[303rd-Talk] Masters of the Air

[John Jenkins]

        Regarding the book, Masters of the Air, I too bought a copy based primarily on the recommendation of a book club to which I belong.  Basically, I agree with the earlier comments made in that the volume was at least disappointing, but I did read the whole thing to try to see where the author was going.   Aside from the errors that were more or less obvious to those of us who had some actual experience, I think the main problem with the book is that the author appears to belong to a sort of fraternity of academic historians who, years after the events, are given to write what has come to be called "revisionist history".  At a fairly safe distance in time, they are able to give their own interpretation of events in the apparent hope of selling what they write to individuals who have little way of knowing whether they are reading factual information or not.  This, of course, is because few of the actual participants are around to dispute the matter.

        This is a belief of mine that could be amplified on, but this is perhaps not the time or place for such remarks.  However, for those of you who have copies of the book, or who are curious enough to look into it, I do recommend reading Chapter Twelve, titled "Prisoners of the Swiss".  Here the author presents information that I cannot recall ever encountering before concerning the way the so called "friendly neutral" government of Switzerland treated aircrew members who were interned in that country, and the inaction of the United States' representatives there in looking out for their interests.  Do any participants in this forum have direct knowledge of this subject?

                                                                John I. Jenkins