Order now: Leading the Way to Victory: A History of the 60th Troop Carrier Group 1940 – 1945
The December 7, 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into World War II. Just six months later in May 1942, flying new C-47A transport aircraft, the 60th Troop Carrier Group (TCG) led the way as the first U.S. Troop Carrier Group to deploy to England and the European Theater of Operations. The 60th TCG continued leading the way to Victory. Taking off from England, the 60th TCG flew not only the first combat airborne mission in U.S. Army history – dropping U. S. paratroopers of the 2/509th PIR outside of Oran, North Africa, but also the longest airborne mission of the war. This drop spear-headed Operation TORCH the Invasion of North Africa by taking key Axis airfields just inland from the amphibious landing zones. The 60th TCG would then go on to fly some of the first combat aeromedical evacuation missions and fly the first mission towing CG-4A “Waco” gliders in combat during Operation HUSKY, the Invasion of Sicily. The Group would later earn the Presidential Unit Citation for missions flown as part of the Secret War in the Balkans in 1944; including the daring rescue of over 400 downed Allied Airmen behind Nazi lines in Serbia as part of Operation HALYARD. Through the school of hard knocks paid for in blood, many valuable lessons were learned as the new airborne, airland, aeromedical evacuation, and glider missions matured in World War II. The 60th TCG played a major role in this process. Click the link below to preorder.
“Men Will Come” A History of the 314th Troop Carrier Group 1942 - 1945
If you or a family member ever served in the 32nd, 50th, 61st, or 62nd Troop Carrier/Airlift Squadrons, or are interested in World War II USAAF Airborne Troop Carrier and glider Operations, this book is for you! Published by Merriam Press in 2019: “Men Will Come” A History of the 314th troop Carrier Group 1942 – 1945 is available in softcover for $39.95 plus shipping and hardcover for $49.95 plus shipping. With a Foreword by GENERAL Carlton D. “Dewey” Everhart II (USAF-RET), 508 pages long with over 330 photographs and maps, a complete Index, numerous Appendices’ of crew list data, and many unpublished first-hand accounts, this book fills a major void in USAAF World War II and Airborne Troop Carrier History. The 314th participated in nearly every major Airborne Operation in World War II: Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland, and the Crossing of the Rhine. Many thanks to ALL who supported me in this 2 year+ effort! Note: The Hardcover edition of this book is only available at LuLu.com
Winfield Scott’s Vision for the Army - Mobilizing the North to Preserve the Union
Truly visionary, Winfield Scott’s enduring contribution to the Union war effort was the “Anaconda Plan.” This plan in essence became the basic overall Union military strategy in the American Civil War. Unlike most in 1861, Scott envisioned a protracted four-year long war that would involve large numbers of troops and a grand strategy.
Winfield Scott had another vision in 1861. This vision determined the role the standing, Regular Army would play as the Union mobilized to suppress the rebellion of the Southern states. Scott’s vision called for the Regulars to be a nucleus for the Union Army to form around as it expanded. Scott’s decision to keep the Regular units intact would have a lasting impact on mobilization, training and the war effort the next four years. Some tried to persuade Scott to scatter Regular officers and men throughout formations to be teachers or a “training cadre.” However, Scott persuaded the Secretary of War and President Abraham Lincoln to keep Regular officers, enlisted forces, and units intact. Scott formulated this policy based on a lifetime of soldiering and experiences. In this work, author Mark Vlahos attempts to get inside the mind of Winfield Scott and determine what influenced him to make this decision, and also looks at alternatives that Scott could have utilized during Army expansion and mobilization. The 205 page, softcover book, self published by Mark in 2015 via Lulu Press, is thoroughly researched with many tables of information and data, backed up by numerous photographs, illustrations and 348 footnotes. The softcover book sells for $19.51 on LuLu.com
Book Review: Jack Mason’s February, 2016 Review in the Midwest Book Review online magazine “Reviewer’s Bookwatch”
“Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "Winfield Scott's Vision for the Army: Mobilizing the North to Preserve the Union" is an original and strongly recommended contribution to the growing library of American Civil War histories. A truly impressive military history, "Winfield Scott's Vision for the Army" will prove an enduringly popular and valued addition to community, and academic library American Civil War reference collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Winfield Scott's Vision for the Army" is also available in a Kindle edition.”
Jack Mason, “Reviewer’s Bookwatch”, February 2016