Jesper's Books

As mere PC user with very little to no knowledge of the 'inner secrets' and history of data processing, this book was a 'beast' to read.

Even if fascinating, more than much of the content was way over my head, like 'hardwired software' and 'read-only rope memory'.

I also found the 'man vs machine' issue fascinating from todays point of view. Maybe a bit long-haired though.

My guess is that you have to have more than average computer knowledge and interest in the issue to get the full advantage of the book.

In the end I'm sure that those who has those qualifications will have a good and interesting time reading this book.

I started reading this book with no other expectations than to be a little wiser and entertained at the same time. But ended up with a feeling of having read one of the best and most vivid accounts of WWII I have ever read.

The subject – scientific intelligence – may seem a bit ‘dry’, but in this book it is not. Deductions becomes an art, compiling, filtering and picking the right intelligence a virtue and – in this case – to be a survivor in ‘bloodless tribal wars’ (Walt Rostow) among scientists a must. If I was in any doubt that the ‘tech war’ of WWII in Europe was on the edge all the time, I am not anymore.

I can only recommend this book fully as a solid foundation for anyone who read about the WWII air battles over Great Britain and Germany as well as the V1 and V2 weapons.

Bogen her er rigtig god læsning.

Jeg kan godt lide den måde hvorpå Ole Steen Hansen [OSH] blander beretninger fra 'almindelige' mennesker og 'klip' og citater fra tidens udgaver af fx. Billedbladet med beretningen om mere overordnede hændelser i de sidste, vanvittige måneder af 2. Verdenskrig.

Det sætter tingene lidt i relief og man husker at det ikke 'bare' var soldater, arméer og hære som led, døde og kæmpede for livet. Men i høj grad også civile. At bogen så også har den danske vinkel, i modsætning til – naturligt nok - bøger skrevet af udenlandske forfattere, er så absolut kun et plus.

Og så har OSH en dejlig måde at skrive på, som gør hans bøger en fornøjelse at læse. Emnets alvor uagtet. Hvis jeg skulle sammenligne – det skal jeg ikke, men jeg gør det nu alligevel - så er det med Stephen Ambrose.

Men læs bogen og døm selv. Jeg kan kun anbefale den.

Sometimes it's great to 'tech-nerd' it a bit. This book is one of the better I have a read. Wonder if the Me 264 really could have made to the east coast of the USA and back? We'll never know

Interesting to read a book about the Pacific War with an 'Aussie twist'. Clearly General MacArthur is not in high esteem among Australians.

In my humble opinion Rick Atkinsons book is in the same league as Max Hastings' 'Going to wars'
This account is vivid and I felt enlightened in many levels after reading it.

I have a soft spot for naval aviation and albeit the language style is a bit too much to the 'pop-side' for my taste I actually like the book. It leaves you in no doubt that the days of 'kick the tyres, light the fires' are no more. As well as the extremely extrovert, testosterone laden, hard drinking fighter jocks from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Surely fighter jocks still has to be aggressive but an element of science has been added. Pure talent doesn't count anymore.

Can't help thinking of the WWII JGs, leftenants and flight officers who as mere teenagers set to fly the temperamental first line fighters of the time. And of how much that has happened since then (Wonder if the F-35 will ever be a success I ask a bit polemically ;-)

Bottom line: Go ahead, read the book if you have the remotest interest in fighters and naval aviation.

A good place to start if you want in-depth info about The Battle of Britain. But be warned, many details but in the good way

For inexplicable reasons some books simply doesn't 'catch'. Unfortunately this book was a such for me. But, still, I got a bit wiser on RAF Bomber Commands 'Battle for Berlin'. So reading it was no wast of time after all

Never read in detail about the Cuba Crisis. So after reading Dobbs book I actually was a bit shaken.

So many things could have gone wrong, so many things beyond control from JFK or Khrusjtjov, so many close calls, so many series of events having their own life and momentum. The way USAF planes with atomic weapons was dispersed throughout USA on airfields utterly unsuitable for the task. Atomic weapons that could be launched by individuals, not needing a second person or code to confirm. From both sides.

Fortunately common sense prevailed. And, according to Dobbs, both JFK and Khrusjtjov should be credited.

I know, a story has many facets and this is my first and - so far – only book on the subject. And one book may not be enough to get the true picture, if there is a true picture. But still a can’t help thinking: I was born in August 1962 and I could have lived my life in an atomic winther, if my family had survived.

Read the book and draw your own conclusions. Mr. Dobbs writes in a very readable manner and the book is highly recommendable.

** In English further down **

Jeg fandt denne bog ved et tilfælde på hylden med bøger om 2. Verdenskrig, nede på mit lokale bibliotek. Og det viste sig at være en rigtig god idé at låne den med hjem. For jeg kender ikke til mange danske forfattere, som skriver om kampfly og 'air power', så jeg har nydt at kunne læse om emnet på dansk.
Og vinklen er - naturligt nok - mere dansk end bøger om samme emne, skrevet af fx. engelske og amerikanske forfattere

Den er rigtigt godt skrevet, i en let og flydende stil, og fanger alligevel den dødelige alvor i det hele. Der er mange tekniske detaljer med, uden at det bliver for meget af det gode. Og de storpolitiske og strategiske – i nutidens øjne meget kyniske - overvejelser er ligeledes fint beskrevne.

Med personlige beretninger fra nogle af dem, som oplevede Berlins bombardementer på egen krop og psyke - både bomberbesætninger og indbyggere i Berlin - kommer den helt menneskelige side af sagen også med.

Alt i alt, kan jeg kun anbefale denne bog. Ikke kun til ’garvede’ læsere, men også til unge læsere, som måske skal læse om emnet for første gang.

***************************************************************************

I found this book by chance at my local library when roaming the WWII book shelf. And it turned out to be a great idea to take it home for reading.

I do not know of many Danish writers who write about WWII bombers and 'air power' and I have enjoyed reading on the subject in Danish. The angle is - naturally enough - more Danish than books on the same subject, written by e.g. English and American writers

It is very well written in an easy read and fluent style, but still it captures the deadly seriousness of it all.

The book has many technical details without being too many. And the overall political and strategic considerations are also well described.

With personal accounts of some of those who experienced the ‘Battle for Berlin’ bombings - both bomber crews and residents of Berlin – the human side is well covered too.

All in all, I can only recommend this book. Not only to 'seasoned' readers, but also to young readers who might read on the subject for the first time.

Oh, well, only problem is . . . . it’s in Danish. And no real signs that it will be translated into English according to the author. A pity, actually a real pity . . .

My first read about 'Unlimited Class' air racing. And not the last. Some like Formula 1, some like Nascar, I am sure that I like air racing involving 'warbirds extreme'. (Someone once said: Jets are for kids ;-)

The author takes you through every year the book covers in a sports reporter style. Both in respect of the races them self and the tech acheivements. He also relates the history of the people behind. Maybe not in in-depth but he does it very well. I felt entertained and enlightened.

The book only covers the periode to 1991 so I guess the hunt is on for more, and more recent, books on the subject.

Take care

J

Not quite what I expected; More combat records, less [design] history. That said it is well written, has many pictures and I'm sure that if you had to build a P-61 Black Widow book collection this would be a 'mandatory'

A very brief account on the subject. Maybe too brief? From other books I know that the 'long hauls' was more than just sending the trucks on the road. As indicated in the book - but not not revealed in depth, it really is a very short thin book - firebases, combat and scout helos as well as jets could be involved

But it is well written hence bottom line is that I like it

In my humble opinion this is not the best of Hastings books. Can't put a finger on anything particularly, it may be the subject, I don't know. Actually I was a bit disappointed. A 'first' with Hastings though

I like books like this, books with personal accounts. Which this book is all about. The author relates little contributions from many Typhoon pilots, the contributions fitting in with the subjects of the chapters. Like 'Tactics and flak', 'Into Normandy' and so on. The personal accounts put a face and name on history. And reminds me that in all the fighting there was real human beings who lived to tell their story, or died. ('Surviving was 10% skill and 90% luck' one pilot put it)

This book is not about the 'tech-stuff' of the Typhoon. But more like an operational history of it. Told by the men who flew it from the D-Day preparations to VE-Day. And despite the teething problems of it, they liked the Typhoon/Bomphoon/Rockphoon. A big and stable weapons platform. Rugged and solid.

What always strikes me, when reading many of the accounts of WWII servicemen, is the low-key matter-of-factly tone they are kept in.

Bottom line is that I like the book