The Long Way Home

Rating:
Summary: An interesting snapshot of a bygone era!
Review: I bought the third edition of this book directly from the author himself via Amazon - it was seven days from placing the order to receiving the book. Very impressive shipping time USA to Australia!!

I devoured the book in two sittings! It has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen on a book, and the content is succinct, informative, and fairly well written. While you know the outcome (as the story has been covered in much briefer form before), the fun is getting there - and finding out all the little details that weren't available before.

My only minor criticism would be that the editing could have been slightly better. At one point, a crew members wife is mentioned by name and it wasn't when she was introduced - that was a bit jarring. There are a couple of little things like that!

I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in Pan Am, the great flying boats, airline history, or someone just after a good tale!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing High Adventure
Review: I have always been a big fan of the Boeing B-314 and of Pan Am. When I heard a book about the big airliners ordeal at the dawn of World War II, I immediately picked up a copy. I'm glad I did.

A quick synopsis: The Pan-Am airliner Pacific Clipper was enroute to New Zealand from San Francisco at the exact moment the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In an effort to save the aircraft and crew, the decision was made to fly the plane from New Zealand to New York the long way via India, Africa and South America; something that this type of aircraft had never done before.

Mr. Dover did a tremendous job of research for this book and it shows. "The Long Way Home" touches on the well-known details as well as the personal stories that made up this incredible adventure. Although I had read brief articles about the clipper's around-the-world flight before, I found many fascinating nuggets of new information. The spotting of a Japanese submarine in the Indian Ocean is just one example.

The only things that keep this book from being a five are some glaring spelling errors and Mr. Dover's occaisionally flat narration.

A fascinating read that is just begging for a movie to made from it.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing High Adventure
Review: I have always been a big fan of the Boeing B-314 and of Pan Am. When I heard a book about the big airliners ordeal at the dawn of World War II, I immediately picked up a copy. I'm glad I did.

A quick synopsis: The Pan-Am airliner Pacific Clipper was enroute to New Zealand from San Francisco at the exact moment the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In an effort to save the aircraft and crew, the decision was made to fly the plane from New Zealand to New York the long way via India, Africa and South America; something that this type of aircraft had never done before.

Mr. Dover did a tremendous job of research for this book and it shows. "The Long Way Home" touches on the well-known details as well as the personal stories that made up this incredible adventure. Although I had read brief articles about the clipper's around-the-world flight before, I found many fascinating nuggets of new information. The spotting of a Japanese submarine in the Indian Ocean is just one example.

The only things that keep this book from being a five are some glaring spelling errors and Mr. Dover's occaisionally flat narration.

A fascinating read that is just begging for a movie to made from it.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Footnote to History
Review: This book is a good addition to the library of any serious student of Pan Am's great history. In these days of mass production, we don't think of one aircraft as a national asset. But the owners and operators of this one did, and rightly so. Only 12 B-314 flying boats were built and they played a critical support role in all theaters of WWII. This author has a clear and direct style. The description of the difficult take-off from the Congo River put you right on the flight deck. This book would actually make a good movie. As you read this account, you cannot help but think of what present day air travellers owe these pioneers. And, you also will have one more reason to say thanks to the WWII generation.