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Donald L. Caldwell

Author of JG 26: Top Guns of the Luftwaffe

12 Works 367 Members 4 Reviews

About the Author

Donald Caldwell had also written JG 26: Top Guns of the Luftwaffe and JG 26: A Photographic History of the Luftwaffe's Top Guns.

Series

Works by Donald L. Caldwell

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Gender
male

Members

Reviews

This is the story of the JG 26 pilots, or "Abbeville Kids." A microcosm of World War II exists in the rise and fall of this famous fighter wing--whose slashing attacks always seemed to come from the best position--from its founding during Hitler's military buildup, through its glory days in the first years of the war--when its bases in northen France were to be avoided at all costs--right up to the grim, final hours of the Third Reich.
 
Flagged
MasseyLibrary | Dec 18, 2022 |
If I was rating this strictly as military history I'd have given this work a higher rating, as Caldwell has pulled together a strong account of the U.S. Provisional Tank Group sent to the Philippines in 1941. Also, as a community history, it's pretty good, and one presumes that Caldwell drew on materials the late Iris Chang pulled together for her own proposed book on the 192nd Tank Battalion.

Where I mark Caldwell down is that there are places where he needed to be more forthright about his own political and strategic perspective, seeing as he ultimately considers the American defense of the Philippines to have been a worthless sacrifice. In the bigger picture that's a defensible position which is hard to argue with. However, I expect the argument to be actually be made; throwaway snide comments about the American strategic leadership of the time and taking umbrage at how "supposed isolationists" were pilloried for their position doesn't cut it.… (more)
½
 
Flagged
Shrike58 | Jul 18, 2021 |
The Luftwaffes best WWII fighter wing comes to life in this spectacular photographic journal of the units planes, pilots, and operations from 1937 to the last days of the war. Detailed captions describe the planes, units, markings, and events that have made JG 26 so popular with historians and enthusiasts.
 
Flagged
MasseyLibrary | Mar 23, 2018 |
Excellent companion to his previous book. Loses a star for its format, the 'log entries' get a little dry but the pictures and information is excellent.
1 vote
Flagged
Luftwaffe_Flak | Feb 6, 2014 |

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Statistics

Works
12
Members
367
Popularity
#65,579
Rating
3.9
Reviews
4
ISBNs
27
Languages
1

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