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Bob_Banks
climber
Santa Barbara, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 28, 2012 - 02:58pm PT
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Since Greg hasn't shouted this out here yet, I'll do it for him:
Today is the long awaited (for some of us) release date of fellow climber and author Greg Crouch's (author of the wonderful "Enduring Patagonia") new book. "China's Wings" is the epic historical saga about a bunch of crazy pilots flying over the Himalaya 75+ years ago. I haven't read it yet so I can't review it, but I'll bet it's a damn good read. Support Greg and your local bookseller (if one even exists near you) and pick up a hardback copy soon, or if you must, buy it through Amazon.
Cheers and congratulations to Greg. Sincerely hope it is a smashing success.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Feb 28, 2012 - 03:00pm PT
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Cheers and congratulations to Greg. Sincerely hope it is a smashing success.
I second that sentiment.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 28, 2012 - 03:30pm PT
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So am I a bad person to say Hump Bump?
Since Enduring Patagonia is one of my faves I'm gonna ask for this for St Paddy's Day.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 28, 2012 - 04:50pm PT
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Greg put his heart and soul into this, can't wait to get a copy.
Best wishes for a resounding success!!!
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em kn0t
Trad climber
isle of wyde
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Feb 28, 2012 - 11:13pm PT
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Enduring Patagonia is one of my faves
copy that -- just finished it -- fantastic!
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Feb 29, 2012 - 01:19am PT
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Hey Greg- I ordered my copy today! Looking forward to reading it and seeing you at one of the signings. I promise not to heckle (too much at least).
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Sebastopol
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Feb 29, 2012 - 02:46am PT
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Congrats Greg. We enjoyed the preview during your Rock Ice & Mountain Club presentation a couple months ago.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Thanks to the enthusiasm of many climbers, including Mike Ayon and Tony Yeary, my first China's Wings event in Pasadena was a big success.
The Thing debuted at #10 on The List in LA: http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2012/03/bestsellers_this_week_jul.php
I'm doing an event on Tuesday at Bookshop West Portal in San Francisco and at Chaucer's in Santa Barbara on Wednesday. Everybody is welcome, of course. Here are links with info on both events: http://gregcrouch.com/2012/book-events-mar-apr-2012
Moon Chin, one of the main supporting characters in China's Wings, has said he'll attend the Bookshop West Portal event, which is kind of huge, seeing as how he'll celebrate his 99th birthday in April and he's one of the most remarkable people I've ever had the honor to meet.
http://gregcrouch.com/2012/a-great-moment
I can't promise such a treat at the Chaucer's event, but I'm hoping for a big hometown crowd and a post-event excursion to Harry's Plaza Cafe where we can enjoy a few cocktails...
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nopantsben
climber
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yeah enduring patagonia is awesome! should be on every climbers list of books to read soon.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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You're a wonderful writer Greg and it is particularly exciting that your new book is doing so very well!! I'll definitely read it asap!
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Thanks, team. (And good news, Chris!)
I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think.
Right now, I really need readers... this story is too good to let it go quietly into the night...
I might not ever stumble across one this good again.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Congratulations indeed!
When I was in Kunming, China in 1979 shortly after the country was first opened
to Americans, whenever people asked where we were from and we said America,
they immediately broke into smiles and said Stillwell, Stillwell, good, good. They
also told us about a planecrash on a nearby mountain which was only visited by
our military recovery team and forensics specialists a few years ago.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jan, that's fabulous!
I spent a week in Kunming as part of my research, and I spent a fascinating evening "Shanghaied" into participating in an English class one evening. (The teacher had dragged me in off the street, literally.)
Lots of interesting conversation, but it was really quite amazing listening to them discuss WWII history. Suffice it to say, their view of how Japan was beaten is very different than ours. But yes, Stilwell and the Flying Tigers were held in very high esteem.
Best part of that KMG excursion was playing a dice drinking game with three successive "sing-song girls" for Budweisers -- the only beer served in the joint, only sold by the six pack. I made great "face" drinking all three under the table, one after the other, before staggering off to my hotel. (No great feat considering I check in at 190 and none of them weighted a buck, dripping wet.) Not sure it was worth it considering the colossal hangover, but certainly memorable in retrospect.
Somewhere in there, I visited the sites relevant to CNAC during the war. There were quite a surprising number of them still around.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Look forward to reading it, Greg.
JL
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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You slouches need to order the book and start reading! I have, and it's really good. In my opinion better than Enduring Patagonia. One can tell Greg put a lot of heart and work into this book. Good job!
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micronut
Trad climber
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Ordering mine now. Super stoked. Full critique to come. Maybe I should do it in Trip Report fashion.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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I'm getting it asap.
“Writing ... is easy, you just sit at your typewriter until little drops of blood appear on your forehead.”
Red Smith
Congratulations, Greg!
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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RickA, that's awesome.
Thanks for the enthusiasm, team. I'd be VERY interested in people engaging China's Wings critically, so if you're inclined, go for it.
When I first started working on it, I thought I'd be plagued by a lack of primary material to work with. In the end, I was overwhelmed by it, and it was a problem of reduction, not construction. I'm still haunted by the fabulous details I had to leave out in the interest of maintaining "narrative momentum."
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Greg, found a copy available in Montrose and will get it today so that I can read it before my Grand Canyon float trip- don't want to take a hardbound book down there.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Pilgrims, this book is easily obtainable online, so don't hesitate and fire off an order. Greg deserves the full force of our support!
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Greg at Vroman's giving his new book "wings".
I am about half way through it, and I must say, it is a rare thing that I have enjoyed a non climbing tome as much as this. My family has some personal history in China, specifically in Shanghai, in the mid 30's to 1940, so it hit squarely home. Beyond that it is a great, little known story of dare-doing and high adventure in a time and place seemingly lost in history, except to those who lived it. Not so anymore. Great job Greg!
TY
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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That was a GREAT event, Tony! Thanks for coming out.
I was thrilled with all of it, but especially to see so many friends in the audience to go with the actual CNAC veterans themselves. Very exciting.
And the best news of all is how much people seem to be enjoying the book -- it was a genuine labor of love on this end. A lot of labor. But worth every second.
And Jim, yes, aside from the fact that China's Wings is right in the wheelhouse of books you generally enjoy, you are required to read it. There will be a quiz, so don't fake it.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Mar 12, 2012 - 11:33am PT
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My China's Wings San Francisco event is tomorrow, Tuesday, 3/13, at 7:00 pm at Bookshop West Portal, at 80 West Portal Avenue.
As an added bonus, Moon Chin has said he'll attend. Moon is one of China's Wings main supporting characters. He's one of the most fascinating men I've ever met, and I'm absolutely thrilled that he's coming. He'll celebrate his 99th birthday this coming April. It's no exaggeration to call him a living aviation legend. I made a series of posts about him on my website, which are best perused by starting here and working your way forward in time.
I'll be speaking on Wednesday at Chaucer's Bookstore in Santa Barbara. (Wednesday, 3/14, 7:00 pm). Without Moon, I'm afraid, but I'm hoping for a big hometown crowd, and a fun post-presentation gathering for cocktails at Harry's Plaza Cafe.
Everyone is of course welcome at both events.
Here's a post I just made of 1930s airline luggage labels and a CNAC poster. Colorful stuff! I love all this old aviation history.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Mar 13, 2012 - 02:52pm PT
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I'm going to be at the Santa Barbara gig. Anyone else?
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Mar 19, 2012 - 08:42pm PT
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Incredible week for me and China's Wings:
Hugely successful events at Bookshop West Portal in SF and Chaucer's in Santa Barbara.
Moon Chin, one of the book's main supporting characters attended the Bookshop event:
I did this Three Books piece on golden age aviation books that aired on NPR's All Things Considered last Friday
And best news of all for China's Wings, it hit #9 on the LA Times Bestseller list this past weekend.
My heartfelt gratitude to all of you in the climbing community who have helped make China's Wings launch such a success. Honestly, I don't think it would have happened without you.
Plus, in a post that is actually climbing related: I've got a piece on the AAC/Alpine Club of Iran exchange I participated in last summer in the new issue of The Atlantic.
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Gene
climber
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Apr 10, 2012 - 03:35pm PT
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Greg,
I look forward to reading the book. I am so happy to see that Vroman's is still around. I spent many an hour there back in the 60s and 70s. I wish you (and Vroman's) continued success!
g
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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Apr 10, 2012 - 07:15pm PT
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plug for Greg's book signing
Greg Crouch: China Wings Presentation and Book Signing - April 13, 2012
China Wings: Intrigue Romance, and Adventure in the Middle Kingdom During the golden Age of Flight.
Greg's book was published last month to raving reviews and he will be at Garagiste Headsburg in Healdsburg at 6:00 pm on Friday April 13 for a presentation and book signing. Garagiste is a micro-winery with a tasting room and wine lounge.
Garagiste Healdsburg
439 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448.
Phone: 707.431.8023
http://garagistehbg.com/
There's a teaser for Greg's show on the Garagiste events page, and a lot more China's Wings related information on Greg's website: http://gregcrouch.com/ including a link to the Wall Street Journal's review of China's Wings.
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labrat
Trad climber
Nevada City, CA
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Apr 10, 2012 - 07:25pm PT
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Bought a copy and am looking forward to reading it!
Erik
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Apr 11, 2012 - 10:16am PT
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I'm super-looking forward to Friday's event at Garagiste... not only is it owned by one of my best friends, but it'll be an interesting twist to be presenting with a glass of wine in my hand. Or two. Should be a fun evening with lots and lots of "aviation porn" splayed across the wall.
And cowpoke, psyched that you heard that NPR interview in the car and were inspired to start a thread.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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May 15, 2012 - 07:54pm PT
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Forgive me, but I'm very pleased to report that China's Wings gets just got a glowing review in World War II magazine...
Plus, literary-minded climbers might enjoy these entertaining outtakes from China's Wings, relics of where my story intersected with the likes of Emily "Mickey" Hahn, Martha Gellhorn, and Ernest Hemingway.
Emily "Mickey Hahn, Hugh Woods, CNAC and her two pet gibbons, the first of three parts to what is a pretty hilarious story.
Mickey Hahn, Ernest Hemingway, and "The Boxer Uprising" -- which I also find pretty hilarious, at the same time confessing to having more than a little crush on Mickey Hahn.
An adventure in a Chungking brothel... beware, this post is R-rated.
And in case you're motivated to pick up a copy, any of the buttons at the upper right corner of my website should get the job done. (My publisher asks me not to favor any particular bookseller.)
Allow me to stump one more time for Mickey Hahn.... you might enjoy her collection of China-related articles that appeared in The New Yorker in the late 1930s and early '40s: No Hurry to Get Home
Her story "The Big Smoke," about her opium addiction and cure, is worth the price alone. I also enjoyed her book China to Me, but I think you might have to be much more of a China aficionado to appreciate it.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 15, 2012 - 09:07pm PT
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Finished the book during my trip to Brazil. I have always been a history buff and I looked forward to Greg's book knowing the amount of effort and research he put into it. I was not disappointed, he brought that era of early air traffic and war in China vividly alive. Some histories are very informative and some are good reads- China's Wings is both.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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May 15, 2012 - 10:17pm PT
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Jim, you're morally obligated to say you like it.
In this particular case, reviewing your old climbing partner's book, the discount put on your verbage by the climbing world is probably 99 percent.
Fortunately, on other topics you're lent more credibility. ;-)
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Bob_Banks
climber
Santa Barbara, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 15, 2012 - 11:35pm PT
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China’s Wings is a great read, no doubt.
I’m a history geek, but I certainly think that it is more than palatable for the non-history buffs out there. It’s a great story, well told and starring a cast of colorful characters to spark the pages to life.
Thoroughly enjoyed it Greg! Sorry I missed you at Harry’s when you blew through SB, but I heard it was a great turnout.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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May 16, 2012 - 09:59am PT
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Thanks Bob... that ended up being a pretty fun night. Closed down one of those dives on the other side of State Street. And super great to see so many friends packed into Chaucer's. We'll catch you next time, hopefully.
Cheers, GC
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 16, 2012 - 11:18am PT
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Yeah Greg, the obligatory post from your old climbing partner praising your book.....but, damn, I really, really liked it. I was busy in Rio with all of the activities associated with the climbing festival but always looked forward to getting back to my room, often late at night, and digging into your book.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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May 16, 2012 - 12:00pm PT
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Happy to hear that, Jim. :-)
Now I've just got to find a new story for a new book project. Grim.
But I have managed three days of climbing so far in May. Mother's milk, I do say.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 12, 2012 - 11:00am PT
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Finished China's Wings on the beach in Rio.....fabulous read. I'm a history buff and Greg's book brought an interesting and obscure piece of the past alive for me. Those pilots were tough dudes.......makes climbing look pretty tame!
Put this book on your short list.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Jul 22, 2012 - 12:59pm PT
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Just finished the book and highly recommend it. I would call it escapist non-fiction: the sort of book that, like a good novel,takes the reader to a wild and exotic world, but is an even better story for being true. This is a portal into 1930’s China through the eyes of American pilots who helped establish China’s first airline.
As I started the book, I realized how little I understood the years leading up to the war with Japan. During the late 30’s Japan had seized big chunks of territory from China and by 1942 had backed the Chinese government into the southwest part of the country. The Chinese government was resupplied by small planes flying over the high mountains of the famous “Hump”. The suffering of the Chinese under occupation is a part of the story, but the narrative centers around the civilian pilots.
Desperate times called for desperate measures: DC 3s intended to fly 20 people sometimes carried over 60. Amazing flying tales are recounted, including the epic of two pilots who crash landed on the side of a mountain. There was no SAR available so they had no choice but to try and
save themselves.
The main character is named Bond, an airline executive and China hand who was at times an advisor to both Roosevelt and Chiang Kai-shek. Fascinating vignettes abound; for example, Jimmy Doolittle makes a cameo appearance as a passenger working his way back to the states after bombing Tokyo with his raiders.
All in all a masterful piece of work and a perfect book for a summer afternoon, especially if you are interested in World War II or early aviation.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jul 22, 2012 - 02:13pm PT
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I agree, Ricky as always! This is history of course, and little-known history at that. And yet with Crouch's engaging strength in details and frequent humanization of them, the story makes for---quite frankly--- a Page Turner! It really is! I am about 1/4 of the way into it and am already thoroughly addicted to the read. Thanks Greg; wonderful book doing an important job telling the gripping story of those wide-open years at the beginning of aviation in Asia.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2012 - 11:16am PT
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So glad to hear you liked it, Rick and Peter!
I had SUCH a good time researching and writing it -- all these images of 30s and 40s China still float around in my head. I put up a bunch of related "Art" on a China's Wings Pinterest page if you'd like to check it out.
I'm really looking forward to the upcoming CNAC reunion, which happens every year in San Francisco in early September.... Moon Chin is still going along, 98-years strong.
(PS: what do I have to do to get you guys to post those blurbs as amazon reviews?)
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pc
climber
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Jul 24, 2012 - 11:52am PT
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Cool sounding book. Just ordered a copy to take with me to the Oregon coast in a couple weeks. I love the Taco.
pc
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pc
climber
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Aug 27, 2012 - 01:41pm PT
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Just finished...Great story!
Very fun that it was Charlie Fowler who suggested to G. Crouch there might be a story behind all the wrecked planes up in the mountains around western China. Indeed there was.
Cheers,
pc
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 27, 2012 - 04:42pm PT
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Thanks, PC. Glad you enjoyed it. I just wish Charlie were still around to enjoy the final fruits of his suggestion.
Here's a little full-color 1940s aviation porn.
Fun stuff!
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Aug 27, 2012 - 07:20pm PT
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Greg-
I'm late to the Party (as usual!). My first wife's father flew in B29's based out of China, and was aircrew on the first strikes on the Japanese Home Islands beginning in the Hunan provence of China. They flew the B29's into China over the Himalayas from India. He frequently referred to the "Aluminum Trail" that the air transport pilots made over the mountains. It referred to all the wrecked and shot down cargo planes.
Rodger
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 27, 2012 - 07:42pm PT
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Roger, that's pretty fascinating... were you ever able to get all the stories out of him -- he'd have some really amazing ones. It was quite a Herculean effort to launch those missions from China. And not just for the pilots and crew who flew them. The logistical effort that went into mounting those raids is astonishing.
Of course, it was too much effort for the return, and most of that effort switched to Guam, Saipan, and Tinian once the opportunity arose. But still, amazing. Those were the first raids on the Japanese home islands after the Doolittle Raid in April, 1942.
(BTW, Moon Chin, one of China's Wings main supporting characters, flew Doolittle out of China after the raid, one of the episodes narrated in the book.)
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Aug 27, 2012 - 08:00pm PT
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Greg-
He was a Staff Sergeant/ turret gunner, and also had to assist with maintenance. The big problem with the early B29's was the life expectancy of the engines, so extra engines were flown "over the hump" in C46 Commandos. It was a logistical nightmare, since they changed the engines every 25 operating hours, which was after every third mission. He flew 5 missions out of Hunan before the new bases were captured on Saipan and Iwo Jima. He said the hardest part was the constant worry about engine reliability, since the fighter interception was minimal. The Japanese had few aircraft that could get to 30,000 feet. He was, by the way, a real fan of very hot (Szechewan) Chinese food, as a result of 4 months in China.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Aug 27, 2012 - 08:11pm PT
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Rog, you don't seem to mention if you have read Greg's book yet? You have to; it is a terrific read.
I was devastated when the great tale ended and these proud and fabulous characters faded back into history for me. A++ for Greg, I say again!!
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 27, 2012 - 08:23pm PT
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Rog, that's pretty spectacular... (although I thought they flew those missions from a four-engine capable airfield built outside of Chengtu, in Szechwan -- which would jibe with his culinary proclivities.)
Sounds like an amazing man. So many of those guys are. I've taken incredible delight in all the time I've been able to spend interviewing and questioning the CNAC veterans. (Spent this past Saturday morning with Moon Chin.) Our annual reunion is coming up in two weeks in SF. I'm psyched. Especially having finally delivered the damn book I'd told them I was writing these past eight years. I think some of them were beginning to wonder if I'd ever finish.... Bill Maher used to dog me every three months.
"Crouch, goddamn it, when's that book coming out? We don't have much time."
Sadly, Bill passed on four or five months before it did. One of my bigger regrets.
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Aug 27, 2012 - 08:39pm PT
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Greg-
First of all, I need to get your book! Secondly, you can count on a review on Amazon! I already have 150+ posted under my own name.
My late ex-father-in-law was Ralph L. Burnett, and the "ship" he was aboard was the Galloping Goose. They initially flew into Hunan, since no airfield was ready for regular operations, and refuelled there from a takeoff in India. You are probably correct about the field in the Szechewan province. He always described the conditions as "primitive." Not too much later, they were transferred to Saipan after the Marines took the island.
I also recall watching some sort of TV documentary in the '70's, and he came out of his chair onto his feet and exclaimed "That's my ship!" as he pointed at the screen.
Aviation ran in that family, as his younger brother was a Navy Aviator in Korea, and was a carrier rated pilot.
Rodger
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 27, 2012 - 08:49pm PT
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"I also recall watching some sort of TV documentary in the '70's, and he came out of his chair onto his feet and exclaimed "That's my ship!" as he pointed at the screen."
--- Man, that's FANTASTIC! What a great detail.
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Aug 28, 2012 - 11:07am PT
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In lieu of a blatant "bump," I just want Greg to know I just ordered his book from Amazon!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 28, 2012 - 11:16am PT
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You're in for a great read Roger!
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pc
climber
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Aug 28, 2012 - 11:38am PT
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Greg, Thanks for the link to that CNAC site with Aviation porn. Man those are beautiful planes.
I still can't get over the picture in your book showing the DC 2 1/2. a) Amazing how they got the wing there!!! and b) Unbelievable it'd actually work once they attached it. It looks half the size of the original.
Good stuff,
pc
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 28, 2012 - 12:23pm PT
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I love that DC 2 1/2 episode, too.
Glad you're enjoying the "aviation porn." There's a lot of it buried in my website, and also on my China's Wings pinterest board.
I've got a few Enduring Patagonia pics up on its pinterest board, too. One of these days I'll get around to scanning and posting some of the better slides from those expeditions. I've got some very compromising ones of JD that the world probably needs to see. ;-)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 28, 2012 - 12:24pm PT
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Hope you enjoy it, Roger! Thanks.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 30, 2012 - 01:39pm PT
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Over the weekend, I got interviewed about China's Wings by Marshall Poe at the New Books Network. It's great being interviewed by somebody who has actually read the book. You'd be amazed how many haven't. (It takes me about two second to know for a god-given fact whether or not the interviewer has read the damn thing or is trying to bullshit their way through.) Anyway, Marshall was definitely in the brigade of those who have, and I really enjoyed our conversation.
Here's the interview, with the podcast at the bottom of the page.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jul 17, 2014 - 09:42am PT
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Rand, for god's sake start reading it. It actually is a terrific story Greg has there. You will be completely hooked within a matter of pages. Though completely tight history and researched to death, frankly, it reads nearly like a novel!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jul 17, 2014 - 10:07am PT
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Peter that is a Martin-130 the first true China Clipper before the name became synonymous with all of Pan Am's ocean voyaging "ships."
These were first based out of Alameda and later Treasure Island in our very own Bay Area backyard.
Just finished "China's Wings." Super read about a most fascinating era.
Crouch is a world class author and we are lucky to have such talent among the tribe.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2014 - 07:45am PT
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Blushing, Guido.
And yes, that is not just a China Clipper, but THE China Clipper.
Only 3 M-130s were built: The China Clipper, the Hawaii Clipper, and the Philippine Clipper.
Since this seems to be the week for air disasters, here's the fate of the 3 M-130s: The Hawaii Clipper vanished between Guam and Manilla in 1938--no trace of it was ever found, leading to all kinds of conspiracy theories (15 lost). The Philippine Clipper crashed in California in 1943, after being pressed into service by the US Navy. A Navy Admiral was killed aboard, along with 18 other PAX and crew. The China Clipper broke apart on landing in Port o Spain, Trinidad in 1945, killing 23.
As an interesting aside to the Alameda connection, there is a bar on Alameda called The Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge that makes a GREAT signature cocktail called The China Clipper.
Super funky-cool place, and a fine tipple. Well worth a visit if you happen to be on the island.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 24, 2014 - 08:01am PT
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A great read for any history buff. I had heard of flying the "Burma Hump" during WW11 but was completely unaware of the really intriguing story behind the creation of China's first airline.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Jul 24, 2014 - 08:04am PT
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The last Crouch book I read was wonderful. I am looking forward to the next :)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 24, 2014 - 08:09am PT
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My copy arrives in a few days - looking forward to it muchly.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jul 24, 2014 - 11:19am PT
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After "China's Wings" I searched out Greg's other works. Just finished "Enduring Patagonia." Awesome book and you can tell Greg dug deep, very deep to write this.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 24, 2014 - 11:29am PT
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It's largely because of Enduring Patagonia that I've ordered China's Wings.
Enduring Patagonia sits next to The Hard Years and Norman Clyde's
Close Ups of the High Sierra. And I don't gush easily. ;-)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2014 - 01:02pm PT
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Don't expect anything that has anything to do with climbing in China's Wings, Reilly.... although Charlie Fowler did provide the initial clue that led to my discovery of the story.
I'm really bummed he didn't survive to hold and enjoy (I hope) the fruit of that lead. He'd have thought that was pretty cool, I think.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 24, 2014 - 01:10pm PT
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Greg, perhaps I should have said that it was largely due to the quality of
writing in Enduring Patagonia that I ordered China's Wings. As a pilot
it never crossed my mind to expect any climbing. The only question now
remaining is will it go onto the shelf next to Gann and St Exupery? ;-)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2014 - 01:41pm PT
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Fingers crossed, Reilly. ;-)
Did you ever hear the Three Books thing I did that includes both those titles? It's mercifully short.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 26, 2014 - 09:17am PT
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Ha! Glad somebody reads those things.
Sometimes linking through a google search will evade the WSJ paywall...
"Only One Way Down" in today's Journal. (And for the record, writers don't get to title their own stories. Because there is always another way down. )
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Sep 11, 2014 - 11:28am PT
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In what I think I can fairly claim as a fabulous outgrowth of the China's Wings project, the SFO Museum just opened a "Legend of CNAC" exhibit.
It's a gorgeous, well executed exhibit, and it opened in conjunction with this year's CNAC reunion, which was held last weekend. (The museum is on the departures level of the International Terminal.)
Here's my post about the combined event: exhibit opening & the 2014 CNAC reunion.
The weekend had many highlights, but perhaps the best was that the Washington State based Historic Flight Foundation flew their beautifully restored DC-3 down for the event.
Amazingly, that airplane once flew for CNAC, as CNAC No. 100, and in 1944, it was ferried from Miami to Dinjan, India by Pete Goutiere, who is one of the characters in China's Wings. Pete flew it over the Hump a number of times.
Well, last week, Pete flew to Washington, and he helped fly the airplane down the coast to San Francisco--taking some time in the left seat. (I've linked to some of the stories about his flight in my post.)
BTW, we celebrated Pete's 100th birthday at the reunion last weekend.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sep 11, 2014 - 11:40am PT
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Fabulous Greg! Flying must be good for longevity.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Sep 11, 2014 - 12:17pm PT
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Except when it isn't... like climbing.
I think you're a good bet to be climbing at 100, Methuselah... I mean Jim. ;-)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 11, 2014 - 01:10pm PT
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This is only a semi-review as I'm only half done. Yeah, I'm a slow reader,
especially with good books. Make that really good books. In my defense
I've also been on my annual Great Sierra Death March and China's Wings
didn't make weight. In all honesty I'm going to say it is one of the best
non-fiction books I've read and that is primarily what I read. Without
exaggeration I can also say it reads like a novel, a really good novel,
very much like Gann and St Ex. And I dig the OG pics. I also look at
those slowly 'cause they're good, too.
One criticism - the dust cover is too slippery. I dropped it the first
time I picked it up. ;-(
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sep 11, 2014 - 01:17pm PT
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Ditto....I love histories, especially books, like China's Wings, that read like a novel.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Sep 11, 2014 - 05:15pm PT
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Thanks, Reilly. Glad you're enjoying it.
I've got TONS more of those OG photos on my website. Probably best located through the tags to the various airplane types on the right sidebar of the site. Wish I could have seen it all in color (as the country song goes).
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Sep 11, 2014 - 06:02pm PT
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www.forbiddenislandalameda.com
Well I finally noticed Greg's recommendation of his secret hangout:
Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge
1304 Lincoln Ave
Alameda, CA
510-749-0332
This is clearly a must-visit. Off a few points from the original Trader Vic's that used to operate in west Berkeley on San Pablo Avenue long ago and soon many other locations (http://tradervics.com/the-history-of-trader-vics/); our Alameda venue still might get-et-done.
The China Clipper ($8)
“Celebrating the world’s first transpacific commercial flight from Alameda to the far East, Our china Clipper features a house-made five-spice syrup, gold rum and fresh lemon juice that will send you around the world in 80 seconds”
other House Specials drinks follow on this page.
But wait! There is a “Pools of Paradise” page with drinks offered for groups. Guido will hasten to secure some “Virgin Sacrifices” at $40 a drum. Mango, cinnamon and several rums, served table side flaming.
No real food but they have six fried appetizers. Looks like a lot of fun!
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pc
climber
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Sep 11, 2014 - 06:06pm PT
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Great news about the SFO museum Greg. Congrats!
I hope they stock your book in the SFO bookstores. Good marketing ;)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Sep 11, 2014 - 09:58pm PT
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That's one hell of a good cocktail, Peter. It has my strongest endorsement.
Had a pretty wild Halloween in their one year... as Hugh Hefner. Didn't quite pull it off, but had fun trying. Made my best time with a woman dressed as a slice of bacon. Did manage to work my way through a good number of China Clippers.
By way of other meaningless trivia stored in my head, the first commercial transpacific flight departed Alameda on 11/22/1935, which happens to be our very own Steve Edwards' birthday. Who is now in a pretty big and pretty important fight. I'm not (overly) obsessed with Edwards. I just remember that because it's also my son's birthday.
But if you've ever taken a commercial flight across one of the world's great oceans, it traces its roots to that flight.
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couchmaster
climber
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Holy fu*k this is a GREAT book. I'd bought it and put it aside and recently picked it up. Wow, stunning! Greg, I put this on a par with the widely acclaimed Pulitzer winner that Barbra Tucuman wrote years back called "The Gun's of August". In fact, yours may get the nudge as the better of the 2. I'm slightly over half way into the thing and want to take the day off work to go finish reading it. Learning so much interesting things, and you've organized and presented it perfectly. (so far LOL)
DAMN FINE WORK SIR! DAMNED FINE. You've created a treasure that will outlive us all. Congrats, and a huge thank you. I need to look up the book that beat this one for the Pulitzer in Lit, cause it must be jaw dropping spectacular. Your Patagonia book will now be on my "must read" list as well.
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Gorgeous George
Trad climber
Los Angeles, California
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I judge a good book by how much I want to skip work to read it. Didn't get much done for a few days. Even my wife was calling me out for being "lazy."
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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OK, I promised a more in-depth review when I finished it. Being a pilot and
a history nut I feel fairly well qualified to pass judgment on this tome,
and I use the term kindly. As I said earlier it reads like a novel in that
Greg gets you into the heads of his subjects and the narrative flows like
the Yangtze, strong and powerfully. He doesn't get all geeky with the
aviation stuff but enough so that my ilk won't feel cheated. And some of
the flying 'scenes' are stern stuff! I also really liked his treatment of
the civil war which he managed to blend in with the story. This book is
going up on the shelf next to St Exupery and Ernest Gann.
And you can tell when I really liked a book by the number of stickies
blowing in the wind...
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Couchmaster, Gorgeous George, and Reilly,
So I check in on ST for the first time in weeks and get rewarded with this!
Blushing. Compared to Tuchman is very high praise indeed.
So happy to hear that you've all enjoyed China's Wings so much.
You'll appreciate this: Last week, I got an email from Ridge Hammell's wife!
(He's one of the two guys who made the 47-day crawl out of the mountains after surviving a crash.)
He was killed in another crash in May, 1945, and when I was writing the book I was having the hardest time even figuring out the correct spelling of his name. (It's spelled three different ways in company documents.) I scoured the country for traces of him. It took three years of attempts, but a friend of mine helping with oddball research finally found him in the records of Germantown, PA. (His flying mates had told me he was from Philly.) But nothing more. I couldn't find his family.
Anyway, he married a woman named Jean during his home leave in 1944 and returned to fly the Hump after.
So Jean is hanging out with her two daughters this Christmas (from her second marriage), telling stories about the guy she married during the war. One of the daughters decides to google his name, which takes them straight to my website, and from there, to China's Wings. Now they're knocked over with a feather. They all read it, and then email me. I asked for pictures, and got them.
Here's Ridge in India:
Here's one of their wedding photos:
Jean recently celebrated her 90th birthday in Denver, and sent me a photo of her surrounded by two dozen members of her immediate family, children and grandchildren. Looking at that photo, I was overwhelmed with the sense of what Ridge had lost out on since his fatal crash in 1945.
Here's where he ended up:
There have been several jaw-dropping things like that that have grown out of the book -- like getting a phone call from the daughter of Bernard Wong, who was killed in a CNAC plane wreck before Pearl Harbor. Her daughter had read the book and brought it to her attention with a, "Mom, isn't this my grandfather?" (Wong had been killed when she was only 45 DAYS old). She knew absolutely nothing about him. She called me, and I said that I didn't know much about him, but that I knew someone who knew him well and immediately put her in touch with Moon Chin, who was one of his best friends. She flew from Boston to SF the next weekend to meet Moon, and has attended the annual CNAC reunion these last two years.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Greg, I am unanimous in avering that Tuchman's narratives have never been accused of
"flowing like the Yangtze." ;-)
So where is that cemetery, Rangoon?
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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I think it's in Assam, India. Near the CNAC airbase at Dinjan.
I'm going to put out an "ask" on the CNAC network for a current photo.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Moon Chin in the news!
102-years old and still going strong. The odds are against even Donini being able to climb a staircase at that age. ;-)
(Although the news spot is in Chinese, Moon is interviewed in English.)
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couchmaster
climber
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Mar 31, 2015 - 10:16am PT
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I'm glad I went fishing for this thread, it's gotten even better and I would have missed the updates. Greg's book keeps going strong until it ends. Wow, so good. If you find history of any interest, this is a book that should be on your "I need to read it before I die" list.
The other thread: http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1388893&tn=0&mr=0
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 14, 2016 - 12:48pm PT
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^^^^ Maybe that's why they've been arrested lately?
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Feb 14, 2016 - 03:46pm PT
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Just started it. Really liking it.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Feb 14, 2016 - 04:37pm PT
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That's good to see, Crankster... and good to hear. As I've been saying for about two decades, God knows, I need readers. Hope you enjoy the rest of the flight.
I must admit, I am pretty stoked with all the attention CW has brought to Bond, Pete Goutiere, and Moon Chin. Those guys were/are badasses. And to CNAC in general.
Pete and Moon are still ticking along at 100+. Remarkable dudes.
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couchmaster
climber
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Feb 14, 2016 - 06:41pm PT
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Crankster said: "Just started it. Really liking it."
Great book, we finally we agree on something. :-)
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Feb 14, 2016 - 07:35pm PT
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It's a start.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 15, 2016 - 05:26am PT
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It's nice that an old warhorse like Hemmingway get's to bask in the glow of a young turk......right on Greg!
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Feb 15, 2016 - 08:00am PT
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Finally we agree on something. :-)
Hilarious. Peace of Westphalia incited by China's Wings?
Jim... if only.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jun 26, 2017 - 08:33pm PT
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Finished China's Wings a couple months ago. Loved it of course. Very well written. Appeals on multiple levels; Adventure, Business Inspirational, Historical.
Just finishing Islands In the Stream by Hemmingway where his main character is talking about spending time in Kowloon right before the war and the planes filled with raw tungsten ore being flown out of China. Matcheses up with Greg's story so +1 for Greg & +1 for Hemmingway for keeping their stories straight.
Missed you at COR this year Greg. I hope you are working on more cool books like CW. I will buy and read and promote them for sure.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jun 27, 2017 - 08:05am PT
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Excellent!
I made a blog post about Islands in the Stream and CNAC a couple years ago: Hemingway and China's Wings.
That one builds from a series of posts about CNAC and Emily "Mickey" Hahn, who was The New Yorker's correspondent in China in the late 1930s/early 1940s. She was quite a woman. Emily Hahn & CNAC.
(Taking the Mickey Hahn and Ernest Hemingway anecdotes out of the manuscript were the hardest cuts I made. I still kind of regret making them.)
I think a writer at The South China Morning Post stumbled across those posts while writing "In Love and War: a Hong Kong Honeymoon for Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn."
Always a good day when you get mentioned in the same paragraph as Ernest Hemingway. ;-)
For those of you into neglected classics, by two remarkable women, I suggest the following:
No Hurry to Get Home by Emily Hahn
China to Me by Emily Hahn
(Count me as the latest in a long line of men who've fallen at least a little bit in love with Mickey Hahn.)
and Travels With Myself and Another by Martha Gellhorn. (Another is Ernest Hemingway, and the story about him in a drinking contest with a bunch of Chinese generals is fall on the floor hilarious.)
(And yes, missed you guys, too. I'm in total lockdown this summer trying to finish my newest, Bonanza King, an epic of the West about John W. Mackay and the Comstock Lode. Hard deadline of September 1, and IT IS NOT IN THE BAG.)
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jun 27, 2017 - 09:15am PT
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Hemingway's writing is like Piccasso, so simple and emotional that no one can really do it the same way.
Greg Crouch's writing is more like a fine illustrator like Maxfield Parish, there is beauty in the story and in all the detail. Every page is comfortable.
Looking forward to the story on the Comstock Lode. A great subject certain to be as good as China's Wings.
When taking the tour of the Hearst Castle the guides mentioned that papa Hearst who was also a Calif Senator was heavily invested. His cash out was large and his knowledge of Calif politics lead him to aquire the huge property there at San Simeon.
Sorry to miss you but you wanted to be a writer and now you are one. Hard work but so much better than cleaning the ball-room at kiddie playgrounds. ;-)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jun 27, 2017 - 10:09am PT
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It's a clear case of "be careful what you wish for..."
Papa Hearst, George Hearst, made his first "raise" on the Cosmtock and went on to own some of the best mining properties in the West. (Homestake, Anaconda, the Ontario among them.)
In more than a century of Hearst (fils and gran-fils) journalism, I challenge you to find one paragraph slagging off the mining industry—I suspect a fair portion of the family fortune is still underground.
Among George Hearst's less famous holdings were the Golden Chariot and Rising Star mines in southwestern Idaho, not terribly far from COR. (Flint District, in the Owyhee mines.)
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