Research / History books - how much do you spend?

[Badboy]

Originally posted by Waffle BAS
Any of you history junkies / Aviation buffs have this problem?

I am the proud owner of a library at home containing more than 2000 books, some of them on air combat, its history, its participants and its aircraft. But mostly (with the exception of about 50 math books) they are aerodynamics texts dating from the dawn of aviation to modern day, not much worth reading slips through the net, but I am very conscious of a few worthy omissions, but I'll add them to the list eventually.

Have I read them all? Nope, I've read parts of all of them and all of some of them, but I use them mostly for reference, and most of them are stuffed with book marks with notes and comments. I almost never read for less than two hours a day, often much more.

How much do they cost? The most expensive book was about $140, but average cost of around $40 for new books, but most of mine were acquired as used books. I spend almost as much on papers archive material and other documents.

There are some drawbacks though... I don't have any of them catalogued or listed, so I have sometimes purchased a book only to get home and find I've already got it on my shelves. Also, when I remember a fact but can't remember where I read it, and need a reference, it can take a long time to find. But the search can be fun if you as easily distracted as I am

Badboy

[joeblogs]

I need to visit your library...

-blogs

Originally posted by Badboy
I am the proud owner of a library at home containing more than 2000 books, some of them on air combat, its history, its participants and its aircraft. But mostly (with the exception of about 50 math books) they are aerodynamics texts dating from the dawn of aviation to modern day, not much worth reading slips through the net, but I am very conscious of a few worthy omissions, but I'll add them to the list eventually.

Have I read them all? Nope, I've read parts of all of them and all of some of them, but I use them mostly for reference, and most of them are stuffed with book marks with notes and comments. I almost never read for less than two hours a day, often much more.

How much do they cost? The most expensive book was about $140, but average cost of around $40 for new books, but most of mine were acquired as used books. I spend almost as much on papers archive material and other documents.

There are some drawbacks though... I don't have any of them catalogued or listed, so I have sometimes purchased a book only to get home and find I've already got it on my shelves. Also, when I remember a fact but can't remember where I read it, and need a reference, it can take a long time to find. But the search can be fun if you as easily distracted as I am

Badboy

[GtoRA2]

Badboy
 Buying the same book over is the whole reason I bit the bullet and put them in excell

LOL still I forget the damn list when I go to bookstores all the time.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Badboy
I am the proud owner of a library at home containing more than 2000 books, some of them on air combat, its history, its participants and its aircraft. But mostly (with the exception of about 50 math books) they are aerodynamics texts dating from the dawn of aviation to modern day, not much worth reading slips through the net, but I am very conscious of a few worthy omissions, but I'll add them to the list eventually.

Have I read them all? Nope, I've read parts of all of them and all of some of them, but I use them mostly for reference, and most of them are stuffed with book marks with notes and comments. I almost never read for less than two hours a day, often much more.

How much do they cost? The most expensive book was about $140, but average cost of around $40 for new books, but most of mine were acquired as used books. I spend almost as much on papers archive material and other documents.

There are some drawbacks though... I don't have any of them catalogued or listed, so I have sometimes purchased a book only to get home and find I've already got it on my shelves. Also, when I remember a fact but can't remember where I read it, and need a reference, it can take a long time to find. But the search can be fun if you as easily distracted as I am

Badboy

Mine's  about the same size.  What scares me is someone will ask a question and I can see the page and the book its in and find it quick.  

I most definately agree about the search being fun too

Dan/CorkyJr

[F4UDOA]

Hehe,

I could write a book on this subject.

I have gotten very lucky in my searches.

Francis Dean author of "Americas Hundred Thousand" and editor of the "Joint Fighter Conferance" lived 1/2 hour away from me so I was able to email him and then visit him on a couple of occassions. Talk about a national treasure, that was one guy who knew everything and had every document. He passed away a couple years ago and my best source went to the after life.

I have corresponded with Barret Tillman, Corkey Meyer, the Vought Museam and the SETP (Socioty of Experamental Test pilots. The only place that has every taken money from me was the British PROCAT document service. They have a few of my pennies.

Hell, Eric Bergerud Author of "Fire in the Sky" is an active member of my Squad the BK's right here in AH. Talk about convenient!!

My biggest disappointment now is that I have no interest in books anymore. I find it is all reprinted information from some document that I already have or heard about.

I need to plan a trip to Wright Patterson, Elgin, Patuxant, Vought and the PROCAT. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!!

[Crumpp]

My biggest disappointment now is that I have no interest in books anymore. I find it is all reprinted information from some document that I already have or heard about.

OMG! Tell me about it.  I was frothing at the mouth to get a copy of Rodeikes "Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeugen 190".  It was a shock and disappointment to see I have all the documents he referenced and then some.

Great pics though and a very well done work on the FW-190.  

If I am lacking material it is original pictures.  Then again, I always hated the "picture books" with no substance.

All the best,

Crumpp

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by Crumpp
OMG! Tell me about it.  I was frothing at the mouth to get a copy of Rodeikes "Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeugen 190".  It was a shock and disappointment to see I have all the documents he referenced and then some.

Great pics though and a very well done work on the FW-190.  

If I am lacking material it is original pictures.  Then again, I always hated the "picture books" with no substance.

All the best,

Crumpp

Do you notice how much more often you find mis identified captions, or just downright incorrect information in books?

Spitfire the History, by EB Morgan is a perfect example.  It's the Spit bible, but there are so many misidentifed photos, it's scary.

Dan/CorkyJr

[Crumpp]

Do you notice how much more often you find mis identified captions, or just downright incorrect information in books?

Yes I have noticed many more mistakes than I used too.  Not sure if they are geniune mistake of fact, translation error, or editing error.

What amazes me is the often repeated continous mistakes.  The mistake itself just takes on a life of it's own and becomes fact.

Good example is the 801 series engines.  Every text you see says 1700 - 1800 hp from day one it was installed in the FW-190A.  Just simply not true.  

All the best,

Crumpp

[joeblogs]

Of all the engines you see statistics on, this is the one that never seems to change. The R2800 gains 500 HP over time and the 801 nothing? Please.

-blogs

Originally posted by Crumpp
Yes I have noticed many more mistakes than I used too.  Not sure if they are geniune mistake of fact, translation error, or editing error.

What amazes me is the often repeated continous mistakes.  The mistake itself just takes on a life of it's own and becomes fact.

Good example is the 801 series engines.  Every text you see says 1700 - 1800 hp from day one it was installed in the FW-190A.  Just simply not true.  

All the best,

Crumpp

[Crumpp]

Of all the engines you see statistics on, this is the one that never seems to change. The R2800 gains 500 HP over time and the 801 nothing? Please.

Exactly.  If you trace the 801's power development it goes from around 1630PS all the way to 2050PS at 1st Gear Supercharger FTH during it's lifetime.  The late war models of the 801 go as high as 2200PS.

This is one of the big questions I am attempting to answer.  Just how prevelant were these late war engines.  So far I have collected enough documentation, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence to conclude the program was much more advanced in the frontline geschwaders than commonly known.

When I go to Norway, I will be examining the wrecks of several hundred late war FW-190A's.  

All the best,

Crumpp

[Grendel]

Well, I tend to spend money substantially when I have been too long without new book purchases What I buy tends to vary. Either I'm collecting books about one subject, or then just any interesting WW2 aviation literature.

My latest purchases are a bit biased:



In order to learn more about the Bf 109 I ordered bunch of books about it and about pilots flying it. And I can never resist Luftwaffe 1946 stuff from Ted Nomura, either ;-)

The low row, middle book, Enemy inthe Dark, is by Peter Spoden, he was Me 110 / Ju-88 night fighter pilot. I will interview him in May, so I got to dig into his persona a bit more.

[MiloMorai]

Here is a book that one should put on their 'want' list.



Should be published soon.

[Crumpp]

Milo,

Is that one different from this book?

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/book_template.php?isbn=0764321307

If it is then I will certainly add it to my list of must have reference.  

All the best,

Crumpp

[pasoleati]

Originally posted by Grendel
Well, I tend to spend money substantially when I have been too long without new book purchases What I buy tends to vary. Either I'm collecting books about one subject, or then just any interesting WW2 aviation literature.

My latest purchases are a bit biased:



In order to learn more about the Bf 109 I ordered bunch of books about it and about pilots flying it. And I can never resist Luftwaffe 1946 stuff from Ted Nomura, either ;-)

The low row, middle book, Enemy inthe Dark, is by Peter Spoden, he was Me 110 / Ju-88 night fighter pilot. I will interview him in May, so I got to dig into his persona a bit more.

Grendel, I have some interesting books for sale. If interested, mail me at paso.leati@reppu.net!

[MiloMorai]

Originally posted by Crumpp
Milo,

Is that one different from this book?

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/book_template.php?isbn=0764321307

If it is then I will certainly add it to my list of must have reference.  

All the best,

Crumpp

Sorry Crumpp, it should be this book, Moskito-Jagd;  Fritz Gniffke, JG 302 & NJG 11