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Post by Diamondback on Jun 23, 2014 12:41:21 GMT 9
Currently reading Ginger Lacey, Fighter Pilot by Richard Townsend Bickers, one of the wave of '60s pulp WWII paperbacks. I'm actually reviewing it for a WWII wargaming board, since the subject shot down a He111 that had attacked Buckingham Palace, and then had other escapades like buying King George VI a beer without thinking anything of who he was "barstool flying" with.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Sept 2, 2014 3:59:05 GMT 9
I recently read; "Unbroken", by Laura Hillenbrand.
The subtitle is: "A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption".
Miss Hillenbrand also wrote "Seabicuit".
Unbroken is the story of Louis Zamperini, who ran in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, and was likely to break the 4 Minute Mile, had World War Two not happened.
He was a Bombradier on a B-24 in the Pacific Theatre, when his plane ditched.
He managed, along with the pilot, to stay alive for 47 days in a small, rubber raft, only to be captured by the Japanese Military, in July 1943, and was then a prisoner of war until liberated in August of 1945.
Mr. Zamperini, like many ex POWs, had a hard time returning to a "normal" life and had many difficlulties.
His life changed in 1949, when he surrenderd his life to Jesus Christ at the Billy Graham Los Angeles Crusade.
Mr. Zamperini went home to be with the Lord on 2 July 2014, at the age of 97.
This book is a tremendous read, with lots of details about life as a POW in Japanese custody.
It is not always easy to read, because of the things that occur, but it is well-worth the time.
It is not an easy book to put down, once you start to read it.
Happy Reading.
Jim Too
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Post by Diamondback on Sept 2, 2014 8:36:30 GMT 9
For business: Rif Winfield, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792. Now if only they'd get the heck off their dime and release its companion volume, 1793-1817, in Nook format too... the hardcopy is a real PITA to track down, and even once you do an even bigger one to tote around for study.
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Post by Mark O on Sept 4, 2014 13:33:12 GMT 9
"The ARRL Extra Class License Manual for Ham Radio." www.arrl.org/extra-class-license-manualGot my Technician, and General class licenses during the same sitting back in 2012, and been putting off testing for this top license for too long. Really need to finish it as the next test session is September 28th down in Denton. Mark O
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Sept 26, 2014 1:24:32 GMT 9
Last night I finished reading: "Hap Arnold", by Bill Yenne.
It is subtitled: "Inventing the Air Force".
There are longer biographies of The Father of the Air Force, but this one is terrific.
Yenne had access to all of Arnold's papers and interviewed some who served under him in WW2.
He paints and honest, as far as I can tell, picture of Arnold, and the times in which he lived.
The book doesn't skip over the difficult, like the Interservice Rivalries, but lays then out for us to see them.
I got my copy at Costco, in the Trade Paper Edition, but it is available at most book sellers, stores and on-line.
Want to know more about how our Air Force came to be, this book will answer a lot of your questions, but, will raise some as well.
Jim Too
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Post by Jim on Sept 26, 2014 1:56:17 GMT 9
Remember reading or hearing about the B-17 that was badly shot up that was escorted out of Germany by a Luftwaft ME-109? ?? Well, it was true and was classified by the USAAF for fear of retaliation on the German pilot...... Well, you can now read almost first hand accounts by both pilots- who finally got to meet a few years before they died. The name of the book is "A Higher Call" www.cnn.com/2013/03/09/living/higher-call-military-chivalry/ got mine at Sam's Club- wll worth the 14.99 price.........
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Oct 11, 2014 8:51:49 GMT 9
This after-noon I finished reading; Silent Patriot by Astrid Karlsen Scott.
It is about the WW2 exploits of Hugo Munthe-Kaas, Norways most higly decorated military member of WW2.
Hugo joined the fight in 1940, when he was 18 years old.
He served in the Norwegian Army, the Norwegian Milorg Underground, the British Secret Intelligence Service, the British Navy and again in the Norwegian Army.
He retired from the Norwegian Army in 1983.
It is a fast moving, exciting story about a Norwegian Patriot, and his fellow Patriots, involved in the little known war which took place in German Occupied Norway.
At the end of the War, there were some 400,000 German Military in Norway, yet the Underground continued to operate and hinder German operations.
The author has other books about the war in Norway, by the same publisher.
Nordic Adventures is the publisher: www.nordicadventures.com/norwegian-books/Default.aspx
If you are interested in the War in Norway, the three books they offer are a great start.
Jim Too
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Post by Jim on Nov 18, 2014 2:10:22 GMT 9
Have 2 outstanding books that I am reading..... Yep, 2, one in the car that I read while waiting for Sandy when she is getting her nails done or shopping-either one gives me at least an hour of uninterrupted reading..... One is "Redtail Captured- Redtail Free" by Alexander Jefferson and is his biography and records his captivity as a German POW. Perhaps you guessed by the title that he is a Tuskegee Airman... If the young Blacks of today think that whitey is a racist, they all need to read this book....... The other book is "UNBROKEN" by Louie Zamberini and recounts his time as an Olympic champion and his treatment as a Japanese POW....... Both of these books are eye openers and hard to put down...... The Old Sarge
Forgot that Jim Too had posted a review of UNBOKEN
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 22, 2014 4:52:31 GMT 9
Have 2 outstanding books that I am reading..... Yep, 2, one in the car that I read while waiting for Sandy when she is getting her nails done or shopping-either one gives me at least an hour of uninterrupted reading..... One is "Redtail Captured- Redtail Free" by Alexander Jefferson and is his biography and records his captivity as a German POW. Perhaps you guessed by the title that he is a Tuskegee Airman... If the young Blacks of today think that whitey is a racist, they all need to read this book....... The other book is "UNBROKEN" by Louie Zamberini and recounts his time as an Olympic champion and his treatment as a Japanese POW....... Both of these books are eye openers and hard to put down...... The Old Sarge Forgot that Jim Too had posted a review of UNBOKEN We had lunch with old friends and their son on Wednesday.
Had not seen the son in many years, since he got out of the Navy.
Their son was telling me about a fascinating older man he met.
A good friend introduced them, the man's grandson.
He said he was a Tuskegee Airman, P-51 Red Tail Pilot, who was shot down over France and became a "Guest of the Third Reich", his words.
I told him the story sounded familiar and that Jim had posted about a book dealing with the story.
He pulled out his phone and brought up a picture of him, Mr. Jefferson and the book.
WOW!
What a great time he had, listening to that Old Patriot Warrior tell his story, for well over an hour, as they sat in his living room.
Now, even more than before, I want to find the book and read it.
Jim Too
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 22, 2014 4:58:49 GMT 9
The movie based on the book "Unbroken" is going to be released in theaters beginning Christmas day.
From the reviews it sounds like it follows the book pretty closely.
May be one that I, and some of you, might like to see.
I suspect it will not be pleasant to watch some of the Japanese Prison Camp scenes, but they were not pleasant to read.
I will go to the Matinee as it is cheaper.
Jim Too
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Post by Jim on Nov 22, 2014 9:20:18 GMT 9
The movie based on the book "Unbroken" is going to be released in theaters beginning Christmas day.
From the reviews it sounds like it follows the book pretty closely.
May be one that I, and some of you, might like to see.
I suspect it will not be pleasant to watch some of the Japanese Prison Camp scenes, but they were not pleasant to read.
I will go to the Matinee as it is cheaper.
Jim Too
You will be somewhat disappointed, his association with Billy Graham and his conversion will not be a part of the movie. Angelina Jolie is the producer.
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Post by Bullhunter on Nov 23, 2014 17:26:45 GMT 9
Why Christmas Day? Why not Dec 7th?
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Post by Jim on Nov 23, 2014 23:36:55 GMT 9
Why Christmas Day? Why not Dec 7th? Ask that great Christian Angelina, she knows.......
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 24, 2014 3:24:17 GMT 9
Why Christmas Day? Why not Dec 7th? Ask that great Christian Angelina, she knows....... I may not spend $7 to see it after I read some of the reviews, when there are some to read. I do not like movies that leave important events out. In particular, when left out for Political Correctness. If she can't include his conversion, and his relationship with Billy Graham, then what else has she left out? Jim Too
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Post by pat perry on Nov 24, 2014 4:41:06 GMT 9
Ask that great Christian Angelina, she knows....... I may not spend $7 to see it after I read some of the reviews, when there are some to read. I do not like movies that leave important events out. In particular, when left out for Political Correctness. If she can't include his conversion, and his relationship with Billy Graham, then what else has she left out? Jim Too Capitalism, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the biggest box office days of the year.
It's like Black Friday is the day of the year that retail sellers go from red ink to black ink on their books. Most people prefer to wait until after Christmas when the big sales happen to allow the retailers to get the inventory assets off their books before year end.
Pat P.
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Post by pat perry on Nov 24, 2014 4:52:08 GMT 9
Last month I read "Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Martin wrote the book and is an excellent author. www.amazon.com/dp/080509668X/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=7000018829&ref=pd_sl_43jj9iq00g_b
General George S. Patton, Jr. died under mysterious circumstances in the months following the end of World War II. For almost seventy years, there has been suspicion that his death was not an accident--and may very well have been an act of assassination. Killing Patton takes readers inside the final year of the war and recounts the events surrounding Patton’s tragic demise, naming names of the many powerful individuals who wanted him silenced.
This month I read "The Gods of Guilt" by Michael Connelly www.michaelconnelly.com/novels/the-gods-of-guilt/
Mickey Haller (aka The Lincoln Lawyer" gets the text, “Call me ASAP — 187,” and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game.
I've read every book Michael has written. Got to meet him at a book review in Dallas. He also writes the Harry Bosch Detective series.
Both books were very good.
Pat P.
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 25, 2014 6:50:45 GMT 9
Last month I read "Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Martin wrote the book and is an excellent author. www.amazon.com/dp/080509668X/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=7000018829&ref=pd_sl_43jj9iq00g_b
General George S. Patton, Jr. died under mysterious circumstances in the months following the end of World War II. For almost seventy years, there has been suspicion that his death was not an accident--and may very well have been an act of assassination. Killing Patton takes readers inside the final year of the war and recounts the events surrounding Patton’s tragic demise, naming names of the many powerful individuals who wanted him silenced.
This month I read "The Gods of Guilt" by Michael Connelly www.michaelconnelly.com/novels/the-gods-of-guilt/
Mickey Haller (aka The Lincoln Lawyer" gets the text, “Call me ASAP — 187,” and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game.
I've read every book Michael has written. Got to meet him at a book review in Dallas. He also writes the Harry Bosch Detective series.
Both books were very good.
Pat P. Pat, over the years, I have read numerous books and articles about Patton. Some dealt with the questions surrounding his death, following a car crash. I wonder if Michael Dugard has plowed any new ground, or just rearranged the ground already covered? As to Fiction, I recently re-read the Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series (Master and Commander and the other books) by Patrick O'Brian. Great fictional accounts of a British Navy Captain and his British Spy Ship's Surgeon. Good accounts of what it was like to sail on a Naval Frigate in the time of the Napoleonic Wars, The American Revolution and other events. I do read Clive Cussler books, just finished, The Bootlegger, which takes place in 1921. Even has a Loening seaplane as a part of the plot. I also read David Baldacci and John Grisham . That's about the extent of the newer authors I read. I am now reading a book about the Military Air Forces in The Great War and will post a review when I finish. A question? Seeing Bill O doesn't write the books, why does he have his name on them? Is it because he pays for the research, or just his oversize ego? Jim Too
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Post by pat perry on Nov 25, 2014 9:06:07 GMT 9
I imagine Bill O fronts the Dugard research money and probably has a lot of say in what and how gets written. He has had enough traction writing his own books to get good publisher advances so his series on "Killing (fill in the blank)" is pretty much guaranteed to get a fast rise to #1. I believe Martin Dugard does the heavy lifting in the writing.
Check out his website www.martindugard.com/
He has written or co-written 13 books.
Pat P.
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Post by Jim on Nov 25, 2014 14:00:29 GMT 9
I imagine Bill O fronts the Dugard research money and probably has a lot of say in what and how gets written. He has had enough traction writing his own books to get good publisher advances so his series on "Killing (fill in the blank)" is pretty much guaranteed to get a fast rise to #1. I believe Martin Dugard does the heavy lifting in the writing.
Check out his website www.martindugard.com/
He has written or co-written 13 books.
Pat P.
Is it because he pays for the research, or just his oversize ego? All Three
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Dec 5, 2014 2:43:10 GMT 9
I recently read “The Canvas Falcons”, by Stephen Longstreet.
The subtitle is: “Then Men and Planes of World War I”.
Written in 1970, it was republished by Barnes & Noble in 1995. ISBN 1-56619-669-8
I found my copy at Half-Price Books, but it may be available in a library, or other used book store.
It is available through Amazon: www.amazon.com/The-Canvas-Falcon-Planes-World/dp/0850524431
This is not a technical book about the aeroplanes flown in The Great War, but deals with the men and the conditions of flying in that War.
There are a number of technical mistakes, like, The Red Baron was killed while flying an Albatross, when in fact, he was flying a Fokker.
Well, none of the mistakes really take away from the book, just irritating that he didn't do a better job of research and editing.
The author deals mostly with the War on the Western Front, in France and Belgium, where the bulk of the fighting took place.
But, he does look at other areas, Russia, Italy, the Balkans, Africa, to show what was happening in those areas.
He deals mostly with the more famous flyers of the War, but does have some stories about those you may not have heard of.
I felt this was an appropriate book to read when I did, as this year marks the Centennial of the start of The Great War.
The book goes from the more primitive planes, mostly Observation machines, in 1914, to the more advanced Scouts, Bombers and Pursuit planes of 1918.
Still, the author shows the fragility of the machines, the engines and, of course, the aviators.
The Great War saw the first large scale use of aeroplanes in combat, and was the beginning of Air Power in fighting a war.
If you want to read about the human factor of the aviators in The Great War, this book is a good place to start.
Individual biographies do more to fill out the stories, but for the number of men he covered, I think Longstreet did a good job.
He also shows the contempt the old-line Military “leaders” had for the aeroplane and their lack of real understanding of the potential.
Some of this "thinking" still exists.
The lack of understanding by governments was just as bad, maybe worse.
The American squadrons did not have any American Combat Aeroplanes, but depended on British and French aeroplanes to do their jobs.
In reading the book, I see that some things never change in the governments or the military, but are still mindless bureaucracies, telling the War Fighters how to do their jobs, and making a mess of things.
The Pogo Principle certainly depicts that thinking.
Jim Too
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