What are you reading at the moment?

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by Gage, Mar 12, 2006.

  1. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    You know it mate! Also will be getting this one too:
    First Eagles
     
  2. ozzy16

    ozzy16 Well-Known Member

    Reading this again for the second time.I acquired the book some years ago whilst on a visit to Florida.(no, isbn number)

    The Hump is best explained by a paragraph from within the book.

    "It's a high range of mountains between India and China and there is a lot of bad weather". "You takeoff, fly instruments,climb,reach cruising altitude,make your instrument approach and land,no problem!".
    Just how naïve can a young,arrogant pilot be? The fact remains that if it had been that simple,we would not have left a trail of wrecked aircraft and dead Americans all over those mountains between India and China.
    Graham. hump1.jpg hump3.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    Brief history published in 1964 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the squadron's founding. Surprisingly there is no larger, more in depth history of 6 Squadron considering some of its unique characteristics (one of the oldest RAF squadrons, served for most of its history outside of the UK, mostly in the Middle East, squadron that used the Hurricane for the longest, and of course user of the Hurricane IID which earned the Squadron the nickname "The Flying Tin Openers".) For a short history it does contain some interesting pictures of the "S" cannon installation and it being tested on the blocks and its use and impact.
     
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  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Again, just browsing, but it seemed that every time I was looking up some reference for Hong Kong, Malaya, Korea or Suez, this doorstep of a book was cited as the source. I decided to cut out the middle-man and buy a copy. It's a really solid work and reads like an official history with more splashes of colour. It's especially good, I might add, on the intersection of military and political matters.

    20180403_215217.jpg 20180403_215236.jpg 20180403_215331.jpg 20180403_215414.jpg
     
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  5. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Yes, I know that the thread title is "What are you reading" but since i became an addict of Amazon's Echo Dot I've actually been listening to my extensive Kindle library and in particular to Richard Doherty's "Eighth Army in Italy, 1943 to 1945, The long Hard Slog"

    In the early hours of this morning I listened to Chapter 9, which included this page:

    "The Kangaroo Army, under command of HQ 2 Armoured Brigade, with 9th Lancers, 4th Hussars, who ‘owned’ the Kangaroos, an SPG troop, a sapper assault troop and 2nd London Irish; and ‘reserve force’ which could be called on for special roles and which included another squadron of Bays, an anti-tank battery, a troop of SP anti-tank guns, an armoured sapper troop, a Kensingtons’ mortar platoon, a sapper field company and a field ambulance. Immediate artillery support for the breakout force was provided by 17th Field Regiment, the self-styled Royal Hibernian Artillery,* and 11th (HAC) Regiment RHA. It was an impressive command for a brigadier. 33 The Kangaroo Army deployed over 100 main tracked vehicles from 9th Lancers and 4th Hussars. Each London Irish company travelled in eight Priest Kangaroos,† while Battalion HQ had a further eight, two for reserve ammunition and two for medical....."

    73 years later and I still remember that last "push" in Italy !

    Ron
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2018
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  6. Waddell

    Waddell Well-Known Member

    Just finished Len Deighton's 'Fighter' and would recommend it as it is very readable and gave a good overview of the battle from both sides.

    I quite like the older style in which the book was put together with plenty of line drawings to explain things.

    What I also learnt was that Erhard Milch was an important figure in the Luftwaffe and by Deighton's account not a particularly well liked figure.

    len deighton fighter.jpg

    I thought this book a better entry point into events than the After the Battle Battle of Britain book I bought.

    Scott
     
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  7. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    An account by the Japanese intelligence officer assigned to be in charge of the Fujiwara kikan (F kikan), the unit that liasoned with local independence movements in South East Asia, most importantly the Indians. He was instrumental in helping found the Indian National Army.
     
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  8. Markyboy

    Markyboy Member

    upload_2018-4-9_13-20-37.jpeg I'm about 50 pages into this one and it seems really interesting. Opens up with first hand accounts of the Battle of Britain, then goes on to the main section about Russia. It's a loose autobiography, Eric Carter being one of the pilots who took part. I was unaware of Force Benedict until a couple of years ago when I heard a talk by Vic Bashford, who was a member of the ground crew sent out. I'm looking forward to reading more about it.
     
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  9. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I finished a book I think I mentioned upthread about the 761st Tank Battalion in the US army (The Black Panthers At War). It was a pretty good book, hampered by a need for a little more editing. Also there were mini bios of more than a few tankers and sections of the book described what they were thinking or feeling at the time. I'm unclear (didn't check) whether those people were the men the author interviewed or not. Anyway I found it difficult to keep track of everyone.

    But it's a remarkable story and I'm very glad to have read the book.
     
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  10. BRI54

    BRI54 Junior Member

    just finished ( forgotten voices of D-Day ) by Roderick Bailey well worth a read
    could not put it down
     
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  11. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I haven't read that one, but I really liked Forgotten Voices: Desert Victory. I believe you when you say you couldn't put it down!
     
  12. Markyboy

    Markyboy Member

    upload_2018-4-26_12-44-32.jpeg

    Another charity find for me. Loads of short tales of Australians in the RAF / RAAF from the earliest days of the war in Europe, right through to the close. The casualty rate must have been horrendous as the majority of the tales are finished off with (later shot down over....., missing during......., etc.). A well as segments you'd expect like the Battle of Britain, there's also plenty of descriptions of actions in lesser publicized areas like Coastal Command. Very jingoistic as you'd expect from a 1945 publication, but a good springboard for research into areas of the RAF I am less familiar with.
     
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  13. ozzy16

    ozzy16 Well-Known Member

    Just finished reading this book.Lots of old threads on here offering further information.(using the search facility) some of the stats and eyewitness accounts within the the book were very interesting.on the whole a very good read.
    Graham. v1.jpg
     
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  14. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Peter Haining wrote on a dazzling range of subjects, but the publications are of pretty uneven quality--especially those which he only edited or contributed to in part. That said, I've delved into several on true crime, the supernatural and history and I've no complaints.

    Take a look at this (partial) bibliography--the man clearly never slept!

    Chronological Bibliography: Peter Haining
     
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  15. ozzy16

    ozzy16 Well-Known Member

    Hi Charley,
    Thanks for the link, didn't know he had passed away. 19 Nov 2007.

    Graham.
     
  16. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    An interesting look at the evolution of the French Air force. The author makes the point that the French were pioneers in the field of aerial combat and for years were leaders in the field of aviation. How this changed is part of this study.
     
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  17. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I finally finished The Quiet Gunner at War, and for a change of pace I'm reading Von Ryan's Express. I got it for $1... printed in 1965! (I have not seen the film.)
     
  18. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

  19. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    Steve, it’s in my bookcase awaiting my attention.
     
  20. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Jason,

    It is very well written and so poignant. The author and I have had very similar journeys, although of course I never knew my grandfather. The same discovery pathway, unearthing documents, piecing together timelines etc.
     

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