THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
Introduction to the WW2 Site - Please Say Hi
Hi William and welcome to the group, with your family history and your Dad's service you should fit in nicely.
'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi William and welcome to the group, with your family history and your Dad's service you should fit in nicely."Thanks Rick, I'm 64 and live on Maui where my Dad grew up. He was the first from here to go to the Naval Academy. I've written a few articles on my website http://www.billboyum.com about issues that are great backstory for my book, like carrier flight ops at night and life onboard a carrier... in his case the USS Wasp. Also my grandfather on my Mom's side was a battlefield surgeon in WWI.
Hello. I'm Jenn - nearly 34 and a lifelong reader. I grew up watching WWII films and have read some really interesting fiction and non fiction set then.I just finished a new book (March 2015) called Rescue at Los Banos and just became fascinated with the Pacific Theater, as I haven't read much there. Found your thread and have been adding books left and right. Thanks!
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Welcome Jenn, Pleased you found us. Feel free to pitch in and also do add your book details on our Authors' Thread.
Jenn wrote: "Hello. I'm Jenn - nearly 34 and a lifelong reader. I grew up watching WWII films and have read some really interesting fiction and non fiction set then.I just finished a new book (March 2015) cal..."
Welcome, Jenn. Please pitch in!
Hi Jenn and a big warm welcome to the group, I'm glad you found the Pacific Theatre thread and found a few books of interest. Later this year we will be doing a theme read of the War in the Pacific, I will e-mail the group closer to the starting date.
Hi Everyone,I'm a recently retired IT professional who majored in European history. I have also taught history as an adjunct instructor. I recently read Istvan Deak's new book, Europe on Trial, the Story of Collaboration, Resistance, Retribution During World War II. It is an overview of the subject, but I learned from it and it has made me want to dip more deeply into the details.
For example, Deak (no relation to me, though we have the same name) points out that there was a so called "Spanish Blue Division" fighting in Russia during World War II (on the side of the Germans). Spain was neutral, so I'm intrigued to find out more about this. I suppose I could research this, (starting with the bibliography in Deak's book), but I thought I would ask the group if they have any reliable info on this.
George Deak
Hi George, welcome to the group and if you are interested here is one good book on the Spanish Blue Division that fought on the Eastern Front during WWII:
by Gerard R. Kleinfeld
Let me add my welcome to William, Jenn and GeorgeWelcome to the Group - be prepared to have your TBR lists explode :)
William wrote: "I grew up with a WWII night fighter carrier pilot as a father. After the war he was a test pilot, and then Director of Test Pilot Training in Patuxent River, MD. He went on to command two ships an..."Welcome William, I really enjoyed your video of your father's journey. He was way out on the leading edge in the night fighter business. Would loved tohave talked with him about flying. A few years back I had the great opportunity to hear the war stories of an USS Intrepid fighter pilot at our local chapter of the EAA. He was a source for The Twilight Warriors: The Deadliest Naval Battle of World War II and the Men Who Fought It. I wonder if he served on the ship at the same time as your Dad.
Jenn wrote: "Hello. I'm Jenn - nearly 34 and a lifelong reader. I grew up watching WWII films and have read some really interesting fiction and non fiction set then.I just finished a new book (March 2015) cal..."
Welcome Jenn, you just added one to my TBR with your first post. Hope to return the favor! Jump right in.
Mike wrote: "William wrote: "I grew up with a WWII night fighter carrier pilot as a father. After the war he was a test pilot, and then Director of Test Pilot Training in Patuxent River, MD. He went on to comm..."So many were reluctant to speak or write about their experiences but as they aged and began to see their old pals pass on, some opened up. One of the day time fighter pilots on the Wasp, wrote a book titled "Flying with Iron Angels" It's a great collection of narration, personal memories from various shipmates, and combat reports. Also many pictures. One of those reports concerning my Dad is in my website as a PDF link in the article about him. I'm going to have a look at the book you linked. Thanks.
Flying with Iron Angels: the diaries and memories of Navy carrier pilots fighting the Pacific war in 1944 looks very interesting. Will add that one to the TBR.
Mike wrote: "Flying with Iron Angels: the diaries and memories of Navy carrier pilots fighting the Pacific war in 1944 looks very interesting. Will add that one to the TBR."I enjoyed it because it's written by an actual pilot and not some guy who studied the war fifty some odd years later. It's kind of like a yearbook of guys on a carrier flight group.
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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I'm a lifelong reader and have been reading about the war since I was about 8 years old. I read just about anything but my favorite books are personal accounts. I look forward to meeting others and getting new book ideas. I live in Maryland and work as a church sexton, two doors down from a Stuart tank in the middle of the road that's a veteran's memorial.
Hi Art and welcome to the group, I hope you find a few things of interest here and I look forward to discussing a few good books with you.
I am currently writing a blog and working on a book about my father and his death in WWII as a B-17 pilot. The 70th anniversary of his death is coming up, March 2, 1945 carryingfire.blogspot.com
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Art wrote: "I'm a lifelong reader and have been reading about the war since I was about 8 years old. I read just about anything but my favorite books are personal accounts. I look forward to meeting others and..."Welcome, Art. We look forward to your contributions. Brunswick, is it?
Ellen wrote: "Hello everyone! My name is Ellen and I love to read!"Welcome, Ellen. I like your unusual photo of Dylan.
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Don wrote: "I am currently writing a blog and working on a book about my father and his death in WWII as a B-17 pilot. The 70th anniversary of his death is coming up, March 2, 1945 carryingfire.blogspot.com"Welcome to the group, Don! I checked out your blog, and many of us will likley want to know more about the book. Please feel free to let us know the details when you finish the book on the Author's Page thread.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Jenn wrote: "Hello. I'm Jenn - nearly 34 and a lifelong reader. I grew up watching WWII films and have read some really interesting fiction and non fiction set then.I just finished a new book (March 2015) cal..."
Welcome, Jenn. If you haven't already read it, "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley is an excellent book about the 6 flag raisers on Iwo Jima.
Hello and welcome to George, Art, William and Don. Have been busy shoveling and shoveling and shoveling snow here in the Northeast. Mama Nature spun her wheel and we won the prize for the snow dump this winter.
Hi to all. Glad I found this group.I have been doing a lot of reading on the European side of the war. I was a young child during WW II in Estonia and our enemy were the Russians. I have just written my memoir and am currently looking for a publisher. We fled from Estonia to Austria at the time part of Hitler's Reich. I am eager to read some of the interesting books you all are recommending andlearn more about the Pacific conflict.
Kristina,Let me the first to welcome you here
I think you should be able to find some recomendations about the Pacific war in purusing the threads :)
Hi Kristina and welcome to the group. I hope you find a few things of interest here and the best of luck on finding a publisher for your memoirs.
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Welcome Kristina good to have you here. I'm sure we can help with the Pacific war - check out the threads as there are some great books and solid reviews from group members.
Kristina wrote: "Hi to all. Glad I found this group.I have been doing a lot of reading on the European side of the war. I was a young child during WW II in Estonia and our enemy were the Russians. I have just wr..."Welcome, Kristina. Please don't be reluctant to pitch in.
Hello everyone:I'm a 46 year old WWII enthusiast. I have read books and seen films/television on WWII. I look forward to seeing what others are reading.
The last three books I read on the subject were:
Halsey's Typhoon by Bob Drury
Death Traps by Belton Cooper
The German Aces speak by Colin Heaton
All good books from different perceptives that I recommend. Colin Heaton recently wrote a second German Aces book that I want to read.
Best regards,
Eric
Eric wrote: "Hello everyone:I'm a 46 year old WWII enthusiast. I have read books and seen films/television on WWII. I look forward to seeing what others are reading.
The last three books I read on the su..."
Welcome, Eric. We look forward to your input. Don't be shy. I have a copy of Halsey's Typhoon: The True Story of a Fighting Admiral, an Epic Storm, and an Untold Rescue, as yet unread.
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Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces
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Welcome to the group Eric and as Geevee mentioned, you have most likely made Colin quite happy with your comments on his books.
Eric wrote: "Hello everyone:Colin Heaton recently wrote a second German Aces book that I want to read.
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Colin Heaton,,, mmm why does that name ring a bell ?
I appreciate the endorsements of the books. Remember that you can get signed copies from Anne and I, just email us at cdheatonii@aol.com and see the website at www.lewisheatonbooks.com. Members here get a 10% discount.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Battle of Britain: Five Months That Changed History, May-October 1940 (other topics)Afterbursts: Reliving World War II (other topics)
MacArthur's WWII Seaborne Communications: CP Fleet reports, brochures, memos from the scrapbooks of a Signal Corps Commanding Officer (other topics)
Last Citadel: A Novel of the Battle of Kursk (other topics)
The Ghost Tattoo (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen Harding (other topics)Alex Kershaw (other topics)
James M. Fenelon (other topics)
Günter K. Koschorrek (other topics)
Rick Atkinson (other topics)
More...





Welcome, William!