MUSTANG DESIGNER: Edgar Schmued and the P-51

Book Description

The P-51 Mustang is widely regarded as the best propeller-driven fighter that ever flew. What many might not realize is that the plane's developer, was a German migr. This book tells of how Schmued created a weapon that would ultimately prove lethal to the aspirations of those who had seized control over his native land.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific book, gives great insights into the P-51, F-82, F-100, F-5, North American, and Edgar Schmued .......2007-09-09

This is an excellent book, and serves as both a biography about Edgar Schmued and a history of the engineering work behind the P-51 and several other aircraft. Schmued led the design team that created the P-51. It does not cover all of the details behind the development of the P-51, leaving out the politics of how the USAAF finally adopted this half British aircraft. The best part of this book is that it is possible to see how closely the North American engineers worked with the test pilots and field reports; it was this tightly coupled engineering culture which responded quickly to every input, every flaw, that enabled the P-51 Mustang to reach perfection first and beat out its rivals.

Another book "P-51 Mustang: Development of the Long Range Escort Fighter" covers the bigger picture of the USAAF's overall search for a better fighter plane. This book very much complements "Mustang Designer" and should be read to get the full flavor of what happened with the P-51's development. For example, "P-51 Mustang" talks about the role of Colonel Thomas Hitchcock in championing the P-51 with the Roosevelt administration at a time when some in the USAAF brass were trying to kill it (an upper crust polo player, he had direct connections to the Roosevelt administration), but fails to mention Hitchcock's ultimate fate. "Mustang Designer" mentions almost in passing that Hitchcock was killed while test flying a P-51D on April 18, 1944, but does not go into the details of how crucial he was to the adoption of the P-51 by the USAAF.

One reviewer complained about the lack of information about Schmued's use of conical sections in designing the curves of the airplane. There is a half-page description of Schmued's use of conical sections on the P-51 - page 57, which does explain the principles, if not the details of what Schmued did.

"Mustang Designer" does clear up some urban legends about the P-51. It was the British who started the myth that the P-51 was designed by a German who had worked for Messerschmitt.

Schmued was indeed a German-Austrian, with an Austrian citizenship until he immigrated to the U.S. by way of Brazil. He was sponsored to come to the United States through his excellent work for General Motors in Brazil (immigration rules were extremely strict at that time - he was one of 794 people with Austrian citizenships admitted in the 1929 quota) and went straight to work for Fokker Aircraft Corporation of America, which was an aircraft company that was owned by General Motors and based in New Jersey. He joined North American Aviation when it was reorganized as an aircraft manufacturer. Schmued never worked for Messerschmitt; he did work for Fokker, but, despite its name, this was a wholly American owned company that happened to have Dutchman Anthony Fokker as its head.

The book goes on with details about the later problems with the F-82 (the USAF forced North American to use a two-stage supercharger Allison V-1710, which was an engineering flop, instead of the Packard-Merlin engine). Schmued also had a hand in the designs of the F-86 and F-100, but the exact details of what he did are not spelled out in this book. Schmued left North American in 1952, after Dutch Kindelberger became ill and started to devolve power to Lee Atwater, with whom Schmued disagreed intensely (the intensity of this disagreement is seen by the fact that Schmued was just three years shy of being fully invested in a pension from North American when he left - as a result, he received no pension from North American).

This book does not talk about the post-Schmued, post-Kindelberger years at North American, but they were mostly filled with a series of aircraft designs that never made it into production. The F-100 would be the last fighter plane that North American would produce. Schmued would leave North American before the F-100 flew (he lost a final dispute over changes to the design of the F-100), and it is clear from the subsequent prolonged teething problems of the F-100 that North American sorely missed Schmued's troubleshooting genius.

With Kindelberger and Schmued gone, the excellent engineering culture of North American seemed to wither under the mediocre stewardship of Lee Atwater. North American went into the space business, but this would culminate in the disastrous fire that killed the Apollo 1 astronauts in 1967. The negative backlash from that disaster (North American had built the command module that caught fire) ultimately forced North American to merge with Rockwell, which then buried this once famous name completely. (This later period of North American's history is not covered in this book).

Schmued, on the other hand, would go on to work for Northrop, and would help revive the flagging engineering designs of that company by designing the F-5. Ironically, the person who would hire him was Oliver Echols, the general in the USAAF who had played a semi-antagonistic role against the P-51 during its early days (Echols's role against the P-51 is described in the book "P-51 Mustang").

Also not mentioned in this book is the fact that Schmued's F-5 design would evolve into Northrop's YF-17, which then became the F-18, the Navy's current all-purpose and ONLY fighter plane (now that the F-14s have all been chopped up to keep Iran from obtaining parts for their remaining F-14s).

Overall this is an extremely valuable book for understanding the history of the P-51, F-82, F-100, North American Aviation, the F-5, and the man behind all of those success stories, Edgar Schmued.

Amazon has four listings for various other printings of this book:

0517088207 Random House 1992 (hardcover)

0517567938 Crown 1st edition 1990 (hardcover)

B000KRITOC Orion Books 1990 (hardcover)

B000QRPVEC Orion books 1991 (hardcover)

All of these are out of print, and so this paperback reprint by Smithsonian Institute Press is the most readily available.

While this is a great book, I was hoping for info on ..........2002-04-04

the history of conic sections at North American Aviation (NAA). NAA was using conics in '32, Schmued was (at the least) an enthusiastic supporter of conics, and his P-51 Mustang was the first aircraft to be completely defined by conics.

Roy A. Liming worked with Schmued to mathematically analyze the Mustang's shapes, tangents and curvatures. Schmued wrote an introduction to Liming and Hartley's series of articles for Aero Digest explaining the use of conics. These articles (along with the success of the Mustang) showed that NAA was ahead of it's time during WWII.

Great reading for aviation enthusiasts and military buffs........2000-06-04

Mustang Designer: Edgar Schmued And The P-51 is the complete story behind the development and deployment of one of the most famous fighter aircraft of World War II. Beginning with the choosing of fighter designs in the formative years of 1935 to 1939 covering P-30 to P-50 craft, author Ray Wagner presents the birth of the Mustang in 1940 as designed by Ed Schmued and North American Aviation. The various incarnations and variations of the Mustang are followed up to and including the early jet age years of 1945 to 1952 and the Northrop Aviation launch of a new fighter. A highly recommended design and development history, Mustang Designer is enhanced for the aviation enthusiast and military buff with an appendix, notes, glossary, bibliography and index.

Mustang Designer : Edgar Schmued and the Development of the P-51

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Mustang Designer : Edgar Schmued and the Development of the P-51
Ray Wagner
Manufacturer: NY : Orion Books (1990)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KRITOC

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MUSTANG DESIGNER - EDGAR SCHMUED AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE P-51
Ray Wagner
Manufacturer: Orion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QRPVEC

Book Description

Readers are informed and exhilarated by the story of Florence Nightingale, a brilliant pioneer who played a major role in making nursing the respected profession it is today. This sumptuously illustrated biography of nursing’s inspiring founder focuses on Nightingale’s mystic beliefs, her contributions to public health and infection control, and her trailblazing work in government and health care reform. Readers discover Nightingale’s life as a mystic and her many health care theories and practices that are still in use today. Brimming with more than 280 beautiful photographs and hundreds of little-known facts that shed light on the events that shaped Nightingale’s life and work.

Customer Reviews:

I hope every nurse reads this .......2005-06-02

I was inspired to become a nurse by stories of the "lady with the lamp" but it took more than 30 years before I found this book and learned just why Florence Nightingale deserved to be my inspiration. The pictures alone are worth the price of this book, and the story too is well told.

Profound and inspiring.......2005-04-22

Dr. Barbara Dossey, founder of the American Holistic Nursing Association, has written an inspiring and insightful biography of Florence Nightingale that has much to teach us about being bold, tough minded, task oriented, creative, passionate and compassionate. Nightingale conscientiously developed the strongly focused conceptual, organizational and networking skills that contributed to her formidable accomplishments in the fields of nursing, housing, sanitation and statistics and did it all despite chronic illness, criticism, sexism and other major life challenges. Most of all, we learn that Nightingale was a visionary and mystic, whose life story challenges all of us to know, accept and realize our God-given purpose in this world.

A Most Inspiring Book.......2003-03-23

I knew of Florence Nightingale's nursing activities before reading this book but had no idea of the extent of her self-discipline, dedication and accomplishments. She was a systems analyst, administrator, networker and mystic who devoted her life to doing God's work. She was also a prolific writer of books, lay reports, pamphlets and thousands of letters. The author provides a wealth of background material describing the historic times and places associated with Florence Nightingale. One of the things I appreciated about this book were the many maps and photographs appropriately placed near the text about the person or places.

outstanding biography.......2002-07-28

This is unquestionably the best biography of Nightingale ever written. The author reminds us that Nightingale was one of the first statisticians -- one of the first members of the statistical society in the U.K. and for many years the only woman member. Nightingale collected and published voluminous statistics about health care (she proved that the rate of childbirth fever was lower among women cared for by midwives vs those cared for by physicians and surmised correctly that the difference was that the midwives washed their hands and established hygiene in the birth chamber. The physicians came to the birth room covered with blood from dissections.) The germ theory of disease had not been developed -- but she was able to reduce the death rate in the hospitals in Crimea by ensuring cleanliness, safe water and good food for the patients.) She was also a suffragist and one of the first signers of a petition in support of suffrage put forward by her
friends, the philosopher John Stuart Mill and his wife Harriet Taylor, who were prominent proponents of women's suffrage. Mill asked Nightingale to dedicate herself to the cause of female suffrage and she replied that there were others as qualified as she; she was needed to reform the British military, hospital and medical systems. Nightingale shook up the British military, hospital and medical establishments. She had many enemies because of her work -- and they became even more virulent when she was proved right. Unfortunately their calumnies persist to this day. While doing the work which first brought her to public attention she contracted Crimean Fever -- a common complaint of those who served in the Crimea War. Dossey points out that recent research indicates that Crimean Fever was probably brucellosis which was and is epidemic and endemic in the Crimea. (It occurs now, too, in the U.S. among persons who work with infected cattle.) Nightingale was a very devout Christian. At 17 she sought a direction for her life. She came to feel that she was called to serve the sick and took a vow of chastity when she was 17. Barbara Dossey is an R.N. with a Master's degree in nursing. She has written texts on intensive care nursing and on wholistic health. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing -- which signfies the high respect of her research peers for her work. This is the finest contribution she has made and that says a lot.

Great Book on the History of Nursing.......2001-06-21

learn about the history of the nursing profession... very interesting... lots of beautiful pictures

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Florence Nightingale 1820-1910
Cecil Blanche Fitzgerald Woodham-Smith
Manufacturer: Constable, London
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K00VFE

Leadership And Management According To Florence Nightingale

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Leadership And Management According To Florence Nightingale
Beth T. Ulrich
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0838556426

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LOVED this book!
A surprising good book
This book deserves 10 stars!!!
Surprise!

God's Handmaiden
Gilbert Morris
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0310246997

Book Description

Gervase Howard, a young nurse serving under Florence Nightingale in the Crimea, returns home to care for a young nobleman who lies in a coma—the only man she has ever loved, but who is married to someone else.

Customer Reviews:

LOVED this book!.......2006-02-17

This is the most interesting historical fiction romance type story I've ever read. I couldn't put it down. I checked it out from the library but half way through the book I decided that I would buy it so I can read it again. And again. And again. I highly recommend it!

A surprising good book.......2004-12-22

Young Gervase Howard is a sheltered girl when she enters the Wingate household and meets Davis Wingate. After Davis marries the selfish Roberta, Gervase leaves the Wingate household and goes to work for Florence Nightingale and Gervase follows her to the Crimean where Gervase meets Davis again. But following an accident Gervase is once back to Wingate Hall to take care of Davis.
I enjoyed this book, I really liked the parts about Florence Nightingale, This was really good book that should not be missed.

This book deserves 10 stars!!!.......2004-07-21

This has to be the best book I have ever read! I could not put this book down and read it in two days. I wish I could give this book 10 stars. This is the first book I've read of Gilbert Morris and will definately not be the last.

Surprise!.......2004-07-06

This is a wonderful book with a SURPRISE! ending. Anyone will enjoy this book about a young woman who nurses soldiers in the Crimean War.

Ever Yours, Florence Nightingale: Selected Letters (Loeb Classical Library)

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Ever Yours, Florence Nightingale: Selected Letters (Loeb Classical Library)
Florence Nightingale
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0674270207

The Drummer Boys Battle: Florence Nightingale (Trailblazer Books #21)

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The first modern nurse--Florence Nightingale

The Drummer Boys Battle: Florence Nightingale (Trailblazer Books #21)
Dave and Neta Jackson
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556617402
Release Date: 1997-02-01

Book Description

Trying to provide for his family after his father dies, Robbie Robinson is thrust into the Crimean War as a drummer boy-and meets the courageous nurse Florence Nightingale. Ages 8-12.

Customer Reviews:

The first modern nurse--Florence Nightingale.......2001-02-10

I strongly recommend this book. This is a great book about a boy in the Crimean War who helped Florence Nightingale. This book makes you want to read more and more! It is one of the best books I have ever read--I was really inspired by the love and care that Florence Nightingale gave to the wounded and sick soldiers. It was kind of bloody in places, but it makes you pray and feel sorry for the bad conditions they were in. I have read most of the Trailblazer books, and this one is my favorite!

Florence Nightingale: The Making of a Radical Theologian

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A unique and highly recommended biography

Florence Nightingale: The Making of a Radical Theologian
Val Webb
Manufacturer: Chalice Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0827210329

Book Description

In Florence Nightingale, Val Webb brilliantly reveals the full and fascinating life of this radical reformer, activist, theologian, and servant of God.

Customer Reviews:

A unique and highly recommended biography.......2002-06-05

Florence Nightingale: The Making Of A Radical Theologian by theologist and biographer Val Webb is a fascinating study of the little-known yet fiery and passionate religious beliefs held and shared by the world-famous nursing and hospital reformer, feminist, and social activist. In the Victorian times when Nightingale lived, the inequalities of the stratified British "class" society worried her, and she came to espouse a vigorous liberation theology and followed a deeply spiritual and intimately personal quest for Truth. Amazingly informative, meticulously researched and openly candid, Florence Nightingale: The Making Of A Radical Theologian is a unique and highly recommended biography of an influential and devout historical figure.

Florence Nightingale (Rookie Biographies)

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Florence Nightingale (Rookie Biographies)
Carol Alexander
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0516258281

Florence Nightingale Today: Healing, Leadership, Global Action

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Florence Nightingale Today: Healing, Leadership, Global Action
Barbara Mondgomery Dossey
Manufacturer: American Nurses Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1558102205

A Picture Book of Florence Nightingale (Picture Book Biography)

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Great Introductory Biography series

A Picture Book of Florence Nightingale (Picture Book Biography)
David A. Adler
Manufacturer: Holiday House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823412849

Book Description

She revolutionized the nursing profession.

Customer Reviews:

Great Introductory Biography series.......2000-04-09

This book is perfect for K-3 students who just can't wade through those lenghty chapter books. It is abundantly illustrated with adorable pictures to keep little eyes busy while you are reading to them. Florence Nightingale was a young lady who graciously served as a nurse to wounded soldiers and instituted many improvements in the field of nursing. Other titles in the series include, Edison, Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, Franklin, and more.

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