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The Wild Blue by Stephen Ambrose

This is Stephen Ambrose’s tribute to the bomber crews of the US airforce in Europe in WW2. Here, like in ‘Band of Brothers’, his famous book on Easy Company of the 506 Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, he conveys the experience of bomber crews through looking at a crew in the 731st Bomber squadron. As with BOB, there is a lead participant, in this case pilot George McGovern (the latter presidential candidate). Ambrose gives the background of McGovern, his officers and crew and takes the reader through their extensive training and late war battles.

The interesting and at first surprising aspect of this book, was that the 741st was based in Italy. I guess, when the bomber campaign is thought of, it is usually in terms of B17s and the Eighth Airforce. Here we see B24s and the Fifteenth Airforce. Also, given McGovern and crew only started operations in late 1944, I expected their tour to be an easier one than those of the Eighth in 1943/44. I was therefore surprised to find that casualties were still severe and this was far from a soft option. It has to be said though, that the German Airforce was barely seen by McGovern, it having been broken early in 1944. (There were a couple of notable exceptions here) The flak though was incredible and the daunting nature of flying into the black cloud of shrapnel is made very clear. There were also the incredibly deadly accidents. The collisions, being hit by other craft’s bombs and simple take-off and landing crashes. What is particularly sobering, is these accidents started in training and several thousand men died before even leaving the States. The thought of such large aircraft being stricken fills me with horror.

McGovern survived to be interviewed years later. He certainly has some gripping stories to tell of his 35 flight tour. Several of his men contribute their recollections too. To fill the gaps, the experiences and observations of other members of the Fifteenth are given but the main story is that of McGovern’s. It is astonishing what he and the other extremely young men endured. Part of their success I think, was the extensive training they received – far more than that given to their allies or their opponents. It took time but it strongly increased their chance of survival.

Aside from the aircrew, there is fascinating information about the B24 and the formation and operation of the Fifteenth. Fighter escorts are mentioned too, as well as the business of bailing out and capture. There are a few strange mistakes – the Stalag Luft 3 escapers were not shot in front of the other prisoners and the German Airforce monthly casualty figures given are off the chart! These quibbles aside, this is an informative and important book. It gives a view of a lesser known theatre and strongly conveys the danger those in such large aircraft faced. Recommended. 3 1/2 stars
 
I'm in the middle of Dr. Larry Arnn's "Churchill's Trial: Winston Churchill and the Salvation of Free Government", but I took a detour to read "The Rediscovery of Man", which are the collected short stories of Cordwainer Smith.

Prost!
Brad
 
The Wild Blue by Stephen Ambrose

This is Stephen Ambrose’s tribute to the bomber crews of the US airforce in Europe in WW2. Here, like in ‘Band of Brothers’, his famous book on Easy Company of the 506 Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, he conveys the experience of bomber crews through looking at a crew in the 731st Bomber squadron. As with BOB, there is a lead participant, in this case pilot George McGovern (the latter presidential candidate). Ambrose gives the background of McGovern, his officers and crew and takes the reader through their extensive training and late war battles.

The interesting and at first surprising aspect of this book, was that the 741st was based in Italy. I guess, when the bomber campaign is thought of, it is usually in terms of B17s and the Eighth Airforce. Here we see B24s and the Fifteenth Airforce. Also, given McGovern and crew only started operations in late 1944, I expected their tour to be an easier one than those of the Eighth in 1943/44. I was therefore surprised to find that casualties were still severe and this was far from a soft option. It has to be said though, that the German Airforce was barely seen by McGovern, it having been broken early in 1944. (There were a couple of notable exceptions here) The flak though was incredible and the daunting nature of flying into the black cloud of shrapnel is made very clear. There were also the incredibly deadly accidents. The collisions, being hit by other craft’s bombs and simple take-off and landing crashes. What is particularly sobering, is these accidents started in training and several thousand men died before even leaving the States. The thought of such large aircraft being stricken fills me with horror.

McGovern survived to be interviewed years later. He certainly has some gripping stories to tell of his 35 flight tour. Several of his men contribute their recollections too. To fill the gaps, the experiences and observations of other members of the Fifteenth are given but the main story is that of McGovern’s. It is astonishing what he and the other extremely young men endured. Part of their success I think, was the extensive training they received – far more than that given to their allies or their opponents. It took time but it strongly increased their chance of survival.

Aside from the aircrew, there is fascinating information about the B24 and the formation and operation of the Fifteenth. Fighter escorts are mentioned too, as well as the business of bailing out and capture. There are a few strange mistakes – the Stalag Luft 3 escapers were not shot in front of the other prisoners and the German Airforce monthly casualty figures given are off the chart! These quibbles aside, this is an informative and important book. It gives a view of a lesser known theatre and strongly conveys the danger those in such large aircraft faced. Recommended. 3 1/2 stars
I also quite enjoyed this book,mainly for the B-24's and the Italian front setting. -- Al
 
....still going strong with the wonderfully written "The War of the Revolution" by Christopher Ward (2vols).....it is one of those books that is a genuine pleasure to read....and like most pleasures, it is best done when the time is right, during a quiet evening....

...to keep the brain ticking over during the day (dinner break at work, etc), something a bit lighter....(well, I think so).....and in keeping with the AWI theme....I've just finished reading "Arundel - A Chronicle of The Province of Maine And of The Secret Expedition Against Quebec" by Kenneth Roberts.....a novel that follows Col. Benedict Arnold's adventure to take Quebec.....and very enjoyable it has been.....a hardback printed in 1936....

...so much so, that I am now going to start on the follow-up, "Rabble in Arms - A Chronicle of Arundel And the Burgoyne Invasion".....and of course, in hardback, printed in 1939....(there is a previous owner's name inscribed inside, dated January 1939.....what a period to live through!)...

...both books have eye-catching maps drawn on the inside of the hard covers....

...and touching on the mention of a Kindle from a few posts back.....not a fan.....I can appreciate the functionality of such a thing.....but for as long as I am able I will always take the hardback option....nothing can replace the musty aroma of a time-travelled book....it helps to bridge the gap with history.....something that can't be replicated with an electronic device...

...and waiting in the stack of books is an 1869 printed history of the Jacobite '45.....really looking forward to that one !
.
 
....still going strong with the wonderfully written "The War of the Revolution" by Christopher Ward (2vols).....it is one of those books that is a genuine pleasure to read....and like most pleasures, it is best done when the time is right, during a quiet evening....

...to keep the brain ticking over during the day (dinner break at work, etc), something a bit lighter....(well, I think so).....and in keeping with the AWI theme....I've just finished reading "Arundel - A Chronicle of The Province of Maine And of The Secret Expedition Against Quebec" by Kenneth Roberts.....a novel that follows Col. Benedict Arnold's adventure to take Quebec.....and very enjoyable it has been.....a hardback printed in 1936....

...so much so, that I am now going to start on the follow-up, "Rabble in Arms - A Chronicle of Arundel And the Burgoyne Invasion".....and of course, in hardback, printed in 1939....(there is a previous owner's name inscribed inside, dated January 1939.....what a period to live through!)...

...both books have eye-catching maps drawn on the inside of the hard covers....

...and touching on the mention of a Kindle from a few posts back.....not a fan.....I can appreciate the functionality of such a thing.....but for as long as I am able I will always take the hardback option....nothing can replace the musty aroma of a time-travelled book....it helps to bridge the gap with history.....something that can't be replicated with an electronic device...

...and waiting in the stack of books is an 1869 printed history of the Jacobite '45.....really looking forward to that one !
.
Meant to mention earlier when you first listed the 2vol Ward set that when I worked in the military book business this was a set that was always in demand. We always had several names on a want list waiting for it. We used to get it quite often but never enough to supply demand. It is very highly thought of. -- Al
 
Meant to mention earlier when you first listed the 2vol Ward set that when I worked in the military book business this was a set that was always in demand. We always had several names on a want list waiting for it. We used to get it quite often but never enough to supply demand. It is very highly thought of. -- Al

...I struggled to find a hardback copy in the UK that I liked, so eventually bought the set from the US....what I especially like about reading such a book printed a good while ago is seeing what they recommended as relevant / appropriate books to follow up on the same subject....which invariably leads to the next purchase !.....it's one of those 'circle-of-book-reading-life' things. - Ian
 
Just finished The Tuscarora War,war in eastern North Carolina 1711-13.Now starting The Arikara War,the first plains war in 1823.
Mark
 
Just picked up some 'new to me' ACW works. The first one is a classic and is "Chancellorsville" by John Bigelow. It is widely considered the best book on the subject and was originally published in 1910 in a limited, large format, edition with superb fold-out color maps. I got a 1991 Easton Press reprint and am thrilled to get it. The other book is a 2009 publication called "Cavalry of the Heartland: The Mounted Forces of the Army of Tennessee" by Ed Longacre. It covers the subject from the beginning of the war through to the end and includes the legendary leaders Forrest, Morgan, Wheeeler, and others. -- Al
 
Now I'm wrapping up, "The Year of the Blue Snow," a collection of articles on each of the members of the 1964 Phillies.

Prost!
Brad
 
Now I'm wrapping up, "The Year of the Blue Snow," a collection of articles on each of the members of the 1964 Phillies.

Prost!
Brad
Lots of great ball players on that team. I specifically remember Bunning, Short, Allen, Triandos (former O) and Dalrymple (future O). -- Al
 
Lots of great ball players on that team. I specifically remember Bunning, Short, Allen, Triandos (former O) and Dalrymple (future O). -- Al

It was Gus Triandos who made that quote, as a matter of fact. It was earlier in the season, when the Phils established their lead, long before the Phade. He said that their season was like a year of blue snow, something that happens rarely, once in a lifetime. It's significant to me, as a Phillies fan, that I was born that year, three weeks before the perfect game, and six weeks before Johnny Callison hit his home run to help win the All-Star Game. I've bled Phillies red, ever since. And I got to see Connie Mack Stadium in its last season, for a Phils-Cardinals game. The memory remained, and though the Vet was the setting for the franchise's greatest moment, I never liked that ugly concrete O, or the hideous uniforms, with that sperm "P" logo. I always remembered the classic look of the park and the team from before 1970. I remembered how we sat along the third base line, and how we entered and exited through a gate right below our seats, and how we paid a kid five bucks to watch our car.

It's also fascinating to read about that roster, and to see that it was a mix of veterans, and young player, some guys who had come up as long before as 1950, and some who came up only a couple of years before.

On a related note, if you get the opportunity to see the play, "The Philly Fan", I recommend it highly. My dad and I saw it a couple of weeks ago. It's a one-man show, written by a fella named Bruce Graham, and conceived and performed by a fella named Tom McCarthy. He portrays an average Philadelphian, and follows the occasional rise, but more frequent fall, of the Philly teams. If you're from Philly, or are a fan of any of the teams, or both, it's a great show that resonates well. It's very well done, and McCarthy does an excellent job. As I watched it, I thought, "I know guys like that" or, "That's what I felt, too." I went to the show, wearing my Ryan Howard jersey, and I wasn't alone-a number of other patrons wore their favorite Philly colors.

Yo!
Brad
 
Chris Short, Bobby Shantz, Frank Thomas. And of course, who could forget--Tony Taylor.
Art Mahaffey. Johnny Callison. Cookie Rojas. Vic Power Roy Sievers. Morrie Steevens. Danny Cater. Pat Corrales (who came back to manage the club after 1983), Dallas Green. Wes Covington the original "Human Rain Delay" (well, maybe not the original, but one of them), Ruben Amaro, Bobby Wine. Rick Wise. So many greats, and not-so-greats, but players who will forever be etched in our hearts and our memories.
 
Just picked up some 'new to me' ACW works. The first one is a classic and is "Chancellorsville" by John Bigelow. It is widely considered the best book on the subject and was originally published in 1910 in a limited, large format, edition with superb fold-out color maps. I got a 1991 Easton Press reprint and am thrilled to get it. The other book is a 2009 publication called "Cavalry of the Heartland: The Mounted Forces of the Army of Tennessee" by Ed Longacre. It covers the subject from the beginning of the war through to the end and includes the legendary leaders Forrest, Morgan, Wheeeler, and others. -- Al

They don't make books with those foldout maps any longer. That's quite a find Al. Have several books by Longacre, but not that one. Let me know what you think of it. Chris
 
Reading "Crossing the Line" by Alvin Kernan. Enlisted in the Navy in 1941 to escape poverty, like so many of that time. Sent to the Enterprise in Nov same yr and arrived at Pearl Harbor the day after the Japanese attack. Started out as an ordnance crewman and became a rear gunner on the Dauntless. Was thought to have possibly shot down Butch O'Hare during a night CAP operation. Later "proven" to be a Jap bomber that got him. Interesting book on a look at the carrier war by enlisted crew perspective. Kernan went to college on GI bill after the war and studied Shakespeare lit in Oxford for two yrs. Later became a full professor at Yale and then Dean of Graduate School at Princeton. Not bad for a depression era boy from the back woods of Wyoming. Chris
 
Reading "Crossing the Line" by Alvin Kernan. Enlisted in the Navy in 1941 to escape poverty, like so many of that time. Sent to the Enterprise in Nov same yr and arrived at Pearl Harbor the day after the Japanese attack. Started out as an ordnance crewman and became a rear gunner on the Dauntless. Was thought to have possibly shot down Butch O'Hare during a night CAP operation. Later "proven" to be a Jap bomber that got him. Interesting book on a look at the carrier war by enlisted crew perspective. Kernan went to college on GI bill after the war and studied Shakespeare lit in Oxford for two yrs. Later became a full professor at Yale and then Dean of Graduate School at Princeton. Not bad for a depression era boy from the back woods of Wyoming. Chris

Chris, sounds like an interesting book. What a life he has had! As the saying goes, "a life well lived."

Brad
 
They don't make books with those foldout maps any longer. That's quite a find Al. Have several books by Longacre, but not that one. Let me know what you think of it. Chris
Chris, the Easton Press "Chancellorsville" has the maps in a separate folder as opposed to bound in the book. Easton did reproduce the maps in their original colors, a big plus. The best thing was the price, which was $30 for a leather bound classic. Curiously, I don't think I've ever read a book by Longacre and picked this one up based on the subject. -- Al
 
I was at Cold Wars on Saturday, and I picked up 8 books, between the flea market area and the vendor area.

In the flea market area, I got six books for a total of $20:

"The Other Nuremberg - The Untold Story of the Tokyo War Crimes Trials", by Arnold Brackman. I've started this one already. I knew of the war crimes trials, but nothing beyond references in other works on WWII. It's a good look at the trial.
"The Arab-Israeli Wars" by Chaim Herzog, the former President of Israel. It's a revised edition, updated through Desert Storm.
"The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939" by Anthony Beevor. Just as with "The Other Nuremberg," this book gives me a closer look at subject that I have only read about as a reference in books about other subjects, primarily WWII.
"B-24 Liberator 1939-45"
"Infantry Uniforms" and "Cavalry Uniforms", both covering the British Army from 1745 through 1855.

In the vendor area, I got the other two books from a bookseller, for almost twice what I paid for my haul from the flea market:

"Almost a Miracle" by John Ferling. I have a couple of his other books on the Revolution, and I enjoy them very much.
"Rag, Tag and Bobtail", by Lynn Montross, an older book, from the Fifties, I believed, and based on a lot of material from individuals such as diaries and letters.

I'm still in progress on "The Year of the Blue Snow," and "Churchill's Trial", too, but in the meantime, my copy of "Norstrillia" by Cordwainer Smith has arrived. So much to read, so little time....

Prost!
Brad
 
I am currently reading "Kings of the Air: French Aces and Airmen of the Great War" by Ian Sumner. This book closes a huge hole in the aviation history of World War 1 by covering the whole of French aviation in the war. To my knowledge, no other such work exists in English. Of course, there are many books that cover portions of the French air effort and there are works that cover the individual ace or aces, but this work draws the elements of development of the French fighter forces together as a single study and is very valuable as a result. It is not a squadron by squadron history, rather a year by year narrative. Coupled with Rene Martel's "French Strategic and Tactical Bombardment Forces of World War 1" the reader can now put together a very good overall view of the French air war, something that has been sorely lacking in English. I highly recommend both books if you have the interest. -- Al
 
...I have now completed the two volume "The War of the Revolution" by Christopher Ward....which has been a privilege to read....fantastically well written......no wonder it is recognised as a 'must-read' for students of the AWI....

...the style and manner in which the story of the events are described makes it easy to absorb without being overwhelming....an absolute joy....

...the next book to be read views the AWI from a British perspective:- "Those D.amned Rebels" (Britain's American Empire in Revolt) by Michael Pearson (Hb, printed 1972)...

...what I could do with is an easy to handle (but detailed) atlas of the AWI to help assist with the text from the books.....the maps provided in the books that I have so far read have proven to be too few in number and detail....

...I already own a copy of the "Atlas of the American Revolution" by Higginbotham & Nebenzahl.....with its use of contemporary maps, wonderfully displayed in full colour and in a large 'coffee-table' format.....which makes the book a bit unwieldy for juggling whilst reading another book....

...it would be nice to have a modern atlas that on one page shows the location of a battle (or event) in relation to the thirteen colonies, and then the opposite page shows closer details of the battle, again done in a modern colourful format.....and keep the book no bigger than the average sized child's annual.....does such a book exist ?

....anyway, back to "Those D.amned Rebels" !
.
 
Just read "Hellstorm", atrocities to Germans during and after WWII. I heard about this book from a post on this Forum. Very brutal. It was like looking at a car wreck, you can't look away. I wouldn't say it was a good book, but it was informative and kept my attention. One thing I learned, humans can be vicious.
 

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