2016 - April - Theme Read on any Air Battle or Campaign of WW2

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Have not heard of them either A.L. But I may try to get this book:

Kościuszko Squadron, 1919-1921

[A.L.]

Mike wrote: "Have not heard of them either A.L. But I may try to get this book:

Kościuszko Squadron, 1919-1921"

If you get it, I'd love to hear what you think! I'm really rusty on Poland between the world wars, but it sounds like a lot of interesting things happened.

[Michael]

Concerns grew by December 26th that the German Air Force was flying captured and repaired P-47 Thunderbolts over the bulge. They were described as being painted with red tails. One was reported to be green with a bright yellow cowling and German crosses. Has anyone seen anything written about this? Would like to read further resources.

I remember reading about B-17s in German markings. I think this may have been in Martin Caidin's book Flying Forts.

Again if you know of books or other resources I would like to look into this further.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Michael wrote: German Air Force was flying captured and repaired P-47 Thunderbolts over the bulge. They were described as being painted with red tails. One was reported to be green with a bright yellow cowling and German crosses. Has anyone seen anything written about this? Would like to read further resources...."

I read that too Michael. I have not seen it discussed anywhere else.

[Colin]

This was true, and not just 2 P-47s, but also several captured P-51s and a few Spits. During Operation Bodenplatte they flew in advance to radio back any enemy air actvity prior to the German fighters striking the airfields in Belgium, France and Luxembourg.

[Sweetwilliam]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Another hazard of the Pacific campaign:

"So complete was Allied air domination in the region that the day before the Noemfoor landing, aircraft flew over the invasion area to spray DDT: flying ins..."

Interesting. At what date did this happen? I just finished With the Old Breed by Sledge and before that Helmet for My Pillow by Leckie. Both fought on Peleliu. I couldn't believe how bloody that battle was. It was a smaller scale version of Iwo. The entire purpose for the battle was to gaurd MacArthur's right flank for the invasion of the Philippines. The question is....was it necessary? According to Halsey, Peleliu should have been bypassed. The Japanese airwing was not a threat at the time and was alreqdy neutralized. Apparently, Nimitz went ahead and invaded anyway because they had already started the pre-invasion bombardment????? With about 60 years of heinsight, was the invasion worth it?

I am waiting for Toll's 3rd book on the Pacific war to find out if all this carnage was necessary?

[Jonny]

Michael wrote: "
Concerns grew by December 26th that the German Air Force was flying captured and repaired P-47 Thunderbolts over t..."

I have a book about KG200 lying about, who were the guys who operated most of the captured aircraft the Luftwaffe got their hands on. Seems they mainly used them for agent drops, or tactical evaluation. I'll have to dig it out and have a re-read.....

KG 200: The Luftwaffe's Most Secret Unit

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Sweetwilliam, the Noemfoor landing took place in mid 1944:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...

[Colin]

Operation Bodenplatte was Jan. 1, 1945

[Lee]

Mike wrote: "Have not heard of them either A.L. But I may try to get this book:

Kościuszko Squadron, 1919-1921"

There is also The Polish-Soviet War is one of the subjects I keep coming back to all the time.

[Sweetwilliam]

My theme read was the Conquering Tide by Ian Toll. Yes, this is a bit broad a book for the theme read but since the Pacific was about battling over air strips I think it is applicable. He who could control the air strips could control the shipping lanes.

By the way this is an outstanding read. I found it more interesting than Part I of the trilogy entitled Pacific Crucible. I think that in Part I Ian Toll dedicated many pages to developing the back stories of the key decision makers. That was necessary and interesting but not as interesting as the fighting.

Among the many things I gleaned from this book was that the war was over at the conclusion of the Guadalcanal campaign. The Japanese didn't have a chance. Also, Ian Toll considers that the Emperor was complicit and that after the war he tried to pass himself off as a mere figure head that was used by the IJA and IJN to advance their agendas. I think I always believe this.

This is a must read.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Sounds like a book that I will have to read soon then. Thanks for posting those details Sweetwilliam. I need to get my act together and read the first volume!

[Sweetwilliam]

I can't wait for Toll to release the 3rd and final book in his Pacific triolgy. Does anyone know what the timing is for the release of this book?

I am keeping myself busy while waiting for the release of part III. I just listened to Helmet for My Pillow Leckie and With the Old Breed by E. B. Sledge. The latter was incredible.
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa

Here is my review of With the Old Breed is you care to read it..
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[TheIron]

Found another old book while sorting for the book sale. . The copy I have is copyright 1941 - this could prove an interesting read - I'm wondering if its propaganda or actual diary.

[Marc]

Well, finally finished this last night. Very excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

Firestorm Hamburg: The Facts Surrounding the Destruction of a German City 1943

My review can be found here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great review Marc, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the group and I am glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did. The author has a number of other good books on WW2 Bomber Command missions if your interested.

[Marc]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Great review Marc, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the group and I am glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did. The author has a number of other good books on WW2 Bomber Command missions if..."

I think I'll pick up his book on the Nuremburg Raid and I have his book on the USAAF's raid on Schweinfurt/Regensburg on my Amazon Wish List for future purchase.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Both excellent books Marc, I think you will enjoy them as well.

[Colin]

Many of my German pilot buddies flew against the bombers during these Black Thursday raids against Schweinfurt/Regensburg, incredible stories.

[Jonathan]

Few days ago I have finished this book The Bombing War: Europe 1939-1945. Very interesting and very well researched. I especially appreciated the chapter dedicated to Italy because there are few good books about the bombing of my country during the Second World War.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

That is a book that I have and really should try and read some time soon. I'm glad you found the book interesting Jonathan and well worth the time to read.

[Sweetwilliam]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Sounds like a book that I will have to read soon then. Thanks for posting those details Sweetwilliam. I need to get my act together and read the first volume!"

The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944

I finally wrote my review of Ian W. Toll's The Conquering Tide. I really liked this book. While the USN has introduced the Hellcat which is a better fighter than the Zero in every respect, the oxen that the Japanese are using to tow Zeros from the the Mitsubishi plant 20 miles to the nearest airport were dying from exhaustion causing a bottleneck in production.

Here is what I learned from Ian W. Toll if you care to read it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great review Sweetwilliam, thanks for sharing your thoughts with the group, much appreciated!

[Jamie]

Sweetwilliam wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Sounds like a book that I will have to read soon then. Thanks for posting those details Sweetwilliam. I need to get my act together and read the first volume!"

[book:The Conq..."

I enjoyed Toll's first book - even the back ground stuff. And I will get to the rest of them.

Thanks for your review.

I wondered at your mention of the Brits wanting to slow things down so as to join in and reclaim empire.

When I read Chester Wilmott years ago he mentioned in his discussion of the jump from North Africa to Sicily to Italy that one of the reasons the Americans reluctantly agreed to southern Europe was that the landing craft weren't needed for the Pacific at that time (1943).

I wonder, and I don't know, so I'd be curious what you and Toll think, whether the Americans perceived (guessed) Empire as the reason to want to slow down the Pacific, or if they had a concrete basis for the belief. Without knowing more (or anything really) I wonder whether in fact it was fear of Soviet influence in Europe post war. I guess it depends when the slow down request was made. If 1942 / 1943 that would fit with the growing Soviet strength in Europe cf the non-presence of the Anglo-Americans in on European soil.

...ramblings on a Friday afternoon.

[Marc]

Jamie wrote: "Sweetwilliam wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Sounds like a book that I will have to read soon then. Thanks for posting those details Sweetwilliam. I need to get my act together and read the first vol..."

Just ordered both of the Ian Toll books from Amazon, along with a couple by Martin Middlebrook.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Nice big purchase Marc with some excellent books/authors :)

[Jamie]

Here is my WWII story...

Today I was outside doing useful crossfit (i.e work) when a Catalina flew by. It was so cool.

[Manray9]

Jamie wrote: "Here is my WWII story...

Today I was outside doing useful crossfit (i.e work) when a Catalina flew by. It was so cool."

Jamie: Where was that? They're aren't too many airworthy Catalinas left.

[Jamie]

New Plymouth, New Zealand. Yes - I'd seen it at the airport over the last few years. First time I'd seen it flying though.

[Jamie]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily...

[Manray9]

Jamie wrote: "http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily..."

Thanks.

[J.]

Manray9 wrote: "Jamie wrote: "Here is my WWII story...

Today I was outside doing useful crossfit (i.e work) when a Catalina flew by. It was so cool."

Jamie: Where was that? They're aren't too many airworthy Catalinas left..."

You never know what you'll see if you look up. About 1969, I heard something odd going overhead in Palos Verdes, near Torrance Airport. I looked up. Three engines--one on each wing, one on the nose. A red Ford Trimotor. I've never seen one since, even on the ground.

[Lee]

J. wrote: "You never know what you'll see if you look up. "

Nearly 20 years ago, I walked out of the grocery and heard the snarling of multiple radial engines. I wondered if I'd missed a notice about a B-17 or B-24 stopping by our city, and was pleasantly surprised to see a Constellation go overhead!

[Larry]

Marc wrote: "Well, finally finished this last night. Very excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

[book:Fi..."

Outstanding review, Marc! Truly, Hamburg was one of the most important moral questions of WWII and it sounds like this book addressed it in an objective way. Adding it to my list.

[J.]

Lee wrote: "Nearly 20 years ago, I walked out of the grocery and heard the snarling of multiple radial engines. I wondered if I'd missed a notice about a B-17 or B-24 stopping by our city, and was pleasantly surprised to see a Constellation go overhead!"

Hot dang! You just reminded me that the only flight I ever took with my dad was in a Constellation, LA-to-Boston and back, in mid-1955. It might have been a TWA flight. I'd forgotten that completely. Thanks for the memory. He passed on in 1956.

[A.L.]

I'm late finishing and reviewing my theme read, but I finally typed up a few thoughts and pulled a few quotes from the book, if anyone is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in the Second World War by Adam Zamoyski

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

A.L. wrote: "I'm late finishing and reviewing my theme read, but I finally typed up a few thoughts and pulled a few quotes from the book, if anyone is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

Excellent review A.L. and I loved the excerpts you quoted, especially the last one!

[A.L.]

Thanks, Aussie Rick! That last quote was one of those stories I would have liked to read more about.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

A.L. wrote: "Thanks, Aussie Rick! That last quote was one of those stories I would have liked to read more about."

Me too, probably a whole book in itself eh!

[A.L.]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "A.L. wrote: "Thanks, Aussie Rick! That last quote was one of those stories I would have liked to read more about."

Me too, probably a whole book in itself eh!"

Yes! I looked through the chapter notes, and the author lists multiple books, diaries, and intelligence reports, but it doesn't say which accounts came from which sources.

[happy]

If anybody interested, I finally got around to posting my thoughts on




https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Betsy]

Excellent review. The courage of those crews was staggering.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great review Happy, glad to hear you enjoyed the book as much as I did!

[Dj]

happy wrote: "If anybody interested, I finally got around to posting my thoughts on




https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"


Thanks for sharing your thoughts.