Nicholas A. Veronico's Blog, page 3
April 14, 2013
Blythe AAF - Then and Now
For those hunting aircraft wrecks or old air bases in the deserts east of Los Angeles, you will be interested in Art Wilson's 2008 book "Runways in the Sand: The History of Blythe Army Air Base in World War II." I just bought a copy last weekend and have been enjoying reading it.
There's lots of great then-and-now photos of the base, plus a chapter on "Mishaps." Author Wilson reports that there were some 90 incidents involving Blythe-based aircraft ranging from A-20s and B-24s to B-17s and an Army CG-4A glider. There are some original crash diagrams from the reports as well.
Tables in the back of the book list building and structures, assigned units, base commanders, plus an honor roll of those lost during training accidents. The book is fully footnoted and showcases the depth of research by the author. Checking the notes for the Mishaps chapters shows that Wilson pulled the crash reports from the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Ala.
The book is available on-line through the Palm Springs Air Museum Gift Shop ($21.95, new), or on Amazon.com ($98 used).
ISBN: 978-0-615-21889-2
If you're interested in the wrecks of the area or the air base, this is a good $21.95 investment.
There's lots of great then-and-now photos of the base, plus a chapter on "Mishaps." Author Wilson reports that there were some 90 incidents involving Blythe-based aircraft ranging from A-20s and B-24s to B-17s and an Army CG-4A glider. There are some original crash diagrams from the reports as well.
Tables in the back of the book list building and structures, assigned units, base commanders, plus an honor roll of those lost during training accidents. The book is fully footnoted and showcases the depth of research by the author. Checking the notes for the Mishaps chapters shows that Wilson pulled the crash reports from the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Ala.
The book is available on-line through the Palm Springs Air Museum Gift Shop ($21.95, new), or on Amazon.com ($98 used).
ISBN: 978-0-615-21889-2
If you're interested in the wrecks of the area or the air base, this is a good $21.95 investment.
April 2, 2013
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
The April 2013 issue of Air Classics has a nice review of my recent book "Convair PB4Y-2/P4Y-2 Privateer" -- Number 93 in the Naval Fighters series with Steve Ginter. Thanks to George Hulett for the review.
I spent more than 20 years prowling numerous archives to gather the information for this book. And there are tidbits on these pages that have never been seen before. One of the things I was most blown away by was the fact that three PB4Y-2s flew weather reconnaissance patrols for Operation Wigwam -- the underwater detonation of a nuclear bomb only 500 miles off the coast of San Diego. That seems WAY too close to home for me!
There's also lots of rare photos and some great armament information as well. Let me know how you like it.
I spent more than 20 years prowling numerous archives to gather the information for this book. And there are tidbits on these pages that have never been seen before. One of the things I was most blown away by was the fact that three PB4Y-2s flew weather reconnaissance patrols for Operation Wigwam -- the underwater detonation of a nuclear bomb only 500 miles off the coast of San Diego. That seems WAY too close to home for me!
There's also lots of rare photos and some great armament information as well. Let me know how you like it.
March 28, 2013
Full Auto MP-40
Was on a trip to Tucson and Lost Wages and took a few minutes out to visit "The Gun Store" on Tropicana Blvd. I was channeling my inner "Where Eagles Dare" (1968, Clint Eastwood, Richard Burton, Ingrid Pitt) and let loose with some 9mm rounds from an MP-40 machine pistol.
The MP-40 being late 1930s/early 1940s vintage wasn't as balanced as the 1960s vintage MP-5 machine pistol that I'm more familiar with, and the MP-40 had a bit of muzzle climb. It did, however, still kick a$$. All rounds on target.
What did my inner "Where Eagles Dare" experience have to do with airplanes? Well, the Tucson part of the trip involved a visit to the Air Force's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) as a guest of the Missile Defense Agency to see the now-retired YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed. Parts from the YAL-1 are being removed and sent to the Air Force's E-4 fleet (747-200 series) and to NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA, a highly modified 747SP). That's AMARG's job -- to preserve aircraft in storage as a source for spare parts. After my highly successful book with Ron Strong on AMARG, I like to keep abreast of what's happening in the boneyard.
Amarg: America's Military Aircraft Boneyard A Photo Scrapbook
All in all, a good trip.
The MP-40 being late 1930s/early 1940s vintage wasn't as balanced as the 1960s vintage MP-5 machine pistol that I'm more familiar with, and the MP-40 had a bit of muzzle climb. It did, however, still kick a$$. All rounds on target.
What did my inner "Where Eagles Dare" experience have to do with airplanes? Well, the Tucson part of the trip involved a visit to the Air Force's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) as a guest of the Missile Defense Agency to see the now-retired YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed. Parts from the YAL-1 are being removed and sent to the Air Force's E-4 fleet (747-200 series) and to NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA, a highly modified 747SP). That's AMARG's job -- to preserve aircraft in storage as a source for spare parts. After my highly successful book with Ron Strong on AMARG, I like to keep abreast of what's happening in the boneyard.
Amarg: America's Military Aircraft Boneyard A Photo Scrapbook
All in all, a good trip.
March 19, 2013
Hidden Warbirds
Very excited about my forthcoming book "Hidden Warbirds: The Epic Stories of Finding, Recovering, and Rebuilding WWII's Lost Aircraft."
I just received the page proofs from the editors at Motorbooks and they look great. Lots of hard work from their design and editorial teams. Thanks!
In this book I trace the warbird movement from the end of World War II to today, and interviewed a number of aircraft restorers, rebuilders, and the teams that have gone out into the jungle and under the ice to bring 'em back.
This book was a blast to write. I made many new friends, renewed many old ones, and put the bite on some of the best warbird photographers and historians for some great images. If the cover shot of the B-17 "Swamp Ghost" doesn't pull you in, flip the pages as see what else is inside.
More soon,
Nick
I just received the page proofs from the editors at Motorbooks and they look great. Lots of hard work from their design and editorial teams. Thanks!
In this book I trace the warbird movement from the end of World War II to today, and interviewed a number of aircraft restorers, rebuilders, and the teams that have gone out into the jungle and under the ice to bring 'em back.
This book was a blast to write. I made many new friends, renewed many old ones, and put the bite on some of the best warbird photographers and historians for some great images. If the cover shot of the B-17 "Swamp Ghost" doesn't pull you in, flip the pages as see what else is inside.
More soon,
Nick
