Ol' Jimmy Doolittle. Now there's an example of a real American: adventurous, daring, innovative, a true leader, pioneering, successful, focused, driven, influential and enduring. A famed aviator, Jimmy's fame in the skies went back long before WW II as he was a successful air racer. He won the 1925 Schneider Trophy with his R3C-2 seaplace racer. I remember looking at a photograph of him standing on one of the pylons of that winning plance and then years later finally getting to see it in the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum in DC--that was a wow moment for me as I imagined him standing on that same pylon in front of me there that day.
His exploits in putting together and leading the subsequently called "Doolittle Raid" on Japan in April 1942, hurtling B-25 medium bombers off the Hornet's carrier deck of all things has to be his career zenith, and Jimmy at his most heroic. Knowing you might not come back from a mission as this, and by design knowing that you would either be bailing out or crash landing in China after mission completion (if you made it that far) is sobering, and possesses the Tuff Stuff most of us are not made of. A few did not make it back; Doolittle did.
The 'Raid' did wonders at the time for US morale in punctuating and validating the thought that the Japanese could indeed be gotten to in their own backyard. That wasn't lost on the Japanese populace either as they no longer thought of themselves as invulnerable. We'd soon be winning the turning point of the Pacific war at Midway Island, a battle possibly not won by the US if the 'Raid' never happened or wasn't successful. After Doolittle's daring raid the Japanese felt they had to divert crucial naval strength to protect their homeland and therefore present fewer resources elsewhere---including the Battle of Midway.
A grandest of scales Jimmy operated on yes, but, it shows us that some sincere and intelligent ambition can have far-reaching victorious and positive effects not merely for those immediately around us, but well beyond our own consciousness and scope.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
"Winston's War, 1940-1945"
I recently finished this book by Max Hastings. It's an exceptional read and despite reading the behemoth of Jenkins' "Churchill" about 4 years ago, Hastings' was really more the eye-opener.
Hastings took a deeper and fresh study into Churchill that I'd not ever read or heard before, at least during the war years. He's much more boldly open and honest about Churchill and his bunglings, not merely what made "WSC" the only man who could've lead England through such a period.
Churchill isn't the only subject he touches on: Hastings also goes into great detail on animosities between the American & British militaries, Franklin Roosevelt's startling coldness and aloofness towards our British ally, and Churchill, FDR's blind eye to Soviet tyranny and aggression, and just how much Winston was a war-based PM almost totally unconcerned about domestic matters.
It's captivating to read what his Chiefs of Staff, his cabinet, and many ordinary citizens thought of him and their country's destiny & circumstance during those violent years of the first half of the 1940's.
Hastings took a deeper and fresh study into Churchill that I'd not ever read or heard before, at least during the war years. He's much more boldly open and honest about Churchill and his bunglings, not merely what made "WSC" the only man who could've lead England through such a period.
Churchill isn't the only subject he touches on: Hastings also goes into great detail on animosities between the American & British militaries, Franklin Roosevelt's startling coldness and aloofness towards our British ally, and Churchill, FDR's blind eye to Soviet tyranny and aggression, and just how much Winston was a war-based PM almost totally unconcerned about domestic matters.
It's captivating to read what his Chiefs of Staff, his cabinet, and many ordinary citizens thought of him and their country's destiny & circumstance during those violent years of the first half of the 1940's.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
World War I novel
The novel I'm currently working on has just entered the editing phase. With the backdrop being World War I in October of 1917, it's main character is a brash, chatty American fighter pilot with a quippy sense of humor. Captain Thomas Bentley of the 94th Aero Squadron finds himself thrust into the the hunt for "the tube". The tube's contents implicate an end to the Allies', and possibly much of the rest of Earth's population's, life as they know it not just the Central Powers victory in The Great War.
The tube's custodian is a German of German's; one of their prized, rising officers. Will the German get to the French south coast first, and in time to delivery the tube? Or will Captain Bentley and his side's pursuers stop him and seize the German and his side's sercret plans for Allied devastation? It's quite a ride.
I'm not given to the current title: "The Air of Our Teens". The title has implications that you come to realize in the book. The Teens refers to the time period of World War I. I like it but I'm mulling some other possibilites.
Some aviation scenes occur in the novel as well though not a massive amount. You get a taste of the 'air up there' at that time though.
The tube's custodian is a German of German's; one of their prized, rising officers. Will the German get to the French south coast first, and in time to delivery the tube? Or will Captain Bentley and his side's pursuers stop him and seize the German and his side's sercret plans for Allied devastation? It's quite a ride.
I'm not given to the current title: "The Air of Our Teens". The title has implications that you come to realize in the book. The Teens refers to the time period of World War I. I like it but I'm mulling some other possibilites.
Some aviation scenes occur in the novel as well though not a massive amount. You get a taste of the 'air up there' at that time though.
Hello!
Welcome to my brand new blog! I'm happy to see what you have to share and say and look forward to engaging about the idea of historical fiction, American or European History, Winston Churchill, American Presidents, aviation, the history of baseball, war history, what have you. I look forward to your thoughts and opinions and to enjoy a responsible use of the freedom of press and speech. God bless!
Tim
Tim
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