Nachtjagd War Diaries

I saw yours too Erich and a couple of other members of this forum too (for instance G. Taylor). Many more are my friends too in several countries. I didn't know T. Boiten was in touch with them. Small world isn't it?

 

yes it is Skip. a very small world with each person having just a small role to play. hopeful the living LW vets will be able to see the end product and make comment in the affirmitive, the two gentlemen present at Telford this weekend will love the volumes for sure.....

back to friends yes I noted at least 6 LW pilots that had helped and now deceased with several others I have interviewed years ago still living.

the volumes may not be to everyones liking but at least Theo has done well with his searching to really try and put things right and it should help those on these forums and others put some finality to some of their relatives research's and eliminate time consuming guess-work.

E ~

 

His reputation is excellent and many of the members quoted are Gospel to me, so fair enough it will certainly be a quality work

 

Having been involved in a little research recently ( and I mean little - compared to what Mr Boiten has done it's like comparing an ant to an elephant...) then I know that NOTHING is ever to everyone's liking !

But I now have even more respect for those who try and work hard to do their best - we all benefit from their work.....

 

what is very amazing to me as if you read his intro and thank you pages, the materials that have been lost and what he and Rod Mc. have been able to secure for 1945 when nothing after October 44 for both day and night victories were accepted and resulted in credit(s) from the OKL so it is from secondary documental sources and other research historians plus surviving LW NJG crewmen - flight books and memories.

I was priveldged to offer some materials first had doc's from suriving LW pilots for the book(s) and their Junkers 88G-6 descriptions. I must confess I was reluctant to the end to share anything about Kurt Welter and his little band but the two fellows have been able to get around the block and secure some interesting texts about the unit. We know we can fill in the blanks so I am quite curious as to what has been written here for the year - 1945 -

there is no doubt the two volumes will be of benefit

 

Well, I have packed my camera, maps, and one or two little things for signing....


....ready for an early start !

 

what can I say....have a wonderful time, I already know that author for the 1945 materials - Rod Mckenzie is already Psyched as many are. Neil get your rear end over there !!!

 

I can't wait to get the feed back, good hunt Martin!

 

Well, I left early this morning, visited the event as it was starting, and now I'm back !

You'll just have to buy your own 'Diaries', guys - they are very big, very heavy, and very expensive.....and I can't wait to start reading them ! Of course it was a privilege and pleasure to meet Peter Spoden and Rolf Ebhardt ( both of whom spoke perfect English ) but it was also a very pleasant experience to talk to Theo Boiten and Rod Mackenzie ; two very nice people indeed.

So - here is the event ( I just could never believe that so many people are keen plastic modellers ! )




It was quite hard to find the Aviation Bookshop stall...but here it is, with Theo Boiten ( in red shirt ), Peter Spoden and Rolf Ebhardt : -




Peter Spoden is a rare man : when he meets you he makes you feel is if you're the most important person in the room.....I wish I had that talent. He insisted on a 'group photo' and Rod Mackenzie kindly obliged with my camera...




There was something I especially wanted Peter to sign ; here he and Theo Boiten give it a critical 'once over'....



I'm of course very happy with my 'Diaries'.

But this is a little memento which I shall treasure always........

 

Wonderful Martin! So you did it! Having the 110 signed by Herr Spoden was a great idea. Thank yo for posting these great pictures and describe the event as if we were there. I almost feel better now.

 

Thanks, skipper. I'm glad I arrived early - by lunchtime when I left, the two veterans were almost swamped with people waiting to talk with them. They were doing a grand job !

 

I also had a great day. I'm glad I did not go to Birmingham, as there was a strike at Paris airport anyway, so I did the right thing and went to my favorite fleemarket instead. Not as nice as meeting veterans, but my "plan B" still allowed me to get some excellent acquisitions including an empty Howlitzer amno case.

 

wonderful Martin, great pics and boy Theo is a young whipper-snapper

it has been a pleasure to communicate with him as well as Rod over the years and will continue to do so. Will agree Martin about Peter even in his many emails to me, take charge and answer accordingly with respect, what a super guy he is without doubt, can see why he was such an effective Gruppenkommandeur in NJG 6.

am actually a bit jealous you have copies in hand......hopeful US amazon gets smart or I can find just where Red-Kite will be transferring their work(s) into the US of A

you will enjoy them

thank you for the private ~

E ♫ ♫

 

I can guess that having these these books sent by post will not be easy - they are HEAVY....

 

This is why I suggest Amazon, they take very low shipping costs. Of course they are not dedicated and no model aircraft joined either

 

I have just spent an hour absorbed in these books. IMPO they represent a fantastic achievement by the authors.

As with any work of research, there will I'm sure be criticisms and omissions. But to me, the many personal accounts and very rare privately-taken photos which I've never seen before, plus of course the carefully-researched claims, make these books absolutely essential for anyone seriously interested in the night airwar over Europe.

 

They are on my Christmas list Martin. I believe you must have gone to bed late yesterday and spent the evening reading

 

well have found that amazon.com has given the relase date from them 20th of November. not sure if this is feasible but ok. Skip what say amazon in France ??

Martin somehow in the back of my fickle brain thought you would give them a good once-twice over. I'm going to have to put my BA/MA Freiburg listings away now.............no I won't I 'll continue to use those as cross checks with the books when they arrive this winter. As the LW single engines made huge overclaims these volumes will be excellent to weed out the investation-s-

♫

 

It says release on Nov 20th , free shipping for me + 5% off the regular retal price. So I should have them both home for about 80 euros total

 

that seems to be a good price though the US of A amazon has not listed price per se for either volume just a note that if I wished to be contacted when the books are in stock. as mentioned earlier you Euro friends will be able to get in a good look before I will