Colin’s Comments (group member since Dec 16, 2012)

Colin’s comments from the THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP group.

Yerger's works are solid, and like me he went to the living sources. We were both acquaintances of many of the senior Army and Waffen SS leaders, in particular Oak Leaves and Swords recipients.

Manray9 wrote: "From Byron Farwell's The Great War in Africa: 1914-1918.

The fiasco of the British landings at Tanga in German East Africa in late 1914 is frequently noted for the attacks by million..."

Read my book Four War Boer about the Battle of Tanga

I knew Ambrose, and was with him as a VIP and many celebs and vets, MOH recipients during the WW II Museum's opening of the Pacific Wing of the facility. He was an ass, plagiarist, unashamed carnival barker, and saboteur. Yes, he wrote a few good books, but he did most on the backs of others.

Rudolf Hoess was Auschwitz commandant, and I met Rolf Mengele, son of Dr. Josef mengele, as well as Martin Bormann's son, who married a Jewish woman.

My grandfather, 1st Lt. Charles E. Harris was the signals officer for HQ 95th Infantry, KIA Oct. 6, 1944 at Metz as a forward observer.

Marc wrote: "So, finished this one off on Saturday:

[book:Vanished Hero: The Life, War and Mysteri..."

Jay Stout just sent me a personalized sign copy as a thanks for helping him.

KOMET wrote: "Last week, I finished reading "Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces" by John Weal.

The book is about the combat history of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5) "Eismeer", a Luftwaffe fi..."

I knew Walter Schuck and many other JG-5 men, and Walter's wingman Kurt Schulze is still alive, we talk often. See my website where Walter has his own page.

Des Doss was a good guy, met him a couple of times being an honorary member of the MOH Society.

Buchner had crazy stories, they all did, beyond belief.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "A German account from the air war over Europe:

"For all the violence there were moments of unexpected chivalry. Hermann Buchner was in the fight of his life until he gained a decisive edge against..."
I knew hermann Buchner, his interview is in my book The Me-262 Stormbird, along with another 30+ comments from Allied and German pilots.

I agree, no politics, just history.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I've started reading The Pointblank Directive and so far its been good setting the stage for the 'meat' of the book.

The author quoted a few statistics from Bomber Command in the Forward to his b..."

In my old book Night Fighters I have all the stats, and full of interviews with Luftwaffe night fighter pilots and US and UK bomber men.

Just search for History Channel series "Dogfights" and the season 2, episode "Secret Weapons".

Here is the link to the show I did on History Channel with my friend Barrett Tillman on the Komet, with Komet pilot Rolf Glogner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VzEi...

I knew Wolfgang Spate, Rudi Opitz, hans Glogner and some others who flew the Komet. I was one of two guest historians (Barrett Tillman was the other), along with Glogner on the History Channel show about this aircraft.

Jonny wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Jonny wrote: "Made a start on
The Cruel Victory "

I found it to be a quite interesting book so I hope you enjoy it as mu..."
I knew and interviewed the man who started KG 200, General Werner Baumbach. Good man.

Jonny wrote: "Thought I'd round the month off with
Jagdgeschwader 400: Germany’s Elite Rocket Fighters
Both an interesting u..."

I interviewed a few of these Komet pilots, and I was a guest historian on the History Channel show on that subject.

Marc wrote: "Pre-ordered this awhile back, and just got it today:

[book:Vanished Hero: The Life, W..."

Jay Stout asked me to write a review after he sent it to me, here it is:
Review of Vanished Hero
Colin D. Heaton

As a fellow historian and author on World War II aviation subjects, who has conducted hundreds of interviews with combat pilots, I was quite pleased with Jay Stout’s latest release. His attention to detail regarding aircraft, missions, historical accuracy, background and human interaction does not hinder the flow or the quality of this excellent, well proportioned and well-balanced biography of a remarkable yet almost unknown American fighter pilot, P-51 Mustang ace Lt Col Elwyn Guido Righetti. Add this to your collection of great books, and provide it a prominent place in your library.

USS Laffey is moored next to the USS Yortown (2nd carrier to bear name) in Mt. Pleasnt, SC. gave a few lectures there.

Oct 14 1944 British forces occupy Athens, Greece