Perhaps the most seaworthy flying boat ever built; the elegant; tri-motor Dornier Do 24 served with both the Allied and Axis forces in very different parts of the globe during World War II; garnering an excellent reputation along the way This study uses archival records; first-hand accounts and revealing photographs to illuminate the combat career of this remarkable aircraft for the first time in English. The German-built Do 24 was the Netherlands Navy's principal aerial asset during the Japanese invasion of the East Indies. While the survivors of that ordeal served in the Australian Air force; in occupied Holland and France production continued swiftly and the Do 24 equipped the German Air-Sea rescue service; whose crews loved and respected the machine. The type witnessed the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe over all the European seas; took part in the desperate evacuations of Wehrmacht troops on the Baltic in the face of the overwhelming Soviet advance; and was pressed out of service only with the withdrawal of Spanish Do 24s in 1969. This volume tells the long and eventful story of the faithful Do 24 in full.
#1108464 in Books 2016-03-01 2016-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.08 x 6.13l; .0 #File Name: 1469629089432 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. DeepBy HortonA decent book but if you are a casual fan of the war; this book will probably bore you silly. It is very nuanced and digs deeply into political overseas maneuvers. It is a very dry; unemotional book about a very emotional subject; so it takes awhile to get used to since we are probably more familiar with the tragic stories that tug at our hearts. Battles are treated as political statements. Lincoln is portrayed as a wooden politician; with no personal feelings about the war or its effect on his people. Not faulting the author for this since this is about diplomacy and not the actual war. I am just saying that it took me awhile to adjust my thinking to such a cold; calculated world of the Civil War in international thinking. I had a feeling that the author is not a fan of Lincoln; although he is more focused on Seward as secretary of state. My readings on Seward had always shown him to be very opposed to slavery on a moral ground; and this book does not support that. Aside from that; it was very interesting to see how the Europeans viewed the Civil War. Very few of our history book even delve into this issue and I did not realize that the world was keenly watching to see if they would intervene.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A look at Union and Confederate Foreign Relations fom both sides of the AtlanticBy CTS 2631The American point of view when it comes to foreign intervention from England and France during the Civil War is that it almost did happen until the Union "victory" at the battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg; Maryland (September 17; 1862) and the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln (September 22; 1862) changed the European powers minds and made it morally impossible for them to intervene in the internal affairs of the United States.This excellent book by author Howard Jones proves that both England and France saw the battle of Antietam for what it actually was; a bloody tactical draw that only ended Confederate General Robert E. Lee's raid into Maryland. And the English (Prime Minister/Parliment); instead of seeing the Emancipation Proclamation as a great humanitarian act; were outraged by it and believed it was a call for servile insurrection and race war in the American South by a Union government desperate for victory. While the French (Emperor Napolean III/interventionist in the French government) felt the Emancipation Proclamation showed that the slavery issue in America was on its way to resolution; and allowed them to act for economic (ailing textile industry needing cotton) and imperial (Napolean's desire to revive the French colonial empire in North America) reasons.But the battle of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation are just part of the story of diplomatic intrigues and crisis that helped define the Civil War and almost propelled the Union into open conflict with one or more European nations a few times before the close of hostilities. This volume gives a complete history of Union and Confederate foreign relations with the European powers during the Civil War chronologically from the beginning of hostilities until the defeat of the Confederacy. The story is told from both sides point of view at the time the events took place instead of just looking at it from the Union/Confederate perspective. The result is a great read that questions preconcieved notions on this topic through the use of factual evidence found in the personal writings of the participants (heads of state; government officials; diplomats) and government records (Union; Confederate; English; French; etc.) from both sides of the Atlantic.In this reviewers humble opinion; "Blue Gray Diplomacy" should be considered "THE" book on this subject; and will lead to a paradigm shift in the way these events are remembered in American history.Well written; illustrated; researched; and footnoted; this book will be a valuable addition to anyones Civil War book collection or a good read for anyone that just likes American history. I cant recommend it enough.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Civil war from different viewpointBy Bernard LavalleeUnsurpassed in its detail depiction of the controversy aroused by the Civil War in both France and England; especially surrounding mediation followed by intervention. Upholding the truth of self-interest; the author explores in detail the reasons both England and France wanted to intervene in the American Civil War. Using moral reasons as a vague cover to their economic and imperialistic plans the author outlines just how close they did come to stepping into the fray. The title; however; is a bit misleading; it should read 'Gray Diplomacy' in the Civil War since very little attention is paid to the union diplomatic side. Otherwise a must read for Civil War fans.
