Customer Reviews:
Black KnightsI.......2007-09-26
I have only read half of the book to date. My review based on what I read so far is that the book seems to be accurate, according to my understanding of the History I've read on the subject.
review for my class, part 2.......2002-03-31
The middle of the book is a detailed record of significant air battles in which the Tuskegee Airmen were involved. At this point, the reader becomes less compelled to read every sentence of every page as the book makes a transition from being a presentation of the Tuskegee Experience's fight for existence to more of a day-by-day record of many of the missions the airmen flew. Certain phrases become cliché in the telling of each story, and the reader gets somewhat lost in the seemingly endless listings of names and how many kills were becoming associated with each. While the special care taken to preserve detailed historical accuracy is impressive, the book could greatly benefit from including more personal accounts by the airmen themselves. The preface tells of the many interviews that the authors conducted to gather information for their project; the reader is disappointed to find out that virtually none of these interviews are described in detail, let alone even directly quoted. Including detailed firsthand accounts of the pilots' individual experiences would certainly have helped to break the monotony of this part of the book, and unquestionably would have made it more interesting.
One thing that the book does very well is to give credit not just to the pilots who saw combat action in the war, but also to all of the people that made it possible for them to get there. It should be noted that, although initially it was not the case, the Tuskegee Army Air Field was staffed almost entirely by black soldiers at every level. Everyone from mess hall workers, to entertainers, to mechanics, to weather observers was black. White soldiers only held assignments there temporarily while black soldiers were being rotated into their positions. Chapter XVII, titled "The Unsung Warriors," is dedicated entirely to presenting the foundation of the Tuskegee Experience. This is a very important piece of the Tuskegee puzzle because, for example, if there were no ground crews, the planes would never have flown. Other works tend to give all of the glory to the combat-seasoned pilots, while this book does a very complete job of evenly distributing the credit. Another example of the completeness of Black Knights is Chapter XIII, which deals with the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium). Although these bomber crews never saw combat, they were another part of the on-going story of blacks' struggle for equality. Lastly, the roster of Tuskegee graduates in the appendix of the book further supports the authors' mission to create a concise historical record of the Tuskegee Experience.
Black Knights also gives a clear view of the original intent of the Tuskegee Experiment. For the most part, the higher powers responsible for the creation of a black training facility approved the program with the intent of proving its failure. The book does a good job of showing how certain people at the slightly-lower levels were the saviors of the whole program. Besides the efforts of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. to promote the program, certain other benefactors are given appropriate mention as well. Colonel Noel F. Parrish is one such example, who, after taking over command of Tuskegee Army Air Field, did so much to boost morale at the base that he is given almost as much recognition as Colonel Davis for helping to save the program.
The book's timeline seems to break up in the last chapter of the book. In Chapter XIX, entitled "Black Birds," a brief overview of the history of black fliers is given. While one can appreciate the contribution those pilots made to aviation, it did not have a direct effect on the creation of the Tuskegee Experience. The authors would have done well to simply omit the last chapter; placed at the end of the book, it seems out of place and its spotty detail is a bit awkward to follow simply because it seems out of sequence. This material would carry more meaning if it was instead placed at the beginning of the book, and also perhaps if it was simply integrated into the first chapter.
All in all the authors did a fine job of recounting the story of the brave men who came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. As the title suggests, Black Knights: the Story of the Tuskegee Airmen accurately illustrates the fierce crusade that was fought against racism and segregation. While certainly a very complete work, Black Knights is not about drama. It presents the facts for what they were; for that, it deserves appreciation, but it has little to offer as far as gripping tales of fast-paced dogfights and personal experiences.
review written for my class, part 1 of 2.......2002-03-31
Well, I had to review it for my class so I thought I'd put it up here too(broken in half to stay in the 1K word limit).
Black Knights: the Story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a concisely written historical account of the struggles faced by young black men during World War II to establish themselves as pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps, though it leaves something to be desired. The concise details and statistics show an obvious effort to preserve the accuracy of the records kept of the events surrounding the Tuskegee Experience. With that in mind, it should also be noted that when describing certain controversial issues, the authors offer a mostly unbiased perspective. However, certain areas of the book are somewhat lacking. Some elements seem slightly out of place, almost as if they were thrown in solely for the purpose of increasing the bulk of the book. It can be appreciated that the authors took considerable effort to give credit not just to the fliers that saw combat, but also to the entire support structure that gave them that chance. On the other hand, this may have been slightly overdone. Overall, Black Knights is good source of factual history, but is not an overly compelling piece of literature.
The authors, Lynn Homan and Thomas Reilly, wrote this book as a sort of rewrite of a previous work of theirs, The Tuskegee Airmen, with the intention of creating a more complete historical account. Out of respect for the airmen, the Tuskegee Experience is a term used throughout the book in reference to the social experiment that was formulated by the United States War Department to prove that black men could not fly advanced warplanes. Having previously been referred to as the Tuskegee Experiment, the term Tuskegee Experience has been requested by the airmen themselves as an alternative to the former term which has been confused with an unrelated government medical research project, as explained in the preface. This is the ninth book that Homan and Reilly have written together during their time together in which they have traveled across the country giving lectures and organizing museum exhibits on the Tuskegee Experience. Black Knights is simply an extension of their work, intended to present the Experience as a whole.
The first part of the book is a chronological account of how the Tuskegee Airmen came to be. Two distinct views are presented; while blacks were finally being given the chance to fly, there were some who were against the idea of an all-black flight training facility. Besides the obvious racist opponents, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was among those who did not want to see a segregated airfield. The supporters of the idea believed that the young black soldiers would thrive in an environment of their own, kept isolated from the hardships that would be imposed upon them in an integrated military. If segregated, they would not have to be subject to cruelties dealt them by fellow soldiers that would have been detrimental to their morale. Others argued that it only added to the problem of ending segregation and opposed the creation of an all-black airfield on the grounds that separate training facilities and unit organizations would be more costly than an integrated military.
The authors seem to express a slight leaning towards being in agreement with the NAACP's standpoint on the issue, that is, anti-segregation. What they fail to point out, however, is that while segregation is inherently evil, the effect it had actually benefited the outcome of what was to become the Tuskegee Experience. An analogy can be made to illustrate this point. A wall representing racial segregation had to be taken down to make integration possible. If the military integrated black fliers into the white ranks, they would have been subject to unknown cruelties by racist whites and would have had nowhere to turn. One could compare this to attempting to disassemble the aforementioned wall piece-by-piece. On the other hand, as one united, all-black unit, all obstacles in their way were faced by the group as a whole. By having been given the chance to prove themselves in war, they acted as a battering ram to demolish the barrier of segregation. The authors seem to present the arrangement as a failure as far as the battle for integration was concerned; rather, the Tuskegee Experience provided unmistakable proof that black pilots could perform admirably, and effectively paved the way for future desegregation.
Depth of research: 5 stars. Quality of editing: 3 stars........2001-10-18
You have to appreciate the amount of effort that went into assembling this book. Even the casually interested reader will finish "Black Knights" with a greater appreciation for the young men who completed the Tuskeegee Experience and went on to serve their country in WWII and beyond. Archival detail is impressive, down to an appendix that offers a roster of all Tuskeegee graduates. Can a future reprint offer the service history of each individual as well?
The book itself presents exhaustive research into the the origins of the program, testimony for and against its development, and records of Tuskeegee-trained airmen in combat and in the post-war USAF. But two-thirds of the way into the book, once the title material is exhausted, it begins a survey of pre-WWII black aviation pioneers. This material is also well-researched, but a bit awkward in its sequence and given the title. Should this have been published as two separate books?
Voluminous research presented the authors with a great challenge: how could all the information be made readable? The authors often succeeded at this task. Note the story of the 99th squadron's first air-to-air kill, and how that is woven back into the discussion of the Army Air Corps' resistance to establishing the squadron in the first place.
This is a good read, if not always compelling. Youth in search of heros need to look beyond the sports and recording industries to discover the Tuskeegee Airmen. Excerpts from this book may provide that introduction.
Good job, could have been better.............2001-08-29
A mixed bag to me, this book was an ordinary book about an extraordinary subject, those brave black men whose more subtle enemy was the pervasive racism back home. When he authors stick to the stories told about the racial obstacles placed in the "Black Knights" paths in such AAF bases as Alabama, Michigan, and Indiana, a compelling story is told. The Army wanted and expected black fliers to fail, and they not only didn't fail, they were superb soldiers and pilots. But, when the book moves into their combat experiences, the pace of the book slows down, instead using a day-to-day litany of the various units, culled directly from daily unit reports. This section of the book could have used more personal reminiscences from the many old fliers interviewed for the book. It's just page after page of mundane, "flip through" stuff. And the book suffers from spotty editing(Thurgood Marshall never was Chief Justice; the famous and versatile German flak gun was the 88, not the 188, for example). For a better look at combat conditions in the Italian Theater in '44-'45, read Stephen Ambrose's new book "The Wild Blue", about the men who flew the B-24s. Feel the absolute admiration that young B-24 pilot(and future Presidental candidate) George McGovern felt towards the Tuskegee Airmen, who got his crew home safe and sound every time. The excellent last chapter is curiously a history of early black aviation. I would have opened the book with it, rather than closed. The best chapter to me was about the 1945 Freeman Field Mutiny, when over 100 officers risked court martial because they were denied entry to the segregated base Officer's Club; early civil disobedience. The Army, faced with an uncertain outcome to the Japan Theater, backed down eventually. The hero of the book? Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr, a superb officer and a great leader.
Book Description
It was the summer of 1940, and World War II had been raging for nearly a year. Buoyed by his successes on the Continent, Hitler was now planning an invasion of England to seal Europe's fate.
Though the United States was still a neutral country, a few Americans decided they couldn't remain on the sidelines. They joined Britain's Royal Air Force to defend the country - with the future of civilization hanging in the balance.
The Few tells the dramatic and unforgettable story of these Americans who defied their own country's neutrality laws and risked their very citizenship to fight side-by-side with England's finest pilots. Flying the lethal and elegant Spitfire, they became “knights of the air” who, with minimal training but plenty of guts, dueled the skilled and fearsome aces of Germany's Luftwaffe.
By October 1940, they had helped England win the greatest air battle in the history of aviation. Some five years later, at war's end, just one of them would be alive. Winston Churchill once said famously of all those who fought in the Battle of Britain, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” These daring Americans were the few among the “few.”
Customer Reviews:
Very, very interesting........2007-09-03
I learned much about the "Battle of Britain" and the eight Americans (one was listed on the RAF rosters as Canadian) who faught in it. Occuring before the US entered the war, this account is about the people who defended Britain from Hitler's attempt to destroy the RAF and London before invading the island. Hitler almost succeeded but for the heroism of the entire RAF including the eight Americans who, against the laws if the US enlisted and fought. Well written. Battle accounts are riviting. I highly recommend this book.
God Bless You Boys, Every One, For Your Sacrifice to Freedom.......2007-06-23
Well, as I come here to review this awesome book, I see that many have beaten me to it! And that, certainly, is a very good thing! This shows that I am not alone in trumpeting this book to you.
Kershaw is an excellent author, and I shall be seeking out his other books for my library, I'm sure. Through his prose, these sturdy, brave young men come to life again that you may experience their story, and their sacrifice that freedom should still remain throughout the world. Have you ever wondered "I wonder how close Hitler came to taking over the world, really?" Well, this will give you the answer, straight up. Had England lost the Battle of Britain, we would, for sure, be living in a very different world today. Yet, while these eight very brave young Americans were risking life and limb fighting across the Atlantic, we were twiddling our thumbs and looking the other way. What did it take to wake us up? One Sunday morning 9 miles west of Honolulu...that Sunday--December 7, 1941.
I recommend this book so strongly to anyone who is a history lover, or interested in WWII, or The Battle of Britian, or anyone who enjoys the self-affirming "rightness" of those who truly give of themselves, and stand up for what they believe in. Again, "God Bless You Boys, Every One" for standing up and being counted as true heroes against Hitler's Nazi Scourge.
It Was Their Last Full Meassure of Devotion.......2007-06-05
They came from all walks of life. Each with his own personal story and reason for being there; but, the one theme that ran constant throughout. They cherished freedom and love for country even if it was not their own.
Alex Kershaw documents the courage and tenacity of 8 American flyers who defied the odds by circumventing America's neutrality to become " The Few" to serve in the RAF prior to, during, and after the Battle of Britain. Their story has, for the most part, been only a footnote in the titanic struggle that took place in the skies over England. The author, known for his recognition of near-forgotten men in WWII, has once again featured the contributions of men, undistinguished but for the fact that they forsook the safety and security of their country to answer a higher calling, namely to aid in the vanquishing of a world tyrant. The defeat of the German Luftwaffe was the first step in achieving that goal.
The story of the legendary two time olympic gold medalist, William Fiske, was particularly fascinating. The man had everything one could hope for or dream of; but instead, chose to devote his last days to what was then thought of as a losing cause. In addition to his considerable athletic achievements, he is now remembered as the first American airman to die in combat flying for the RAF in Europe.
Prime Minister Winston Churchhill said it most eloqently and appreciatively when he stated: " Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " This was in marked contrast to the cowardly utterings pacifist Charles Lindbergh and the defeatist ambassador Joseph Kennedy.
Mr. Kershaw keep writing! The noble warriors of WWII deserve the best and you have neither forgotten or forsaken them.
Wow.......2007-04-04
I couldn't put it down! The Battle of Britain was unbelievable and what these pilots did was beyond belief.A book not for the faint of heart. A book for every pilot to read. A wonderful history lesson,all true and not a Hollywood movie.
Th best war history of the year.......2007-03-13
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Both the writing and the storylinewere excellent. My wife, who normally does't read history of any kind, and very little non-fiction, read this book avidly.
Book Description
The Last Knight of Flanders is the story of the Flemish volunteers of Germany's famed Waffen-SS, told by those who were there. The book centers around Remy Schrijnen, the only Flemish volunteer to win the heralded bravery award, the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross. The book presents the varying viewpoints of the war as told through the eyes of Schrijnen and those who surrounded him. From enlisted men to officers Ð those who were there tell it like it was. Since 1830, Belgium has been a country consisting primarily of two peoples: the French-speaking Walloons and the Dutch-speaking Flemings. Despite the fact that they are the minority in regards to total population, the Walloons have dominated and ruled the Belgian government since the very beginning, which has prevented prosperity for the Flemings. The Flemish volunteers sided with the Germans in World War II in hopes that the blessings of the victor would gain them independence within their native country. The Flemish youth rallied behind the calls of their mothers and fathers Ð many of whom had fought against the Germans in the First World war for a free Flanders. The church called on these young men to put an end to the possibility of a "Red" invasion of Europe. They were heroes in the eyes of many. Under the leadership of the Germans, the Flemings got to know the harsh and brutal realities of combat on the Eastern Front. It was there that many young men perished. The war went on for three long years. After the war, they were vanquished and returned home to their native Flanders as criminals. Some were executed, most were sent to prison. This is their story., over 110 b/w photographs, line illustrations, maps, 6" x 9"
Customer Reviews:
For Flanders!.......2007-07-01
I would have liked to give this book 5 stars because many of the accounts written in it are priceless but I felt at times confused because the book is written in letters in a lot of parts and its easy to get lost in them, there were also many errors in the text that some how slipped through. Having said that the book was a true eye opener with many first hand accounts. Remy Schrijnen is a true hero but dont be fooled the book is just has much about his unit has it is about him and is written about him not a first person from him so dont expect a Forgotten Solder out of this one. Remy and his fellow Flemings were honorable men caught up in a bloody struggle for life and death and continued to fight on until two days after the war was over protecting civilians from the Russian hordes driving west only stopping when their ammo was finally finished. This book will shock many people with the accounts from the men serving has POW's and will anger you to their harsh treatment, these men were not Concentration camp workers but because of their SS brand they were treated like such. A Fair read to anyone interested in Hitler's Foreign volunteers.
Bit of a disappointment.......2007-02-06
I was disappointed with this book; it started out as a good read but then bogged down. The author tends to be repetitive, going over and over about how great a soldier Remy Schrijnen was without really saying much about what was going on or what he did. I finally got tired of it and started skimming through sections, then just put the book down. While I was disappointed overall, there are some sections and pictures of interest that may prove useful to dedicated students of lesser known German (SS) units and combat on the Eastern Front. At some point, I will probably pick it up again, gloss over certain sections and finish the book, but for now it will gather dust on the shelf.
The Last Knight of Flanders: Remy Schrijnen and His Ss-Legio.......2004-02-07
Excellent book, highly advisable for all those interested ones in knowing more envelope the European volunteers that combatted against the Bolshevism in the Oriental Front. To know what it motivated them that they waited and why they made it.
Comprehensive study.......2003-04-24
This book is a comprehensive study of the Flemish volunteers in the German army. Most parts are very readable , but the personal reflections on the battle at Narva become a bit repetitive. Improvements would have been the use of maps. The action accounts are somewhat brief and lacking in detail (as often is the case with such war memoirs). But a good read.
Comprehensive study.......2003-04-24
This book is a comprehensive study of the Flemish volunteers in the German army. Most parts are very readable , but the personal reflections on the battle at Narva become a bit repetitive. Improvements would have been the use of maps. The action accounts are somewhat brief and lacking in detail (as often is the case with such war memoirs). But a good read.
Average customer rating:
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Knights of the Skies
Michael Fox
Manufacturer: Crecy Publishing Ltd
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The Luftwaffe Over Germany: Defense of the Reich
ASIN: 1871187508 |
Book Description
In June 1940 Billy Drake was shot down in his Hurricane over France. A German cannon shell exploded behind his head, but he survived thanks to a sheet of armor. Had he been shot down a few weeks earlier he would have been killed, because armor was considered µunnecessary'. At the start of the First World War armor had also been considered µunnecessary', its weight reduced the performance of the underpowered aircraft too much, but some pilots and squadrons made and fitted their own protection. By 1918 the view of the Air Ministry had changed and it commissioned designs for an armored µTrench Fighter' that must have a fully armored cockpit v lessons had been learned, but the price in pilots killed had been high. Between the wars performance again became the primary concern and the lessons of the First War were forgotten. So it was that the Hurricane squadrons went to France with no rear armor; and no front armor either. Soon every RAF combat aircraft was fitted with armor, saving hundreds of lives. In this carefully researched book Michael Cox takes the reader through the development of aircraft armor from 1910 to 1945, using the stories of pilots to illustrate how vital it could be. The technology and aircraft design is also examined, with little known aircraft as the µSopwith Salamander' and µFarnborough Ram' playing an important role.
Average customer rating:
- A Great Book on World War I Airwar and Knights of the Air
- Could you find anyting better? NO WAY!
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Knights of the Air (Epic of Flight)
Ezra Bowen
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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| History
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ASIN: 0809432528 |
Customer Reviews:
A Great Book on World War I Airwar and Knights of the Air.......1999-11-01
This is an amazing book on Air wars, pilots, The Red Baron, World War I, and all that. with great pictures of air crafts, Uniforms, and medals. but my favorite is the art in the book which is the Turkish air battles over the middle east and Lawrence of Arabia. Great Art, I wish I could put it on my wall. This book talks about the best events in the Great War, and shows profiles on the heroes of the war, which would never be forgotten.
Could you find anyting better? NO WAY!.......1999-10-13
An excellent account of the first air war, Knights of The Air brings an intimate understanding of the intrepid airmen, their classic dirigibles and, the honorable art of dog fighting. Beautiful illustrations and powerful photographs make this book even more memorable. A month by month account, description of the momentum shifts and technological advances allow for a factual understanding and makes this book perfect for reference material and gratuitous pleasure reading.
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Fire Within, Air Above! (Mystic Knights #2)
Robert Simpson
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0061071617 |
Book Description
Chants of powerful protection...
The Mystic Knights have earned their magical weapons. Now another task awaits themto win their mystical armor. But each set is guarded by a dreadful Evil Sentinel...who must be defeated in order to call on the elemental power of the armor!
Rohan and Princess Deirdre must make the first attempts. But they cannot succeed without you, dear reader. By making choices to guide them, you con ensure that the Mystic Knights act as a team. For without loyalty, the heroes will be unable to gain their armor...and the Kingdom of Kells will fall to the dark forces of the Evil Queen Maeve!
Book Description
The name of the legendary Freiherr Manfred von Richthofen – the ‘Red Baron’ – still lives on. At a time when aviation was in its infancy and the ancient tradition of martial chivalry was in its final decline, when warfare on land had become a human hell and only the skies remained for nobility in combat, he was a symbol of honor and deadly skill.
Even in death Richthofen has created a myth not least in the way he met his final end. Many stories have been written concerning this event with a number of people claiming the credit for shooting him down. Extensive research has amassed convincing evidence that should provide the final word.
This is the superbly, indelibly thrilling story of the ‘Knight of the Air’ – the man he was, the life he led, the kills he made, the strange controversial fate he met, and the legend he has left for all time.
Customer Reviews:
Reconstructs History Like A Crime Scene.......2005-08-21
As carefully as a detective studying a contemporary killing, Mr. Titler pores over first-hand accounts, interviews surviving eyewitnesses, studies archived documents and revisits the scene of the death of Germany's infamous Red Baron. Long before anyone dared suggest such a notion in front of a wide audience, Titler challenged the accepted account that the Baron was downed by Canadian flyer Roy Brown, and proves beyond a reasonable doubt, that a single bullet, a mere "lucky shot" from an Australian ground gunner, fatally injured the Red Baron in April 1918, and brought down his tri-plane.
An interesting read for any WWI buff, and an engrossing one for anyone seeking to ferret out truth from fiction in the vastness of historical reporting.
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Tuskegee Airmen (AL) (Images of Aviation)
A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman
Nightfighters: The story of the 332nd Fighter Group, Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation
