Who's reading what?

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:51 pm

i'm reading flyboys by james bradley. admittedly i helped diss the book in an old thread, but this book really gives perspective, from both allied / enemy points of view, however i still feel it's lame that the author tells about the book's subjects on a 1st name basis such as president george h.w. bush ( prez #1) as george, like he was my next door neighbor, general hap arnold as just hap, etc. the dumbest though is referring to b-25's as billys, i've never heard that term until this book. i'll eat my share of crow in some respects, but bradley otherwise has done a good job.

EDowning · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:11 pm

Mad Rebel...A Youth at War
Flight Journal, Apr 2001 by DeGroat, Robert S
Mad Rebel... A Youth at War by John H. Oliphint. Oliphint Publishing, 240 Sierra Vista Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80906-7229; 478 pages; more than 50 b&w photographs; $24.95. $24.95.

When John Oliphint told me that "Freedom is not free," I had no idea of the depth of that conviction. At the time, I knew only that he scored the first kill for the 359th Fighter Group shortly after it arrived in England in October 1943.

Oliphint's gripping new book, "Mad Rebel ... A Youth at War," details his hazardous journey as a wartime fighter pilot. His insight into the merits of using the P-47 instead of the P-51 for ground strafing is interesting and pertinent, particularly considering what happened to him. He survived 67 missions before being shot down and captured by the Germans two days after D-day. Despite severe injuries sustained in the crash of his P-51 Mad Rebel, he was brutally tortured. Realizing he would perish if he remained in custody, Oliphint carefully plotted his escape from prison, including the deaths of those who had denied him medical treatment.

Following his successful breakout, Oliphint joined the French underground and continued to fight. His experiences as a pilot were put to good use identifying air and ground targets for the approaching Allies. When he was no longer useful to the Resistance, he was surreptitiously transported home via a Westland Lysander.

Its graphic details may make this book unsuitable for some readers. It is, however, an important work that should be read for its honest account of a fighter pilot who refused to die and who fought his way back to the freedom he clearly loves. It is an inspiring story.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:20 pm

For those interested in IRAQ I suggest reading
"The Devil's Sandbox" A year in IRAQ with the 2/162 Infantry OR NG.
It's a awesome book! There's also a DVD relating to it called "This Is War" featuring video taken by the troopers (very honest and intense stuff). I really can't say enough about them! The author John Bruning (who is my best friend) also wrote "Jungle Ace" the bio of P-38 ace Gerald Johnson and "Ship Strike Pacific".
http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Sandbox-Battalion-162nd-Infantry/dp/0760323941
http://www.amazon.com/Ship-Strike-Pacific-John-Bruning/dp/0760320950/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4276379-6242365?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193793574&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-4276379-6242365?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=John%20R.%20Bruning%20Jr.

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:24 pm

My parents just got back from Australia where they were visiting family and also had the chance to meet up with James Kightly (Our very own JDK) and he passed along a book for me.

It is titled...

Westland Lysander, by James Kightly.

I've only had a chance to thumb through it, but it is a very thorough telling of the history of the Westland Lysander. I can't wait to find the time to sit down and read the whole thing.

Thank you James!

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3333

'Target of Opportunity' by Dick Hewitt, a 78th FG P-47 and P-51 pilot who flew from Duxford in WWII

Ian Mackersey's biography of the Wright Brothers

David Morris' fascinating book on the (de-)restoration of the FAA Museum's Corsair KD431 - a great antidote to the 'bling' of GML! :lol:

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:05 am

daveymac82c wrote:

My parents just got back from Australia where they were visiting family and also had the chance to meet up with James Kightly (Our very own JDK) and he passed along a book for me.

It is titled...

Westland Lysander, by James Kightly. I've only had a chance to thumb through it, but it is a very thorough telling of the history of the Westland Lysander. I can't wait to find the time to sit down and read the whole thing.

Thank you James!

No problem. I thought you'd like it because there's quite a few photos of your museum's Lysander in the detail section. It as very useful having a 'nude' Lysander to illustrate the book with!

Much as I'm pleased with the response and comments, I have to say there are a couple of other great Lysander books. The 4+ effort is excellent for the modellers and technical stuff, while Bruce Robertson's 'Lysander Special' is a great and remarkably accurate read. Finally I didn't attempt to tell the full SOE Special Duties story, as it's brilliantly done by Hugh Verity, the man who himself flew Lizzies on SD ops - 'We Landed by Moonlight' - which ties back to EDowning's mention of 'Mad Rebel'.

Cheers,

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

Bluenoser's Tales.

Re-read Edwards Park' s book "Nanette" prior to that.

Had "The Geyser Gang" the history of the 428th Fighter Squadron on the night stand before that one.

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:13 am

Hey Jack, after you're finished with the Dr. Seuss book maybe you can loan it to Gary. Seeing as he has the Petting Zoo, he can probably get some good tips from it.

Mac

retroaviation · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:14 am

Jim MacDonald wrote:

Hey Jack, after you're finished with the Dr. Seuss book maybe you can loan it to Gary. Seeing as he has the Petting Zoo, he can probably get some good tips from it.

Mac

Good point Mac. However, I just have bobcats, foxes, hawks, the occasional skunk, and other vermon in the Petting Zoo protecting the airplanes (not to mention my dogs). But if I ever get Woozles, Bamboozles, and Snippydoozles there, the Dr. Seuss book would surely be a handy thing to have. :lol:

Gary

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:18 am

tom d. friedman wrote:

the dumbest though is referring to b-25's as billys, i've never heard that term until this book.

The First Heroes also has that weird term in it as well.

Ryan

T33driver · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:24 am

Unlocking The Sky: Glenn Hammond Curtiss and the Race to Invent the Airplane
by Seth Shulman

A great read on the early days of aviation in the US and Europe. Also a fascinating perspective on the Wright Brothers. I highly recommend it!

Ztex · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:38 am

Just finished this one...

Read this one earlier this year... good stuff.

Rogue · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:20 am

Just finished "Bluenoser Tales" and started "Cobra!".

I'm loving the 20% off 3 and free shipping from Schiffer Books.

I just ordered "Possum, Clover and Hades", "Yellowjackets", "Gabby" and "Happy Jack's Go Buggy".

Pick · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:20 am

I'm currently reading Thud Ridge.

When Thunder Rolled is on deck.

Other recent reads include: Fate is the Hunter, Bury Us Upside Down and Once a Fighter Pilot.

(this thread is helping me figure out what to read next!)

EDowning · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:29 am

Gary Austin wrote:

Quote:

But if I ever get Woozles, Bamboozles, and Snippydoozles there, the Dr. Seuss book would surely be a handy thing to have.

Didn't you fly with some of those at Airsho?

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