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

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

Look up some works mentioning Lt. Gen. Hans von Seeckt, who was senior adviser to the pasha. May be a reference.

Barrett has been a colleague and friend for many years, and wrote some forewords and assisted with some of my books. Great historian. In 2007 we did a History Channel show together.

Paulus was used as a propaganda tool issuing radio broadcasts against Hitler, whom he felt betrayed his 6th Army.

Great commentary. I interviewed a Stuka pilot who was there the day that the raid happened. It is my understanding that 4 Stukas were total write offs, 3 were repaired, and 1 -8` holes through the fuselage but it did not hamper its flying abilities. They just patched the holes.

Bader was great, and the fact that he was knighted caused Johnnie Johnson anguish to no end.

I would suggest Five Years to Freedom, by James N. Rowe, whom I knew.

Marc wrote: "The latest from Colin Heaton arrived on my doorstep yesterday:

[bookcover:Above the Reich: Deadly Dogfights, Blistering Bombing Raids, and Other War Stories from the Greatest American Air Heroes o..."

Hope you like it, I am writing the next book in that American series, this time with Pacific pilots.

This will still take a while.

Theresa wrote: "Both of my grandfathers served in WW2. I became fascinated by the war and Holocaust history at an early age. My kids are 13, 11, and 8. I have been trying to get them all three interest in this his..."

Introduce them to my book, The Star of Africa, how a rebellious, juvenile delinquent became one of Germany;s greatest (if just tolerated) heroes. he also became a legend to his enemies before his death at age 22. We are working on the TV series project now.

Ben was right. He and I spoke about this as he was writing his first book. We had dinner near the Univ. of Birmingham where he was teaching, and we were sharing research together. I had the interviews tat supplemented and confirmed his research. The Night and Fog Decree was a direct result of the early methods employed by Soviet forces.

I interviewed Gen. Stewart and we spoke about the war, thanks to our mutual contacts Curtis LeMay and Jimmy Doolittle. He was a great guy, very humble.

He threw himself into bomber formations. He and Egon Mayer developed the head on attack against heavy bombers, prompting the development of the B-17G with the forward firing chin turret mounting twin .50s. Twice he was hit by his own flak.

Walter Boyne died last January 2020.

That's taking a lot of hits. The Germans in WW II received the wound badge; black for one wounding, silver for 2nd, gold for a fifth. and gold with diamonds for ten wounds. My late friend pilot Georg-Peter Eder was wounded 14 times.

Well, the editors removed some of the more controversial material regarding Eisenhower' and Patton's intimate indiscretions, especially the material about Coco Channel. Apparently what LeMay had to say was a little too "non-PC" for today's audiences I guess.

Thanks.

Above the Reich: Deadly Dogfights, Blistering Bombing Raids, and Other War Stories from the Greatest American Air Heroes of World War II, in Their Own Words

My publisher said that the books "Above the Reich" are arriving from the printer, so Dutton/Penguin/Random House will release the hardcover June 8. Not sure about when the paperback will be released. This is my 12th book, and the first with Americans interviewed back in the day.

happy wrote: "I recently finished

40 Thieves on Saipan The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWII's Bloodiest Battles by Joseph Tachovsky by the son of the Platoon Leader, Joseph Tachovsky

This is the stor..."

Interesting, I served as a scout sniper in STA PLT HQCO of 1/6 in 1987-88.

happy wrote: "I recently finished



This an older account, the copywrite is 1950, and is a first hand account of the events depicted in the 1960s movie starring Steve McQueen..."
Donald Pleasance who played blind Colin was an actual POW in Stalag III during the war.