NickV
Moderator
Registered: 11/28/06
Posts: 137
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| #1 |
As a follow-up to the two recent book posts, I thought I’d start a poll as to which books are MUST haves on every wreckchaser’s book shelf – not only wreck books, but resource books as well. If you post a follow-up, would you post it in the same format as below, please.
To start things off, here’s what I consider are the basics:
Of course:
Veronico, Nicholas A., et. al. Wreckchasing: A Guide to Finding Aircraft Crash Sites, Castro Valley, CA; Pacific Aero Press, 1992
Veronico, N., Ed Davies, Donald B. McComb Jr., and Michael B. McComb. Wreckchasing 2: Commercial Aircraft Crashes and Crash Sites. Miami, FL. World Transport Press, 1996.
Macha, Gary Patric and Don Jordan. Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of California (1909-2002, Third Edition). Lake Forest, CA. InfoNet Publishing, 2002.
Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials Since 1909. Hinckley, Leics, Endland. Midland Counties Publications, 1979.
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (three volumes). Jefferson, North Carolina. McFarland & Co. Publishers, 2006.
Brandt, Trey. Faded Contrails: Last Flights Over Arizona. Phoenix, Ariz. Acacia Publishers, 2003.
Darby, Charles. Pacific Aircraft Wrecks…And Where to Find Them. Melbourne, Australia. Kookaburra Technical Publications Party Ltd., 1979.
Denham, Terry. World Directory of Airliner Crashes: A Comprehensive Record of more than 10,000 Passenger Aircraft Accidents. Somerset, England. Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1996.
And I’d like to add Robert Mann’s new book, as well:
Mann, Robert A. Aircraft Record Cards of the United States Air Force (How to Read the Codes). Jefferson, North Carolina. McFarland & Co. Publishers, 2008.
There are many more, and I think it would be interesting for everyone to learn what resources people depend upon and what wreck-themed books they’ve enjoyed reading. I’d like to open the discussion for everyone’s input.
Thanks,
Nick
__________________
Nick Veronico
http://www.Wreckchasing.com
Check out the books I've written at:
http://www.pacaeropress.com |
| | 10tweaker
Registered: 12/01/06
Posts: 505
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| #2 |
Nick,
Thanks for posting that. I started something similar on the P-51 site which I moderate. We pooled our resources to come up with a book list as well as a Technical Orders list. It has been well-received and several people have added something--even if only one or two items--it all builds nicely into a fairly comprehensive list. I definitely like the idea of having folks give their reviews of the different works as well. As AAIR has done with the new Mann book, it is a great heads-up for someone new to IAHCs such as myself. With all due respect to AAIR though, I'm hoping maybe his first impression is wrong since I have been hoping the new book would be something of a "Holy Grail" for decoding those history cards. Oh, well, we'll see. Thanks to AAIR for posting the review.
Nick, email inbound--take care.
Regards,
Jim
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| | canyonair
Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 258
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| #3 |
Nick:
We have to figure out a way to do a reprint run on Wreckchasing 2.
Even I would like an extra copy since I gave all of mine away years ago. I don't want to pay $100.00+ at Amazon for a used copy.
Mike
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Research of historical civil and commercial aviation accidents and sites (1920s-1990s). http://www.lostflights.org |
| | ChrisBaird
Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 337
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| #4 |
Nick,
Great post and I agree with your top listings. Sucks that so many are out of print like your first books and Andrade's. I feel lucky to have all of them in my library! Andrade's book is apparently completely covered though by Joseph Baugher's website on serials!
I would definately add Scramble's book "US Military Aircraft Mishaps 1950-2004" available on: http://www.scramble.nl/shop.htm This book has typical European thoroughness and detail and is a virtual 500-page database of accidents.
I like also the British books such as the Dark Peaks Wrecks series by Ron Collier because they are so thoroughly researched and documented, it gives one chills. Also Hell On High Ground (there are two books I think, I just have the second one) by David Earl.
I dont think anything compares in exquisite detail and hard work as the 3-set volume by Tony Mireles though. I need to get another set because mine are already dog-eared and the bindings are wearing out!
Same goes for the first two Wreckchasing books by yourself and Mike McComb, etc. They are inspiring, not to be corny. HA. I feel the same about Trey Brandt's book and Pat Macha's, and wish there were MORE just like it!
--> Chris B.
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| | NickV
Moderator
Registered: 11/28/06
Posts: 137
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| #5 |
My second installment includes some annotations:
Alexander, Sigmund Col. B-47 Aircraft Losses. Sprial bound and available direct from the author (12110 Los Cerdos St., San Antonio, TX 78233-5953);
http://www.b-47.com/SAC%20Accidents.htm
Newspaper clippings, reports, and photos of all B-47 losses. – A post about the Mt. Palomar B-47 crash motivated Wreckchaser Theronmoon to investigate the crash. Check out his photos and post.
Bartelski, Jan. Disasters in the Air: Mysterious Air Disasters Explained. London. Airlife Publishing, Ltd. 2001.
Twelve chapters of aircraft accidents explained from 1942 to 1989.
Job, Macarthur. Air Disaster. Weston Creek, Australia. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd. 1994.
Now up to its fourth volume, Air Safety Specialist Job’s books examine airliner crashes in detail with excellent photos, maps, and drawings.
Serling, Robert J. The Probable Cause… The Truth About Air Travel Today. Garden City, New York. Doubleday & Co. 1960.
Details numerous airliner crashes of the 1950s.
Arm Chair Wreckchasing:
Cass, William. The Last Flight of Liberator 41-1133: The Lives, Times, Training and Loss of the Bomber Crew Which Crashed on Trail Peak at Philmont Scout Ranch. West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Winds Aloft Press. 1996.
B-24 crash at the 10,200-foot level of Trail Peak, northeast of Taos, New Mexico.
Hayes, David. The Lost Squadron: A Fleet of Warplanes Locked in Ice for 50 Years…Can They be Freed to Fly Again? New York. Hyperion. 1994.
Boring down 264 feet through ice to find a B-17 and recover a P-38 Lightning on the Greenland ice cap. How cool is that? Friggin’ cold apparently. The recovered P-38 now flies as Glacier Girl.
Hoffman, Carl. Hunting Warbirds: The Obsessive Quest for the Lost Aircraft of World War II. New York. Ballantine Books. 2001.
Details the back story of Gary Larkins and his numerous wreckchasing adventures as well as the attempted recovery of the B-29 Kee Bird from Greenland.
Kearns, David A. Where Hell Freezes Over: A Story of Amazing Bravery and Survival. New York. Thomas Dunne Books (St. Martin’s Press). 2005.
A PBM, callsign George 1, crashes at the South Pole in white-out conditions during the U.S. Navy’s 1946 Antarctic survey. Three die in the crash. The remainder of the crew wait 13 days before being found. Then they had to walk out to be rescued. Written by the son of George 1’s pilot.
Page, Gordon. Warbird Recovery: The Hunt for a Rare WWII Plane in Siberia, Russia. New York. iUniverse. 2005.
Messerschmitts, Oscars, and Airacobras ready for taking on the frozen plains of Siberia. Sounds simple, right?
Ralph, Barry. The Crash of Little Eva: The Ultimate World War II Survivor Story. Gretna, Louisiana. Pelican Publishing Co. 2004.
B-24D 41-23762 crashes at Moonlight Creek on the north coast of Australia on Dec. 2, 1942. Crew lost in bush country for 141 days before being found.
Sheehan, Susan. A Missing Plane. New York. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 1986.
Three crew members and 19 servicemen disappear flying a B-24 (42-41081) between Port Moresby and Nadzab, New Guinea. Wreck investigated in April 1982.
Photos of wrecked World War II aircraft littering airfields:
Mikesh, Robert C. Broken Wings of the Samurai: The Destruction of the Japanese Airforce. Annapolis, Maryland. Naval Institute Press. 1993.
Gallagher, James P. Meatballs and Dead Birds: A Photo Gallery of Destroyed Japanese Aircraft in World War II. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2004.
Green, Brett. Götterdämmerung: Luftwaffe Wrecks and Relics. London. Classic/Ian Allan Publishing. 2006.
The next three are included because they contain a number of aircraft wrecks, are great records of the battles, have incredible photography, and are fantastic historical works:
Bailey, Dan E. World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon. Redding, California. North Valley Diver Publications. 2000.
Bailey, Dan E. WWII Wrecks of the Kwajalein and Truk Lagoons. Redding, California. North Valley Diver Publications. 1989.
Bailey, Dan. E. World War II Wrecks of Palau. Redding, California. North Valley Diver Publications. 1991.
__________________
Nick Veronico
http://www.Wreckchasing.com
Check out the books I've written at:
http://www.pacaeropress.com |
| | XHunter
Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 400
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| #6 |
Nick, can we add this one?
Merlin, Peter W. & Moore, Tony. X-Plane Crashes: Exploring Experimental, Rocket Plane, and Spycraft Incidents, Accidents and Crash Sites. North Branch, Minnesota. Specialty Press, 2008
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http://www.thexhunters.com - Searching for the lost aircraft of Edwards AFB |
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