timtom
Posts: 2358
Joined: 1/29/2003
From: Aarhus, Denmark
Status: offline
|
"Beyond Pearl Harbor: The Untold Stories of Japan's Naval Airmen" by Ron Werneth, published by Schiffer.
No, I'm not on commision from the publisher 
Other than being of general interest to the forumites, our understanding of the Pacific War is severely limited by the near absence of literature based on Japanese sources. Recall if you will what Shattered Sword has done for our understanding of Midway. We badly need more literature like this, however it's only going to happen if publishers like Schiffer can turn a dime on it.
Still, one for the Chrismas tree for me since the $100 price tag incl. P&P is a bit steep. Hopefully there'll be a softcover version out as well soon.
Serious heavyweight kudos ->
------------------
I absolutely agree with all the well-deserved praise that Ron's wonderful new book is receiving. It's full of valuable information and lavishly illustrated, a loving tribute to a generation of aviators who fought so well in the Pacific War. Had Ron not compiled this book, their insights would have been lost to history.
I'm looking forward to more great books in the future from Mr. Werneth!
Best wishes,
John Lundstrom
------------------
Ron's new book is FIRST RATE not only in its presentation, but also in content! The years of research really shows, and I love the fact that the veterans, many of them now decease, "talk" to me!
The book is reader friendly, has lots of maps, and photos taken during the war as well as what the veteran looks like today! Many of the photos I have never seen before, so it was refreshing.
The Pearl Harbor and Midway stories will be told and retold on TV, so the producers will have to consult with Ron if they want to make their production authentic. Ron got these guys to talk before they took their stories to the grave. Thus, no researcher can ever top what Ron has produced.
I heartily recommend Ron Werneth's EPIC MASTERPIECE!
Congratulations on a job well done!!!
HENRY SAKAIDA
------------------
Ron's book "BEYOND PEARL HARBOR" is a true milestone in the literature on the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service. For the English speaking community of enthusiasts for whom there has been SAKAI Saburo's "SAMURAI" and not much else in the way of first person veteran accounts all these years, this is mana from heaven.
But the book includes interviews with some veterans who have never been interviewed before by ANY historians, Japanese or foreign, as well as little gold nuggets of information to be found nowhere else. And I say this as one who has ready access to a wide range of Japanese language sources including articles by, and interviews of, numerous veterans which have never been translated into English.
Today, in the twilight of their allotted time on this earth, the living testimony of veterans of the Second World War are all precious in and of themselves. But Ron has also taken care to annotate the comments made by his veteran friends by drawing on documented facts in order to place their stories firmly within a historical context, and to correct or elaborate on aspects of their stories that, in some instances, have been influenced by the inevitable effects of fallible human memory. This has enhanced the historical value of these interviews immeasurably.
Banzai!!! to Ron Werneth.
Osamu Tagaya
------------------
I was privileged to receive an advance copy of Ron's book today. I can tell you that the plaudits from John L., Sam T., Henry S., and the other luminaries on this list are right on the money. The book is gorgeous. The photographs are gorgeous. The accounts are substantive and well-researched. I learned new details about how planes were handled on the flight deck on the very first page I cracked open. It's a very important work in terms of expanding our knowledge of how the IJNAF fought. Just first rate stuff, and Ron should be very proud of his huge effort in getting this onto our shelves. No one who orders a copy will be disappointed, I guarantee you.
Brave Zulu, Ron!
-jon parshall-
------------------
http://www.beyondpearlharbor.com/
http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=6252.0
_____________________________
Where's the Any key? 
|
Printable Version
OT(-ish): New book out on Japanese naval aviators - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread