From Artillery to Air Corps: The World War 2 Memoir of a Green Mountain Cannoneer Turned B-24 Radioman

From Artillery to Air Corps: The World War 2 Memoir of a Green Mountain Cannoneer Turned B-24 Radioman
Author: Paul Van Kavelaar
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2020-02-26
Genre: History
ISBN: 1678173959

The experiences of a young enlisted man in the Army 1936-45. The first half of the book covers the time period from 1936 through early 1944. As he describes his training, assignments and perceptions of various incidents, the reader sees how he was integrated into the military culture. The second half details his experiences as a prisoner of war after his B-24 Liberator was shot down over Germany. He was the plane's radio operator. He was a POW in four different camps from March 1944 through January 1945: Stalag Luft 8, Stalag Luft 4, Stalag Luft 17 and the POW camp at Moosberg. The book vividly depicts life at each of these sites and the transport from one to another. The book ends with the liberation by Patton's forces and the trip back to the United States. In addition to documents and news clippings there are some black and white pictures taken with a smuggled miniature camera of camp life and the camp's liberation. 55 photos, 5 news clippings, 3 documents.

From Artillery to Air Corps

From Artillery to Air Corps
Author: Paul Van Kavelaar
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 186
Release: 2012-02-10
Genre:
ISBN: 9781470015367

Merriam Press Military Monograph 81. Third Edition (February 2012). These are the experiences of a young enlisted man in the Army from 1936 through 1945. As a former military journalist, his writing style is quite descriptive. The first half of the book covers the time period from 1936 through early 1944. As he describes his training, assignments and perceptions of various incidents, the reader sees how he was integrated into the military culture. A number of anecdotes illustrate what the unwritten rules were at the time and the basis for some of the rhetoric then in use, e.g. terms such as "dogface" and "wolf." The second half of the book details his experiences as a prisoner of war after his B-24 Liberator was shot down over Germany. He was the plane's radio operator. He was a POW in four different camps from March 1944 through January 1945: Stalag Luft 8, Stalag Luft 4, Stalag Luft 17 and the POW camp at Moosberg. The book vividly depicts life at each of these sites and the transport from one to another. It includes numerous small details from these experiences such as the number of slats in the beds at the POW camps, the brands of cigarettes smoked, the fact that the time was denoted nautically, and so on. The book ends with the liberation by Patton's forces and the trip back to the United States. In addition to documents and news clippings there are some black and white pictures taken with a smuggled miniature camera of camp life and the camp's liberation. Contents: Dedication; Foreword; Chapter 1: Out of the Depression; Chapter 2: The Green Mountain Boys; Chapter 3: French .75s and Colt .45s; Chapter 4: Feeding the Hungry; Chapter 5: Backyard Soldiers; Chapter 6: Angel Island: Poison Welcome; Chapter 7: Problems in the Paradise of the Pacific; Chapter 8: The Word Has It That ...; Chapter 9: Impressive Army Maneuvers; Chapter 10: The Andrew Jackson; Chapter 11: The North Atlantic; Chapter 12: With the RAF; Chapter 13: Pine Tree; Chapter 14: The Pall Descends; Chapter 15: Calling "Darkie"; Chapter 16: All Kinds of Bugs; Chapter 17: Heidekrug Vacation; Chapter 18: The Red Cross and the Grey Wolves; Chapter 19: Night Lights and Night Lice; Chapter 20: The Battle Four; Chapter 21: Free at Last; Photographs and Documents; 55 B&W photos; 5 news clippings; 3 documents.

American Airpower Comes Of Age—General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold’s World War II Diaries Vol. II [Illustrated Edition]

American Airpower Comes Of Age—General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold’s World War II Diaries Vol. II [Illustrated Edition]
Author: Gen. Henry H. “Hap.” Arnold
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Total Pages: 927
Release: 2015-11-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 1786251523

Includes the Aerial Warfare In Europe During World War II illustrations pack with over 180 maps, plans, and photos. Gen Henry H. “Hap.” Arnold, US Army Air Forces (AAF) Chief of Staff during World War II, maintained diaries for his several journeys to various meetings and conferences throughout the conflict. Volume 1 introduces Hap Arnold, the setting for five of his journeys, the diaries he kept, and evaluations of those journeys and their consequences. General Arnold’s travels brought him into strategy meetings and personal conversations with virtually all leaders of Allied forces as well as many AAF troops around the world. He recorded his impressions, feelings, and expectations in his diaries. Maj Gen John W. Huston, USAF, retired, has captured the essence of Henry H. Hap Arnold—the man, the officer, the AAF chief, and his mission. Volume 2 encompasses General Arnold’s final seven journeys and the diaries he kept therein.

General Kenney Reports: A Personal History of the Pacific War

General Kenney Reports: A Personal History of the Pacific War
Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 612
Release: 1997
Genre: Generals
ISBN: 1428913351

General Kenney Reports is a classic account of a combat commander in action. General George Churchill Kenney arrived in the South- west Pacific theater in August 1942 to find that his command, if not in a shambles, was in dire straits. The theater commander, General Douglas MacArthur, had no confidence in his air element. Kenney quickly changed this situation. He organized and energized the Fifth Air Force, bringing in operational commanders like Whitehead and Wurtsmith who knew how to run combat air forces. He fixed the logistical swamp, making supply and maintenance supportive of air operations, and encouraging mavericks such as Pappy Gunn to make new and innovative weapons and to explore new tactics in airpower application. The result was a disaster for the Japanese. Kenney's airmen used air power-particularly heavily armed B-25 Mitchell bombers used as commerce destroyers-to savage Japanese supply lines, destroying numerous ships and effectively isolating Japanese garrisons. The classic example of Kenney in action was the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, which marked the attainment of complete Allied air dominance and supremacy over Japanese naval forces operating around New Guinea. In short, Kenney was a brilliant, innovative airman, who drew on his own extensive flying experiences to inform his decision-making. General Kenney Reports is a book that has withstood the test of time, and which should be on the shelf of every airman.

Cross Channel Attack

Cross Channel Attack
Author: Gordon A. Harrison
Publisher: BDD Promotional Books Company
Total Pages: 552
Release: 1993-12
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780792458562

Discusses the Allied invasion of Normandy, with extensive details about the planning stage, called Operation Overlord, as well as the fighting on Utah and Omaha Beaches.

Attu

Attu
Author: John Haile Cloe
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2017
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780996583732

The Battle of Attu, which took place from 11-30 May 1943, was a battle fought between forces of the United States, aided by Canadian reconnaissance and fighter-bomber support, and the Empire of Japan on Attu Island off the coast of the Territory of Alaska as part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign during the American Theater and the Pacific Theater and was the only land battle of World War II fought on incorporated territory of the United States. It is also the only land battle in which Japanese and American forces fought in Arctic conditions. The more than two-week battle ended when most of the Japanese defenders were killed in brutal hand-to-hand combat after a final banzai charge broke through American lines. Related products: Aleutian Islands: The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/aleutian-islands-us-army-campaigns-world-war-ii-pamphlet Aleutians, Historical Map can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/aleutians-historical-map-poster Other products produced by the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/national-park-service-nps World War II resources collection is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/world-war-ii

The Praetorian STARShip : the untold story of the Combat Talon

The Praetorian STARShip : the untold story of the Combat Talon
Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 507
Release: 2001
Genre:
ISBN: 1428990437

Jerry Thigpen's study on the history of the Combat Talon is the first effort to tell the story of this wonderfully capable machine. This weapons system has performed virtually every imaginable tactical event in the spectrum of conflict and by any measure is the most versatile C-130 derivative ever produced. First modified and sent to Southeast Asia (SEA) in 1966 to replace theater unconventional warfare (UW) assets that were limited in both lift capability and speed the Talon I quickly adapted to theater UW tasking including infiltration and resupply and psychological warfare operations into North Vietnam. After spending four years in SEA and maturing into a highly respected UW weapons system the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) chose the Combat Talon to lead the night low-level raid on the North Vietnamese prison camp at Son Tay. Despite the outcome of the operation the Talon I cemented its reputation as the weapons system of choice for long-range clandestine operations. In the period following the Vietnam War United States Air Force (USAF) special operations gradually lost its political and financial support which was graphically demonstrated in the failed Desert One mission into Iran. Thanks to congressional supporters like Earl Hutto of Florida and Dan Daniel of Virginia funds for aircraft upgrades and military construction projects materialized to meet the ever-increasing threat to our nation. Under the leadership of such committed hard-driven officers as Brenci Uttaro Ferkes Meller and Thigpen the crew force became the most disciplined in our Air Force. It was capable of penetrating hostile airspace at night in a low-level mountainous environment covertly to execute any number of unconventional warfare missions.

Oil & War

Oil & War
Author: Robert Goralski
Publisher: William Morrow
Total Pages: 392
Release: 1987
Genre: History
ISBN:

The full story of the role that oil played in the origins and outcome of World War II.

Investigating Iwo

Investigating Iwo
Author: Breanne Robertson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 371
Release: 2019
Genre: Flags
ISBN: 9781732003071

"Investigating Iwo encourages us to explore the connection between American visual culture and World War II, particularly how the image inspired Marines, servicemembers, and civilians to carry on with the war and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure victory over the Axis Powers. Chapters shed light on the processes through which history becomes memory and gains meaning over time. The contributors ask only that we be willing to take a closer look, to remain open to new perspectives that can deepen our understanding of familiar topics related to the flag raising, including Rosenthal's famous picture, that continue to mean so much to us today"--