <br><br>This book talks about the hard lessons that were won through experience through the Battle of Midway. It goes into detail about the Thatch-Flatley Weave. You'll learn that the Japanese Navy had its own First Team. Lundstrom uncovered a lot of details about the Japanese pilots as well. <br><br>Incidently, when I looked up this book, I saw Amazon's list of recommended reading reprinted below: <br><br>The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 by John B. Lundstrom <br>Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific by Eric M. Bergerud <br>The Big E: The Story of the USS Enterprise by Edward Peary Stafford <br>Touched With Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific by Eric Bergerud <br>PACIFIC CAMPAIGN: THE U.S.-JAPANESE NAVAL WAR 1941-1945 by Dan Van der Vat <br>Hunter-Killer: U.S. Escort Carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic (Bluejacket Books) by William T. Y'Blood <br><br>I've read each of these books exceptDan Van der Vat's book, and each of those recommended would probably make my top 10 list along with the Lundstrom books. The Bergerund books in particular are good companion reading to the Lundstrom books. Fire in the Sky makes clear the triangular nature of the 1942 Pacific War, with Rabaul at the top of a triangle with its other points at Guadalcanal and New Guinea. <br><br>Touched with Fire, about the land war, shows how land fighting in the jungle of New Guinea was limited by the terrain and lack of roads. It is easy to see how lessons from New Guinea shaped the American approach to jungle fighting in Vietnam. The Americans knew that isolated firebases could be set up to dominate a large area without expending an occupying force over the whole perimeter. <br><br>The Peary book about the U.S.S. Enterprise is a classic, and it's good to see it back in print. I read it for the first time in grade school, and I've re-read my dogeared copy several times since. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Accurate, Well Written, A Pleasure to Read, November 2, 2005</strong><br/><i>By John Matlock "Gunny"</i><br/><br/>'The First Team' was the group of Navy fighter pilots serving with the Pacific carriers at the beginning of the war. In addition, this book might be called something like 'The First Team.' It is the definitive work on the subject. <br><br>This was the time when the US had few carriers in the Pacific. It was the time of the Wildcat fighter up against Zeros. It was the time when fliers like Thatch and Butch O'Hare were first learnign their trade. It was the time when the Japanese were expanding at an unbelievable rate. The Japanese also had a 'First Team' of experienced pilots with a lot of hours. And it was the time when Midway broke the back of the Japanese advance. <br><br>This book is as close to the complete story as it is possible to get. It covers what happened, the strategy that was being followed, the tactics that were changing as they learned more. This is the book that the others use as a reference when they are writing about this area. It is accurate, it is well written, it is a pleasure to read. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0870211897?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-32970625550454034452011-01-07T12:50:00.005-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.267-08:00The Big E: The Story Of The Uss Enterprise<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557509980?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:93.431578947368px; height:140px; padding:0 24px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415Z4D9TD1L.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557509980?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:186.86315789474px; height:280px; padding:0 47px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415Z4D9TD1L.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1557509980?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Us Naval Institute Press</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=1557509980' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>A lasting memorial to the USS <I>Enterprise</I>, this classic tale of the carrier that contributed more than any other single warship to the naval victory in the Pacific has remained a favorite World War II story for more than twenty-five years. The Big E participated in nearly every major engagement of the war against Japan and earned a total of twenty battle stars. The Halsey-Doolittle Raid; the Battles of Midway, Santa Cruz, Guadalcanal, the Philippine Sea, and Leyte Gulf; and the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa are all faithfully recorded from the viewpoint of the men who served her so well. The author, a naval aviator, focuses on the exploits of the famous ship's air groups, capturing the reality of their encounters and provoking a range of emotions from readers. <P>This superb study of a great ship, her crew, and the action they saw has been called one of the finest pieces of naval writing to emerge from the war. What it is like inside the cockpit of a Dauntless dive bomber as it bores in on its target or the effort required to unstick the ship's huge rudder when damaged by a bomb are just two of the nuggets Edward Stafford mined from the mountain of research and lengthy interviews he conducted to write the book. Literate and scholarly as well as highly dramatic, the book will appeal to historians and the general public alike. <br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Definitive Account, February 9, 2003</strong><br/><i>By Joel@AWS</i><br/><br/>First, I'll admit I'm not an unbiased reviewer. My dad served in Enterprise for three hard years ('42-45), and I've made my own efforts to tell her story. That said, "The Big E" is without peer, as both a history of the World War II-era carrier Enterprise, and as a record of what carrier warfare in the '40's was like. Stafford's prose is both elegant and -- given the records he had available in 1960 -- accurate. His descriptions are vivid: you can feel the decks whip violently at Santa Cruz, you can see the vibrant green of the Philippines at Leyte Gulf, you can sense the tension in the ready rooms at Midway. Her men are not just names on a page, but tangible characters: bold, fast-thinking, humble, optimistic, but sometimes very worried about their prospects. There are a couple points about the book which the prospective reader should be aware of. Stafford's focus is primarily on the ship's squadrons, and less so on efforts of her crew. Originally published over 40 years ago, some of the language is a bit dated, though, again, overall the writing is superb. The fact, however, that a 40-year old book about a ship that was decommissioned in 1947 is deemed fit to reprint in 2002 should tell you two things. The book is not a throwaway, but a genuine work of literature. And Enterprise was not just a warship, but a unique bonding of man and machine, that came through for her country when she was needed most. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Absolutely Magnificent, June 23, 2002</strong><br/><i>By Grant Waara</i><br/><br/>Thank heaven the Naval Institue Press has brought this classic back in print. Commander Stafford's book in an action packed account of the Navy's most decorated ship. The Enterprise's story is in many ways, the story of the Navy in the Pacific. She was there at Pearl Harbor (where her fliers eventually sunk a Japanese submarine) the early raids, Midway, Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz, the early drives in the central Pacific, the Phillipine Sea, Leyte Gulf, the early carrier raids on Japan and Okinawa. Commander Stafford's book is a perfect example of what good history is all about. It's gripping, easily read and best of all, always clear. You never have to reread passages to understand what he had written. To wrap this review up, if you're a World War II navy buff, you simply HAVE to read this book. You'll be glad you did.<br>One last thing. Commander Stafford also wrote Little Ship, Big War: the Saga of the U.S.S. Abercrombie DE343. This is a history/memoir of the destroyer he served on during the war. This too is recommended. He basically accomplished for the Navy what Stephen Ambrose did so admirably for the Army; he told the story of the average Citizen Sailor who rode the small ships to victory in the war. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>2nd copy, December 12, 2002</strong><br/><i>By MICHAEL HOUSE</i><br/><br/>I have had this book since it was first published and I can no longer keep the book together, so it is time to replace it. I'm was thriller to see it still in print.<br> My father was a plank owner of the BIG "E" and loved the ship with a special love that only someone who have faced death and servived can feel. It was a disgrace to have her scrapped and after readin Cdr Stafford's incredible story, I believe that everyone would agree she(and more importantly the men who seved on her) were and are national treasures <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Big E should be required reading in every high school!, September 2, 1999</strong><br/><i>By cjh31@wa.freei.net</i><br/><br/>This book tells the story of a ship that was in the second world war from it's beginning at Pearl Harbor until the final month of victory. It gives detailed accounts of the men who fought and died on her that are unparalleled in that or any other war, giving names of Americans whose heroic actions were commonplace in that war, expecting and asking for no thanks or praise, just doing their jobs. The writing is at times more like poetry than prose, the description's vivid and clear, something that anyone who served on ships at that time can recognize from their own experince. Stafford's work ranks with the best of historical novelists like Bruce Catton or Shelby Foote, who painted such clear pictures of the American Civil War. Every high school student would gain much for his understanding of life from knowing the deeds that those men and that ship performed. And they would see a clear example of what great writing and prose are meant to be. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Ship With A Soul, November 4, 2002</strong><br/><i>By Richard J. Cahalane</i><br/><br/>This was the first book I read about World War II and it inspired me regarding the selfless way these men who fought put themselves on the line everyday for 4 years. Cmdr Stafford brought the ship to life. I lost this book over the years and the copy I have now is precious to me. The sacrifice of those on board cannot ever be discounted nor will it ever cease to inspire. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A execelent history., June 27, 1998</strong><br/><i>By spoilaire@aol.com</i><br/><br/>The book covers, in detail, the history of the Enterprise in World War II. I especially enjoy how personal comments and points of view were coveered. It was written almost like an historic novel, with detailed discription and accounts of the battles of Midway and Santa Cruz. The telling of the scene a Pearl Harbor is excelent. The heroism of the crrew is shown in many stories. This book is a must for all who love the history of WWII, It was well researched and very well written. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>read this book, July 17, 2007</strong><br/><i>By Michael Batzel</i><br/><br/>This is one of the best books ever wrote on WWII. I wish it could have gone more into the actual deck operations but you cannot really fault the auther. What astonishes me most is the number of times pilots understood that they had no fuel and would have to ditch into the ocean but still pushed on watching there friends and squadron mates go down in battle. I recommend to everyone. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1557509980?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-11556117305845520052011-01-07T12:50:00.003-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.273-08:00Warbird Recovery: The Hunt For A Rare Wwii Plane In Siberia, Russia<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595354785?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:85.4px; height:140px; padding:0 28px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EPQ21B1WL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595354785?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:170.8px; height:280px; padding:0 55px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EPQ21B1WL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595354785?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Iuniverse, Inc.</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0595354785' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>Author <B>Gordon Page</B> takes you on a harrowing adventure to the east and west coasts of Russia in his hunt for rare World War II aircraft. Encountering greed and bribery at every turn, Page risks his safety for a lifelong dream.</P> <P><I>I called Mike minutes after I hung up with Peter and asked him if he would join me on an adventure to Russia to acquire a Messerschmitt 109. Once again, he laughed at me. I didnât know anyone who traveled as often as Mike or who had the expertise to recognize if I was buying a Messerschmitt 109 or a pile of junk. I practically begged him to join me, even bribing him by saying that we could come back through London for an extra day and he should plan to meet up with a long-time German friend of his who he had talked of often. Eventually, he began to take interest. He agreed to join meâ"but only for the three days that I had promised. I told him to prepare his passport and apply for a travel visa to Russia. We would leave within the month. He would also need a money belt. I had no desire to carry all of the cash for the purchase on my own. </I></P> <I><P>Before we hung up, he asked me what my wife thought about a return trip to Russia. I told him that I was just about to go buy a few dozen roses to improve the odds of her approval but that his agreeing to go with me would go a long way with her. At least I hoped it would.</I></P> <br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Warbird Recovery, December 30, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Randy LeVitre</i><br/><br/>I found Gordon Page's book "Warbird Recovery" to be a very enjoyable and compelling adventure. I was not able to put it down from the time I started reading it until I finished. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. <br><br>I appreciate the fact that there are people willing to put so much on the line in order to keep our rich history alive. It's this drive that will keep these planes flying long into the future and help all to remember the struggles and sacrifices that were made for us. <br><br>Thanks Gordon to you and the people working with you that made this story possible. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A dream of mine- read....., December 16, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Rick Apitz</i><br/><br/>For years I have been an aviation buff. Gordon Page put a dream of mine into words. I was there with him on every page. I have collected several bits and pieces of warbirds and can only dream of what Gordon has done. It is a very easy fascinating read, very tough to put down and leaves you wishing for more and more chapters. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone or any age. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A terrific read!, October 31, 2005</strong><br/><i>By J. Calano</i><br/><br/>I confess: I'm not an aviation buff. But I do appreciate a great story and Warbird Recovery is a gripping, real-life tale, filled with turn-the-page intrigue, shady characters, Russian history and laugh-out-loud humor. Take a journey with the author as he risks his life in pursuit of a childhood dream. Warbird Recovery is a terrific read! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Not just for aviators, October 7, 2005</strong><br/><i>By Connie L. Peterson</i><br/><br/>Take a safe journey to Siberia Russia through the pages of Gordon's book. This is a story that can be enjoyed by everyone, not just aviators. You will find adventure, uncertainty and suspicious characters in every chapter. It is also a great reminder to pursue your dreams and never let them die. `Warbird Recovery' is an easy, inspirational read. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Warbird Recovery isn't easy!!, September 14, 2005</strong><br/><i>By J. Iverson</i><br/><br/>I couldn't put this book down! I had been aware of the Bf 109 Project from the Warbird Recovery website and was very eager to hear the whole story. What a story it is! Wow, few of us who view restored warbirds can appreciate the effort that goes into them. This is a rare look behind the scenes and is quite an adventure story. Gordon Page does a great job at transporting the reader in time an place to experience the journey to Russia along with him. The many side trips along the way are the real gems! I kept reading to find out what would happen next! I can't wait to see what happens next and look forward to seeing these rare fighters take flight once again! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Just Put Oil and Fuel In It and Fly it Home, August 17, 2005</strong><br/><i>By John Matlock "Gunny"</i><br/><br/>So the phone rings and someone asks if you'd like to go to Russia and get a P-63 King Cobra. <br><br>'What condition,' you ask. <br><br>'Just put oil and fuel in it and fly it home.' <br><br>Your first thought has to be, 'you gotta be kidding.' <br><br>But then, a flyable P-63 has got to be worth a small fortune. A million dollars wouldn't be out of order at all, depending on condition. Although there were some 3300 P-63's built, only a handfull remain, and most of these are not in flying condition. <br><br>Would you go to Russia? <br><br>Gordon Page did. And he found lots (30 perhaps) P-63's. From the photograph on the back, with the engine over here, the wings gone, the tail missing; I don't think that you can just put fuel in it and fly it away. <br><br>His story of traveling to Russia leaves me with the impression that he is lucky to be alive. And he reports that his wife has refused to let him go again. <br><br>Then after that, he made another trip, this time in search of a Me-109. He found it, he bought it, and another miracle, they shipped it. Not only did they ship it, but they included a second Me-109. Now, with a million dollars, you can get a flying Messerschmitt. <br><br>I'm passing this book along to a friend of mine who goes to Russia (not far from the P-63's) a couple of times a year (gold mining) to see if he can find a P-63 -- it would be almost worth it's weight in gold. <br><br>He went to Russia in 1993. This was one of the first to begin to try to do business in Russia. I don't get the feeling that things have improved very much. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Superb story, May 17, 2007</strong><br/><i>By M. E. Amyatt-leir "mungojumbo"</i><br/><br/>This is an excellent book for anyone with even a slight interest in aircraft. <br><br>Although the book won't tell you much about WWII planes (hey you can get that in a 1000 boring tomes on the subject), it is a gripping and well-written read. You get a true sense of adventure and wonder if Gordon Page was either brave, lucky or determinedly stupid in his quest for the ultimate wreck! <br><br>I enjoyed it immensely from the first to last page. <br> <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0595354785?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-4475068110992074272011-01-07T12:50:00.001-08:002011-01-07T13:48:28.278-08:00A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story Of Torpedo Squadron Eight<div style='text-align:left;'><table border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3><tr><td style='text-align:center;'><span id='PostThumbImageLink' style='display:none'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316021393?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:90.44px; height:140px; padding:0 25px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TQBdgWjfL.jpg'/></a></span><span id='PostImageLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316021393?tag=bluetcom-20'><img style='border:0; width:180.88px; height:280px; padding:0 50px;' src='http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TQBdgWjfL.jpg'/></a></span><br><span id='BuyNowLink'><a border=0 href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316021393?tag=bluetcom-20'><img border=0 src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/buynow.png'/></a></span></td><td style='text-align:center;'><div style='text-align:left;'><ul><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>ISBN13: 9780316021395</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Condition: New</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed</strong></li><li style='padding:5px 0;'><strong>Manufacturer: Little, Brown And Company</strong></li></ul></div></td><td style='text-align:center;'><iframe src='http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_top&bc1=FFFFFF&IS1=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=333333&lc1=1046a9&t=bluetcom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=0316021393' style='width:120px;height:240px;' scrolling='no' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' frameborder='0'></iframe></td></tr></table><div id='proddesc' style='padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 25px;'>One of the great untold stories of World War II finally comes to light in this thrilling account of Torpedo Squadron Eight and their heroic efforts in helping an outmatched U.S. fleet win critical victories at Midway and Guadalcanal. These 35 American men--many flying outmoded aircraft--changed the course of history, going on to become the war's most decorated naval air squadron, while suffering the heaviest losses in U.S. naval aviation history.<BR>Mrazek paints moving portraits of the men in the squadron, and exposes a shocking cover-up that cost many lives. Filled with thrilling scenes of battle, betrayal, and sacrifice, A DAWN LIKE THUNDER<EM> </EM>is destined to become a classic in the literature of World War II.<br/></div><br/><br/><h3><span style='text-decoration: underline;'><strong>Customer Reviews</strong></span></h3><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The VT-8 Story You've Never Known, December 23, 2008</strong><br/><i>By R. W. Russell "midway42.org"</i><br/><br/>Author Robert Mrazek's first non-fiction volume is a winner. It's the story of the men of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) during World War II like you've never seen it before. Mrazek went over the top in tracking down all of the squadron's remaining members and recording their reminisces about Midway and Guadalcanal to the fullest extent one could imagine. We've long read of the gallantry of the USS Hornet's VT-8 aircrews at Midway and how their sacrifice was a vital factor in the "incredible victory," but this book goes well beyond the familiar Midway story. It gives the reader insight not previously seen on the men involved, including the good as well as the bad. <br><br>About half of the book focuses on that part of VT-8's history that is seldom remembered: their participation in the Solomons campaign. Although the tragedy of the Hornet's VT-8 aircrews at Midway could hardly have been worse, it was over with in less than an hour, while on Guadalcanal the squadron's detachment there endured months of brutal attrition during the long Japanese campaign to retake the island. <br><br>But the book isn't primarily about wartime history; instead it tells of the men who lived VT-8's portion of that history. There are new revelations about their celebrated commander, John Waldron, plus the aircrews that died with him at Midway. But as expected, there is a great deal more about those who went on to Guadalcanal, including the new commanding officer, Lt. Harold "Swede" Larsen. It turns out that Larsen was an insufferable martinet, as miserable a leader of men as anyone who ever disgraced a leader's uniform. At the other extreme, there are ample tales of the honorable service of the pilots and enlisted men who helped make VT-8's legacy despite the excesses of their skipper. <br><br>The book does have several factual errors that readers well-versed in this subject matter will spot, like referring to Japanese "Betty" bombers as carrier aircraft. But none of those detract from the book's essential value, which is a superb telling of the VT-8 story like it's never been told before. Highly recommended. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>One of the best WW2 books I have ever read, December 8, 2008</strong><br/><i>By PeterB "PeterB"</i><br/><br/>I am a passionate student of WW2 history and have read many accounts of the war in the Pacific over the past 30 years. This is by far the most compelling account I have encountered of two of the most pivotal battles of the war. More remarkably, it's an amazing account of some true American heroes and, sadly, some who were not so heroic. I know it sounds corny, but I really felt I was in the cockpit with these pilots and couldn't believe what they did to support each other and the troops on the ground. I was humbled by their courage and much more affected by their individual stories than I expected. I don't want to ruin the story for you, so suffice it to say I am sure you won't forget many of the individual stories told in this book. <br><br>This book was given to me as a gift and I have already given it to several others who ended up confirming my own reaction. This is a must read if you are interested in any aspect of the War in the Pacific or the reality of what it was like to fly on impossible missions. I wasn't able to put it down... <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>They Sacrificed Themselves So Others Might Survive, December 24, 2008</strong><br/><i>By Jeffrey T. Munson</i><br/><br/>Author Robert J. Mrazek has written a compelling and informative read about a heroic squadron of pilots who sacrificed themselves against vastly superior odds. This is the story of Torpedo Squadron Eight and their unselfish contribution to the defeat of Japan in the early stages of the Pacific war. <br><br>During the pivotal Battle of Midway in June, 1942, this brave group of men, flying obsolete aircraft, nevertheless fearlessly attacked the Japanese carrier striking force. Forty-five of the forty-eight men in the squadron were killed that day. But, they cleared the way for the Dauntless dive bombers by bringing the Japanese fighters down so low that they couldn't react once the dive bombers started their dives. The end result was the loss of four Japanese carriers, and the turning of the tide inexorably toward Japan for the rest of the war. <br><br>After the battle of Midway, torpedo eight was based on the American carrier USS Saratoga. From here, the new pilots participated in many attacks against the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Guadalcanal. After the Saratoga suffered a torpedo hit and was forced to withdraw, the men of torpedo eight became part of the Cactus Air Force based on Guadalcanal. During their time on Guadalcanal, torpedo eight pilots helped sink numerous enemy ships, including 2 battleships, a light carrier, and several cruisers and destroyers. After Guadalcanal, the squadron was disbanded and its pilots were assigned to new squadrons. <br><br>This is an excellent book. The author does a fine job of introducing the reader to some of the pilots in the squadron. He also describes in great detail the heroic sacrifice these men made at the Battle of Midway and the sweet revenge they were able to extract at Guadalcanal. I've read many works of naval history, and I would rate this book as one of the best I've read. <br><br>I give this fine book my highest recommendation. The action is non-stop, and the author does a fine job of detailing America's first two offensives in the Pacific war. This book is a must-read for naval history fans. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>The Exciting Story of an Important WWII Battle, January 9, 2009</strong><br/><i>By John B. Northrop</i><br/><br/>A Dawn Like Thunder - Torpedo Squadron 8 - the Battle of Midway is a very <br>interesting, well written and thoroughly researched book about a turning point of the Pacific War on 4 June 1942, the destruction of much of the <br>Japanese fleet by this Squadron of skilled fliers, fliers who gave their <br>lives to accomplish this feat. Bob Mrazek brings these men back to life by quoting from their diaries and letters and what their commanding officers wrote about them. You really feel you are getting to know these heroes and their families too. You also get a look at the skill of Admiral Nimitz and his team in their planning and their strategy to fight the Pafific War. WWII <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>One of the best ever unit histories of WWII!, January 4, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Timothy L. Raab "Tim Raab"</i><br/><br/>I read this book like an action-adventure novel--straight thru with no chaser. Torpedo Squadron Eight epitomized all that was good about the struggle America undertook in the most righteous of wars. Robert Mzarek executed a great job of research and the pilots and ground crew of the squadron came very alive and I feel I am better now that I know them. One always wonders what one would do when confronted with a challenge like they had and Mr. Mzarek's history serves as a humbling example of how you should act and follow through on serving your country. The book is very well written and ranks in my library of all histories as one of the most stirring and emotional in the bunch. I literally could not put it down and it left me emotional and reflective, but most of all proud, which I think all histories like this should do. Buy the book and learn about this group of men, officers and enlisted, and the battle of Midway and Guadalcanal, and it will be a very worthwhile investment. Outstanding book! <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>Awesome read..., January 1, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Robert H. Irving</i><br/><br/>This book was given to me as a Christmas present. Fantastic selection! The author speaks the language of the naval aviator and expertly reveals the multiple personalities that make up a combat squadron. Those who have flown missions in any conflict will appreciate the detail. All will understand the incredible sacrifice of a small group of men. Very, very good read. <br><br/><br/><br/><img src='http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif'/> <strong>A History Like Thunder, January 13, 2009</strong><br/><i>By Sacramento Book Review "Sacramento Book Review"</i><br/><br/>Torpedo Squadron Eight was the most decorated navel air squadron in World War II and, probably not coincidentally, also suffered the greatest losses. /A Dawn Like Thunder/ is their history, from the dramatic battle of Midway where, while flying outdated aircraft, they forced the Japanese fighters to chase them so low to the sea that the U.S. dive bombers were able to attack the Japanese aircraft carriers almost unopposed, sinking four. Torpedo Squadron Eight lost most of their pilots that day, but their heroic efforts allowed the American fleet to win against an overwhelming Japanese force. After that, they were assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, and after the Saratoga was damaged, moved to the air base on Guadalcanal. The battle of Midway was the turning point against the Japanese in the Pacific campaign, and these pilots were critical to that end. Their performance in the Battle of Guadalcanal was also influential, and Mrazek tells their story with passion, and provides a follow up to the lives of the survivors, whose many interviews helped tell this story. <br><br/><br/><br/><a href='http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/0316021393?tag=bluetcom-20'>More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-45354960562766123582011-01-03T12:50:00.000-08:002011-01-07T14:34:22.080-08:00Warbird Recovery: The Hunt For A Rare World War Ii Plane In Siberia, Russia<div style="text-align: left;"><table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><div id="proddesc" style="padding-bottom: 25px; padding-top: 20px;">April Fool’s Day, 1992. Author Gordon R. Page receives a call from a business associate offering him the chance to travel to Russia in hopes of acquiring a rare World War II fighter plane. He’s waited for this call for yearsâ€"and it’s not a joke. Packed with action, intrigue, and danger, <i>Warbird Recovery</i> delivers Page’s gripping true story of his journey to Russia to recover the aircraft and fulfill a lifelong dream.<br />
In bitter winter conditions, Page journeys to St. Petersburg, Russia, in an attempt to recover a rare German Bf 109 fighter plane. But everything about traveling in the former Soviet Union only reinforces the vast differences between cultures. Placing a call, buying lunch, and even riding in a taxiâ€"to say nothing of buying an aircraftâ€"prove to be strange and dangerous.<br />
Putting his life at risk, Page discovers that he must learn to negotiate and have plenty of cash on hand to ensure both his safety and his return to the United States. Yet nothing can compare to the excitement he experiences upon finding lost aircraft. Unfortunately, chasing a childhood dream just might cost him his life.</div><br />
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<h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Customer Reviews</b></span></h3><img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>Warbird Recovery....Buy it!, June 15, 2008</b><br />
<i>By Steven M. Dennis</i><br />
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When Gordon sent me the book, I was excited to dig into it, but life is busy, and I didn't get a chance to read it right away. I am sorry I delayed reading it as it is an excellent story. I couldn't put it down once started. Gordon's undying passion and perseverance in the recovery of these WWII relics is impressive. I thought that I have had some pretty crazy adventures moving aircraft around here in the United States, but they are nothing compared to the situations that Gordon and his group had to endure. It makes me very thankful to live in America. Warbird Recovery is a well written story that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, even if you are not an aviation fanatic like me. Thanks Gordon! <br />
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<img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>A real adventure story with a surprise ending!!, February 24, 2008</b><br />
<i>By Rel Hoida</i><br />
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This book is a narrative of tenacity, grit, adventure and very real danger. This book is for anyone that enjoys a concise and quality read, as it is informative on a variety of topics. Gordon Page crafts an intense tale of his quest for a WWII aircraft as an "Americanski" in various settings throughout Russia in the early 90's. The story is exceptionally well-written and fast-paced. No fluff here, and great descriptions of the horrid accomodations, delectible menu items and treacherous, exploitative and sinister characters Mother Russia offers up for Gordon and his companions to navigate throughout this quest. Gordon was one of the pioneers in military relic treasure-hunting in Russia. Lots of guys have done it since, but Gordon is very lucky to alive as he ran into all of the initial life-threatening obstacles, before the Russians realized the profit opportunities, and became receptive to Westerners looking to buy the remnants of war. Reads like a spy novel, meets travel guide. Excellent. Read this book!! <br />
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<img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>A dream of warbirds, an adventure with the KGB and the Russian Mafia., July 25, 2009</b><br />
<i>By Paul Gordon</i><br />
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I started reading this book because I am a warbird fan. <br />
The author was from my State, and I wanted to see what he discovered. I had no idea that you could risk your life just looking around. What a great book! Everyone wanted their fair share of money. Problem was, would the author have enough or would he pay the price? Would he find the rare aircraft? An adventure of Warbird relics, Cod liver oil and the shady characters of the underworld with the KGB always watching. <br />
Once I started reading this book I had a difficult time putting it down. <br />
I would recommend this book to anyone. <br />
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<img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>Pick It Up and You Will Not Put It Down, January 30, 2008</b><br />
<i>By Louis Faust III</i><br />
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Gordon Page's Warbird Recovery is a book that once you pick it up, you will not put it down until you finish it. And finish it you will quickly as it is a true to life page turner. Fittingly I finished mine sitting in an airport waiting for my plane. Fortunately I didn't wait as long for my plane to arrive as Gordon and his team did waiting for their's. However, during my wait I got to enjoy Warbird and it made my wait fun and exciting - just like the book. Buy it, read it, enjoy it! I know I did. <br />
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<img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>Absolutely riveting!, September 13, 2007</b><br />
<i>By Kevin Patsey</i><br />
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As soon as you start reading the first page you will not be able to put this book down! It is an incredible story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Gordon Page puts you right with him and you will ride the emotional roller coaster he endured throughout this adventure. Read this book and you will wonder why this story has not yet been made into a movie! <br />
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<img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>Engaging and entertaining, September 2, 2007</b><br />
<i>By Mikael Kristiansen "Mikael"</i><br />
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I definitely knew nearly nothing about warbirds, or much about airplanes in general, when I picked up this book, but I walked away from it wishing I had a pilots license - a victim of Gordon Page's passion and determination having rubbed off through his recollections. The travel adventures of Page and his companions are sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing, but consistently entertaining, and the book is very easy to engage with, which makes it a quick page turner, as well as a quirky introduction into the passions of warbird enthusiasts. <br />
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I love travel. I love stories and gritty, difficult, joyful interactions with peculiar locales and cultures, and I cherish being able to sample those adventures through the stories of others. If you're like me, this travel memoir will get you excited. Sketchy helicopter rides, run-ins with the Russian mob, shady bribes organized by shady contacts, etc. - it's all there! And through all the action, you come out with a solid appreciation for the preservation and restoration of history as experienced through these important WWII warbirds. <br />
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<img src="http://www.amazonshops.org/img/5stars.gif" /> <b>Warbird Recovery Book Review, August 20, 2007</b><br />
<i>By J. Thompson</i><br />
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I just finished reading Warbird Recovery by Gordon Page and throughly enjoyed the entire book. It starts out fast and never looses its quick pace. The author makes you feel as though you are right there with him in his quest for these rare WW11 aircraft. I am fascinated by the aircraft and that aspect is wonderfully detailed, but of equal value are the descriptions of the inner workings of the Russian Business world. This is a fast read, and very informative about Russian culture as seen through the eyes of an avid aviation enthusiast. This is a fun book to read and will give you a great sense of adventure and accomplishment. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/1583484876?tag=bluetcom-20">More Reviews >>></a></div>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-78938409644858303582010-01-01T01:00:00.003-08:002010-01-24T23:02:57.040-08:00LinksPlease have a look at some of these fine sites for more information on military books:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=military%20books&tag=bluetcom-20&index=books&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Amazon.com Military Books</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bluetcom-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_books">Wikipedia.org List Of US Military Books</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/#q=military+books">Google.com Search Results: Military Books</a>BlueTide Technology, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04380874854345611366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545359206326513800.post-1402781255877831392010-01-01T01:00:00.002-08:002010-01-27T17:27:21.512-08:00Privacy PolicyIf you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at admin@contact-us-now.com.<br />
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