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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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