Read any good books lately?

Hi;

       I am now reading a series by P.E Deuterman about the Navy and it's Ships and Men  in the Pacific in W.W.2. I recommend them highly to those who enjoy " Sea Stories " and War Stories " coupled together . The Builder of Tankers .

All, just finished reading Hampton Sides "On Desparate Ground, The Marines at the Reservoir, the Korean War's Greatest Battle".  This, of course, is one of the most famous battles of the entire war and has been covered in several other books, but this one focuses on the Marines, how they got there, and how they got back out.  Hampton follows several people, including a Korean national who had escaped from the North, only to find himself sent there as an interpreter and re-uniting with his family.  Good read, and the list of references used feels like a to do list for the future, if you haven't read some of them already.  Enjoy!

John

GMorrison

Simply that Shokaku and Zuikaku were laid up for months, which definitely changed the game at Midway, and Yorktown was assumed by the japanese to be out of commission for a while, but was turned around in miraculous time.

 

Shokaku took quite a bit more beating than Yorktown did. I want to say three or four direct hits, plus several near misses. While Yorktown took one direct hit and a few near misses. She was not fully repaired, but enough to get her back in the fight at “good enough” condition. If Yorktown had also sustained that many hits, it is likely that she too would have taken longer to repair. And Zuikaku? Well that was a question of air group replacement. Yorktown and Lexington Air groups also took some serious losses in the Coral Sea battle and previous months of raids across the Pacific. But fortunately, Saratoga’s Air Group was available in Hawaii to take their place on Yorktown for Midway. 

Midway Inquest delves much further into the aspect of carrier pilots available in the first year of the Pacific War, losses, along with replacement rates.

Simply that Shokaku and Zuikaku were laid up for months, which definitely changed the game at Midway, and Yorktown was assumed by the japanese to be out of commission for a while, but was turned around in miraculous time.

I've got three books going now:

"Forgotten Ally:  China's WWII, 1937-1945", by Rana Mitter;

"Rediscovering Americanism", by Mark Levin;

"The Case for Trump", by Victor Davis Hanson.

I want to get Professor Hanson's book on WW II, too.  I've heard some of his interviews and read some of his essays, that came out when the book was released, and it interests me.

GMorrison

...One often overlooked fact is how Yorktown was turned around in 48 hours at Pearl Harbor.

Would you explain what you mean, GM?  I can't think of a book on Midway that I've read, that doesn't describe how we repaired her and sent her out in 48 hours, and the significance of that for the battle.  I want to understand the point you're making.

Bill O’Reilly‘s killing Patton didnt know the details of his car Accident

GMorrison

That sounds like a good read. Reviews suggest it aligns with Shattered Sword.

One often overlooked fact is how Yorktown was turned around in 48 hours at Pearl Harbor.

 

For the most part, Midway Inquest does. But where it diverges, the author presents his case factually, with supporting reasons, documents or testimonial, and allows the reader to form their own conclusions. Just as in Shattered Sword, nothing truly earth shattering is revealed. 

I just started "Spearhead" by Adam Makos, the auhtor of Higher Call.  It's real history about men in the Third Armored at the end of WW 2.  Very well done.  Have not finished it.  It just was published.

That sounds like a good read. Reviews suggest it aligns with Shattered Sword.

One often overlooked fact is how Yorktown was turned around in 48 hours at Pearl Harbor.

I’m currently reading a book called “The Midway Inquest”. Basicly a dissection of the battle in a courtroom style. For any Midway buffs, I would highly recommend this book for a different perspective and analysis of the battle. Nothing new or shocking is revealed (at least so far), but instead a logical presentation of facts, timelines, and events for the reader to consider, as would be done in a courtroom inquiry.

Tanker - Builder

  Just started the story covering " Operation Paperclip " or how we succoured Foreign Nationals  who could advance our Military Science .I am thinking it will be a good book .

 

TB,

  My Best Friends Father was an Operation Paperclip scientist.  There is a lot to be learned about how we got to our present state of technology from that secret program.

   My Friends Pop was a Ukrainian chemist, They did not just take Germans   His family was put in a "camp" and he was forced to work. My friends older sister was born in that "camp".

  Let me know what you think of the book. I will pass on your thoughts to my friend.

      Nino.

P.S.   Funny how so many movies talk in terms of "Our German Scientists" and "Their German Scientists".  Someday maybe a relative of one will tell us about the "Foo Fighters" our pilots saw.

Read a few while I was on vacation in Florida.

First was Terror in the Starboard Seat by Dave McIntosh.  Personal observations by a right seater flying in Mosquitos with 418 Sqn during WWll.

Next was Nickle Trip by Brad Bird.  It's the biography of his father, Clayton Bird, as told to him by his dad.  Mr. Bird was born in the same small town as my father-in-law (Boissevain, Manitoba) and he was a flight instructor in Canada and heavy bomber pilot in Europe with the RCAF during WWll.  He went on to become a flight instructor with the post war RCAF.

Finally, I completed Dam Busters by Ted Barris.  A very interesting read with a few personal anecdotes and detailed descriptions of the development of the bomb, training and the routes flown and the paths taken during each attempt at breaching the dams.

All, found another really good one called "Naked in Da Nang"  Mike Jackson is a O-2 pilot and FAC during the end of the war in Viet Nam.  He is an ordinary guy who had some extraordinary things happen to him, and was always able to find the bright spot in the clouds. He wrote of his adventures, including being naked in Da Nang, (I'll let him tell it,) with a sense of humor and wit that had me laughing at the way he said certain things.  The book read almost like he was talking to you at a party.  This book is a good honor to the men and women who served in Viet Nam, and a fun read.  Enjoy!

John

My wife just finished "All The Light We Cannot See". She liked it, it is on my list.

 Just started the story covering " Operation Paperclip " or how we succoured Foreign Nationals  who could advance our Military Science .I am thinking it will be a good book .

After reading about Kerry man Tom Crean a member of Scott's expedition and his 35 mile solo walk to save the life of Edward Evans, awarded the Albert medal. I thought I would look for other local heroes Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty story told in the "The scarlet pimpernel of the vatican." was next. The last a book about Dr Aidan McCarthy "A Doctor's Sword" survives the Atomic bomb on Nagasaki when a prisoner of war, he is given a Samurai sword by the camp commandant for saving his life when other prisoners had him cornered in the final days of the war.

Antony Beevor "Stalingrad" and "Berlin: The downfall 1945" are eye opening historical books covering the Russian vs German conflict, really brutal.

Finished reading The prisoners of Geography, a great account of how countries development depends on geography, how geography influences political and military actions etc

Ted4321

I've been reading the forum for the past couple months and just came across this thread.  Great idea for a topic! 

I usually bounce back and forth between Star Wars novels and history non-fiction/reference. A book that i think was very good and does relate to our hobby is A Higher Call by Adam Makos.  The book is the story of an American bomber pilot and a German fighter pilot who meet during a ww2 battle then met again many years after the war. 

I know there's quite a few pages on this topic so someone may have mentioned it already but i think it's a very interesting story. 

It's been a few years since i finished reading it- as not to stray too far off topic, i just finished a star wars book called Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn.

Often whilst browsing amazon I ponder what to read next.  This thread will help. 

Thanks for the ideas! 

T e d

 

A Higher Call is definitely on my list to read!

All, just read an interesting one by Bruce Gamble called Kangaroo Squadron, about the first heavy bombers deployed to Australia during the opening months of WWII.  Turns out, his uncle was one of the crew, so the story has a personal aspect for him.  It also tells the origin of the Swamp Ghost.  Nice, fast paced read and hard to put down.  

John

Reading Max Hastings: The secret war.    Spies, codes and guerrillas 1939-1945.

All the countries involved during WW2 not just those we're familiar with.

Joe

Aha !Mississippivol !

 Now you know where the term " Women and Children First " Came from .Interesting read for all sea and ship buffs . T.B. P.S. It was also known as the " Birkenhead Drill "

A classic, “Autobiogrophy of a Yogi”.  By Paramahansa Yogananda.  

I've been reading the forum for the past couple months and just came across this thread.  Great idea for a topic! 

I usually bounce back and forth between Star Wars novels and history non-fiction/reference. A book that i think was very good and does relate to our hobby is A Higher Call by Adam Makos.  The book is the story of an American bomber pilot and a German fighter pilot who meet during a ww2 battle then met again many years after the war. 

I know there's quite a few pages on this topic so someone may have mentioned it already but i think it's a very interesting story. 

It's been a few years since i finished reading it- as not to stray too far off topic, i just finished a star wars book called Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn.

Often whilst browsing amazon I ponder what to read next.  This thread will help. 

Thanks for the ideas! 

T e d

Finished  "Failure Is Not An Option" by Gene Kranz.

Working on a bunch of Osprey books right now.

I just started re-reading the Lincoln Child/Douglas Child, "Pendergast" series of books. He is quite the interesting character.

I'm in a reading lull right now.

I've read the whole "Expanse" series-the books are much better than the TV series-but the next book isn't due out for another year or so.  Same goes for "Game of Thrones".

I want to read John LeCarre's "The Little Drummer Girl", having seen bits of the series AMC produced based on the novel.  But my library doesn't have it, so I have to track it down.

And I'm trying to get started on David Drake's "The Road of Danger".  I can't get past the first couple of chapters.  I like his "Hammer's Slammers" series and his short stories.  But this one just seems to drag.  I've started it twice and put it down, and am on my third try.

Otherwise, I'm reading Ospreys and other references, for things I'm working on.  That includes looking for materials about Pennsylvania in the French-and-Indian War, and the provincial regiment.  And I read the periodicals I still get, like FSM, the IPMS journal, and a couple toy soldier mags.