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

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

Enjoy Noble Warrior, that became a TV documentary on the American Heroes Channel of A&E in January 2017. Ironically here in the States, that program is showing today.

Emmy wrote: "Colin wrote: "See my website at www.heatonlewisbooks.com for my titles that may be of interest. Also on Amazon.com
Look at my books of Luftwaffe interviews, "The German Aces Speak I and II", comple..."

Rudel's book is a classic, and after speaking with a few pilots who knew and flew with him, they agreed that it was very accurate. Gunther Rall and Dietrich Hrabak both agreed Rudel was a very brave man, but they also agreed that he also believed in the propaganda created about him too much.

See my website at www.heatonlewisbooks.com for my titles that may be of interest. Also on Amazon.com

Look at my books of Luftwaffe interviews, "The German Aces Speak I and II", complete interviews with Erich Hartmann, Adolf Galland, Johannes Steinhoff, Dietrich Hrabak, Eduard Neumann, Gunther Rall, Wolfgang Falck, and Walter Krupinski.

My book "The Me-262 Stormbird" has interview segments with many of the German and Allied pilots.

"The Star of Africa" cover the life of Hans-Joachim Marseille, full of interview segments with pilots who flew with him, including comments from Franz Stigler, subject of A Higher Call by Makos)

I would also suggest books by Jay Stout, Eric Hammel, Jeff Ethell/Alfred Price, Martin Middlebrook, etc.

I am now working on a book of interviews with American airmen in the ETO, such as James Doolittle, Curtis Lemay, Francis Gabreski, Robin Olds, Edward Haydon, Robert Johnson, etc, all from WW II for Dutto/Penguin/Random House.

I will then work on my Pacific Theater pilots from WW II.

Later I hope to publish my books of interviews with Waffen SS veterans, U-boat commanders, etc.

Lemay was not a man to hate anyone except Robert S. McNamara, his subordinate during the war. His approach to war was clinical; get the job done, "...they started this SH&% and I will damned sure finish it." He actually got alon well with Harris, Eaker, Doolittle and the rest for the most part. He had a very interesting and personal way of choosing flight leaders for missions, so I will not spoil it here.

Jay is a friend, and he does good work indeed.

Love that film, I was able to watch the original uncut version with Otto Kretschmer at his home theater in Malaga many years ago. When the director's cut came out with the unreleased scenes in global theaters, I realized that Otto had perhaps the first copy in 1984, along with Reinhard Hardegen and Erich Topp, all great interviews.

I have a signed photo George gave me, I was with him in Belfast as a guest, after he responded to some letters I sent. I went to N. Ireland then to Dublin where I was giving a paper and doing a couple of interviews. He was very funny and gracious. He was one of my greatest childhood sports heroes. I am still to this day a die hard Man Utd fan.

Mike wrote: "Decided to go with this one for my second book in the monthly theme.

[book:Lemay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis Lemay|644..."

I am writing a new book (first in a new series), using the same format as the German Aces Speak books. These are American airmen interviews. Lemay will be in the second volume later. I met with him a couple of times, what guy to say the least. If Arthur Harris had a true kindred spirit/counterpart, it was Lemay.

Many people liked my book better than Kurowski, but I did like his work and cited him.

KOMET wrote: "German Fighter Ace Hans-Joachim Marseille: The Life Story of The Star of Africa by Franz Kurowski

[bookcover:German Fighter Ace Hans-Joachim Marseille: The Life Stor..."

Kurowski's was good, but many think my book "The Star of Africa" was better. We are in film negotiations now.

I knew Chhesty's widow, great lady, sad about his son. My roommate at HQMC was her driver.

You have to wonder what in the hell General de Castries was thining....

Uprising with Jon Voight play Juergen Stroop was good, pretty accurate.

Fury was OK, I was on the tech team as a consultant reviewing the screenplay sections as the consultant. Good thing too. I had to convince them that the screenwriter was in error in his depiction of M4's attacking a Tiger I. I was challenged on my corrections, so I brought my old contact Otto Carius in on the deal. Shut them right the hell up. Changes made.

Makos and I have worked together for years, I assisted him with MANY details in the book as I proofed the manuscript.

Makos and I have worked together for years, I assisted him with MANY details in the book as I proofed the manuscript.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Colin wrote: "I read the historians peer reviews, none flattering. I will reserve judgment until I see it. Ironically I have a screenwriter and director, and we are doing the screenplay for a film ..."

We are doing the screenplay for The Star of Africa, with director/actor James Whitmore III (he played Capt. James Gutterman in the old Black Sheep Squadron series with Robert Conrad) right now. Work in progress but coming along well. We still have to sell it to the producers.

I read the historians peer reviews, none flattering. I will reserve judgment until I see it. Ironically I have a screenwriter and director, and we are doing the screenplay for a film based upon one of my books. I was assured that I will be the tech adviser. I would have it no other way.

Reviews, especially from my peers, have not been flattering.

I met Lundy. I knew Pierre Deshayes also, good interviews. She was very lucky indeed.