[303rd-Talk] Masters of the Air

[Rose & Herb Shanker]

2 good ones.  Hope everything is OK.  Love, Rose & Herb
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Jenkins" <j3367 at tularosa.net>
To: "303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum" <303rd-talk at 303rdBG.com>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:10 PM
Subject: [303rd-Talk] Masters of the Air


        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
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