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Summary: A must for the Air Force Bomber buff
Review: An excellent book, well researched and enough photos to keep you looking for hours. Each section of the book is highly comprehensive and detailed. The Peacemaker was a beast and as such deserves a beast of a book to tell its story. Definitely not a coffee-table book, this one is for the person who is truly into the subject.
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Summary: The book is nearly as large as the ship itself!
Review: I knew I was in for a treat when I saw the huge box awaiting me on my porch. Upon opening the box my eyes met a wonderful sight, Four majestic B-36s in formation over the whitehouse. I was not dissapointed at the contents of the book itself. I especially like the accounts of those who served with this monster (very few of which are negative concerning their experience) I would recomend this book for any aviation library, the 36 definitely deserves a spot in one, it is a shame that it has been practically forgetten. The section on the experimental versions was also well done, my only gripe is the lack of a picture of the flight deck of the NB-36.
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Summary: this book was excellent, most complete book on the b-36!
Review: I've waited for years to read a comprehensive book about the mighty B-36. Jacobsen has written it, and it is quite impressive. Very detailed technical description of the plane and its armament; innumerable stories and anecdotes from crews of the "aluminium overcast".There is however one single, but important, gap in the book : the service history of the aircraft (which units got which versions, when,...). Aside from an appendix, listing the ten wings, thirty squadrons and their tailcodes, there is no record of the service history of the B-36. This is a complicated topic though, since planes were shuffled from wings to wings as new versions came off the production line, usually delivered first to the co-located 7th and 11th BW's. Let's hope Jacobsen or another author puts that matter to rest, in yet another B-36 book.
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Summary: A Big Book for the Big Stick
Review: Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by Convair's B-36 Peacemaker, one of the premier aircraft of the Cold War. A Six-Engined monster, it was the first intercontinental bomber, being the only plane that could fly from allied bases to targets in Russia and back without refueling. While some books have been written about the plane, it can be said that Jacobsen has written the definitive account. Early chapters detail the development of the plane, while later chapters discuss the aircraft's service life, including the controversies that it caused. There are also chapters devoted to spin-offs of the plane (The XC-99 transport, The YB-60 bomber), experimental versions, defensive armaments and to surviving aircraft or parts. There is even a chapter about the B-36's film career. Dozens of former crewmen provided interviews on their experiences with the B-36, covering many parts of the plane and its use. There are also hundreds of photographs and illustrations throughout the book, many of them taken by the people who served on the plane. This is only a basic coverage of what this book provides. You must read it for yourself. Just be sure you can afford the hefty price tag.
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Summary: A Classic Aviation Monograph
Review: This brand new book will be looked upon some time in the future as one of the all-time great aviation book classics. Unlike some of Schiffer's prior publishing efforts -- which tend to be heavy on pictures and lightweight on analysis -- they really hit on a winner this time. The book is a comprehensive (with a capital "C") and authoritative history of the B-36 bomber with everything you could ask from in a military history: beautiful B&W and color pictures printed on heavyweight gloss stock, development and production history, political background (the "revolt of the admirals"), operational history, crew reports, squadron deployments, the history of SAC, detailed offensive and defensive armament, derivatives,accidents,withdrawal from service, and bone-yard survivors, all in great detail. Nothing is left out. All this is accomplished by having contributing authors cover different subjects with Jacobsen providing the integration effort. I found it all to be superb, and the very last word on the B-36. A truly great book and worth every penny of its hefty $70-plus price tag. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Aviation Monograph
Review: This brand new book will be looked upon some time in the future as one of the all-time great aviation book classics. Unlike some of Schiffer's prior publishing efforts -- which tend to be heavy on pictures and lightweight on analysis -- they really hit on a winner this time. The book is a comprehensive (with a capital "C") and authoritative history of the B-36 bomber with everything you could ask from in a military history: beautiful B&W and color pictures printed on heavyweight gloss stock, development and production history, political background (the "revolt of the admirals"), operational history, crew reports, squadron deployments, the history of SAC, detailed offensive and defensive armament, derivatives,accidents,withdrawal from service, and bone-yard survivors, all in great detail. Nothing is left out. All this is accomplished by having contributing authors cover different subjects with Jacobsen providing the integration effort. I found it all to be superb, and the very last word on the B-36. A truly great book and worth every penny of its hefty $70-plus price tag. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: An Instant Classic Aviation Monograph
Review: This brand new book will be looked upon, some time in the future, as one of the all-time great aviation book classics. Unlike many of Schiffer's prior publishing efforts -- which tend to be heavy on pictures and light on analysis -- they really hit on a winner this time. The book is a comprehensive and authoritative history of the B-36 bomber with everything you could ask for from a military history: beautiful B&W and color pictures printed on heavyweight gloss stock, development and production history, political background (the "revolt of the admirals"), operational history, crew reports, squadron deployments, the history of SAC, detailed offensive and defensive armament, derivatives, accidents, withdrawal from service and boneyard survivors, all in great detail. Nothing is left out. All this is accomplished by having contributing authors cover different subjects with Jacobsen providing the integration effort. I found it all to be superb, and the very last word on the B-36. A truly great book and worth every penny of the hefty $70 price. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: An Instant Classic Aviation Monograph
Review: This brand new book will be looked upon, some time in the future, as one of the all-time great aviation book classics. Unlike many of Schiffer's prior publishing efforts -- which tend to be heavy on pictures and light on analysis -- they really hit on a winner this time. The book is a comprehensive and authoritative history of the B-36 bomber with everything you could ask for from a military history: beautiful B&W and color pictures printed on heavyweight gloss stock, development and production history, political background (the "revolt of the admirals"), operational history, crew reports, squadron deployments, the history of SAC, detailed offensive and defensive armament, derivatives, accidents, withdrawal from service and boneyard survivors, all in great detail. Nothing is left out. All this is accomplished by having contributing authors cover different subjects with Jacobsen providing the integration effort. I found it all to be superb, and the very last word on the B-36. A truly great book and worth every penny of the hefty $70 price. Don't miss it!
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Summary: The Full Title Says It All!
Review: This is one amazing book! I have been fascinated with the B-36 since a friend told me about one he saw on display at Chanute AFB in Illinois in 1978. I later served in the US Air Force at the former Carswell AFB where the B-36 was originally built and learned some more about this flying giant. Since then, I had hoped to someday find a "definitive" book covering everything I would ever want to know about the old Strategic Air Command's biggest prop/jet bomber. Having finally gotten through all 400 pages of Jacobsen's effort here, I can now say that this hope has been fufilled! This book contains 18 chapters with plenty of excellent commentary and narration. Topics range from development history, Soviet responses, offensive/defensive armament, "parasite" fighters, Hollywood movies with the B-36, accidents, variants, scrapyard photos, and surviving B-36s among many others. The level of research is tremendous! Excellent essays written by aircrew members and maintenance personnel cover a huge range of topics both big and small. An amazing array of photos are included from sources ranging from the Air Force, newspapers, museums, personal collections, and associations. Wing nose art is included. This is not really for the person with casual interest in airplanes. It is THE definitive book on everything B-36!
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Summary: At last ? a comprehensive book on the almost forgotten B-36!
Review: This reviewer grew up watching B-36s fly over his house and he remembers it as being the most impressive airplane ever. The B-36 was the only bomber in the world capable of truly intercontinental range with atomic weapons during the 1950s. "The "aluminum overcast" used 10 engines (6 piston and 4 jets -- referred as "six turning and four burning" by crew members) to travel at altitudes of 40,000 feet. The authors have drawn from almost every resource to detail the story of this bomber. Former crewmen tell their stories of flying and maintaining this airplane. (The crew stories were helpfully divided by air force base and unit so this reviewer could easily access his favorite unit, the 92nd Bomb Wing) Even motion pictures that featured the B-36 are discussed, including 1953's "Strategic Air Command" starring James Stewart. Hundreds of rare photographs, drawings and tables are featured in this outstanding book. Except for two or three short picture books, this is the only book of its' kind on this largely-forgotten bomber, responsible for keeping the peace during this time. For any fan of the B-36, the Strategic Air Command, or bombers in general, this book is a sumptuous treat!
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