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

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

I was pleased that Adam Makos had me review the book manuscript, as I did all his works, and also speaking with Tom Hudner. He lived long enough to see a destroyer, the USS Hudner named after him.

Jonny made a great point, strategic bombing had its benefits and limitations, pounding industry was only as effective as the Germans were able to diversify their manufacturing centers. remember that in 1944 Germany produced more fighter aircraft and tanks than all the previous four years of the war combined, but they lacked the fuel due to strategic bombing and the pilots due to combat attrition, and the rail systems were pretty much a tactical shooting gallery while marshaling yards were always on the strategic list, but not always hit effectively. My book "Above the Reich" has a great section from Robin Olds' interview regarding the raid on the yards at Stuttgart, I believe, and how hardly a bomb hit it.

That should be interesting, as my last book had my full interview with Curtis Lemay who created the firebombing campaign.

The author Russell Weigley was my graduate thesis adviser and mentor, and we had many discussions on this and many topics. I would say that using your reference, WW II was proof that tactical air power and superiority did make a great difference. This was proven in North Africa and also in Italy and post Normandy where German machinery could not move in daylight without being destroyed. The same on the eastern Front, overwhelming numbers of Soviet aircraft nullified the Luftwaffe from 1944 onward. Air superiority won the Battle of Midway, once the Japs lost those 4 carriers, they lost forward momentum.

David McCampbell had his own personal F6F but then again he was the commander.

Well, some of the generals I knew and spoke with had little good to say about "Mac'

Not exactly WW I or II, but I wrote my first historical novel (as part of a trilogy) which is sitting with a publisher now. I wrote it based upon these events, enjoy the video. We have a lot of military oriented videos on YouTube.com which is our Forgotten History Channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hM9z...

happy wrote: "I recently finished



It's a really good read. Prof McManus looks at the people who flew combat in the war. This is not a ..."
WW I combat aviation has been the primary topic for most of my books as well.

Lawrence Myers wrote: "Westmoreland was adept at cultivating friendships with those who could advance his career, but was also contemptuous of new ideas (Pentomic Concept and Counterinsurgency). It appears that if Vietna..."

I interviewed Westmoreland before he died, he had some interesting introspection indeed, and he placed a lot of blame on McNamara, as did Curtis E. leMay, who hated "Strange" McNamara. This comes out clearly in my book, Above the Reich, which has LeMay's full interview.

Lawrence Myers wrote: "Finished Adam Makos's "Spearhead" a few days ago.
Reads like a novel, but is grounded by facts and presents a very good view of armored and infantry combat in 1944-45 Europe."

I proof read the manuscript for Adam, as I did with all of his books, and helped him with a lot of info for his book, A Higher Call, regarding the Steinhoff and additional Stigler material.

Dj wrote: "So I am reading The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy [bookcover:The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and ..."

The late Russell Weigley was my graduate school thesis adviser, good man to work with.

Ironically, I am currently working with a retired Army major general on his autobiography, now working on the Vietnam chapters. This is not a co-authorship as with Noble Warrior, which I wrote for Maj Gen James Livingston. He was a captain then a major when Westmoreland was in charge for his two tours.

Westmoreland from my contact with him, seemed to be a creature of circumstance. His previous record before Vietnam was actually pretty good, but he was smart enough to make the right political connections. The other generals I interviewed each had their opinions of him, none flattering.

I interviewed Westmoreland when we both lived in Charleston, South Carolina. Interesting man.

Fellow Marine Mike Droberg and I have a channel on YouTube.com "Forgotten History" and this is our show on Umrau Singh, which kind of fits this theme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyb51...

'Aussie Rick' wrote: ""Who Defends Rome?: The Forty Five Days, July 25 September 8, 1943" - The author provided details on the sinking of the Italian battleship Roma by the Luftwaffe:

"At 3:52 P.M., from a height of 19..."

Hitler ordered the Roma sunk, and the unit that carried it out was KG-200, and they used the Fritz X radio guided bomb to do it. The C.O. of the unit, Werner Baumbach carried out the planning, along with his boss, Geschwaderkommdore Dietrich Pelz, whom I knew and interviewed.

Dj wrote: "I am reading two WWII books right now and have different thoughts about each of them. The books are: The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy and [book:Op..."

My old friend Reinhard Hardegen commanded U-123 which was a type IXC boat.

Marilyn wrote: "Finished “Black Hawk Down” by Mark Bowden. I have a whole, new respect for those who serve in the armed forces, especially those who have experienced combat. The only member of my family to serve i..."

I served with a few of the guys in Blackhawk Down and knew them. Tragic.

The book I just finished, "Above the Pacific" (like "Above the Reich" and "The German Aces Speak" series has the full interviews with 3 MOH fighter pilots, Boyington, Foss and McCampbell.

Dipanjan wrote: "What Russia is doing against Ukraine is absolutely horrible,brutal and unpardonable. The Russian air force is not even sparing the maternity ward from destruction. It is so shameless. Even they are..."

We are doing a series of YouTube videos, one was on Putin. Look for Forgotten History, I did a special listing the war crimes Putin and his generals could be charged with under existing international law.