Mr. Salmons,
The name of the movie that you saw about the the B-17 flying from San Francisco, to Hawaii, to Wake Island to the Phillipines at the outset of World War II is called “Air Force.” It has a very good cast of actors both headliners and character. You can get specific information from the internet by typing air force movie. It gives a list of the actors and a plot summary.
Respectfully,
NYC Buff
“AIR FORCE” have that one in my DVD collection.
Years and years ago when I was a much younger man me and my dad went to the annual airshow at the Planes of Fame air museum in Chino, they had probably the best gathering of WW2 warbirds I can ever recall, They had a B-17, and the last flying B-29 superfortress at the time from the Confederate Air force group (FiFi ?). also B-25s (my favorite bomber), P-51s, Corsairs, a P-47 jug (rare today), P-40 (my favorite fighter), bunch of others including a flying Sopwith Camel and Fokker Triplane replicas that did a mock dogfight, all of which flew. I got a 3rd degree sunburn but also memories that I’ll never forget, especially when they started up that B-29 and taxied off for takeoff about a 100 feet in front of you.
Steve you REALLY need to read “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors” its more than just the history of Taffy 3, you really get to know experiences of the actual sailors involved, but read “Neptunes Inferno” first about the horrible learning curve the US Navy went thru off Guadalcanal, the two books dovetail into each other.
Vic, my father in law was aboard USS VIncennes (CA-64) at the Battle of Savo Island. He said that he considered himself detached from Vincennes “when the water reached my knees.” When I was assigned to Vincennes (CG-49), he opened up a bit about his experiences that night. He was a Gunner’s Mate.
You are right, there was a steep learning curve. I hope that we haven’t forgotten those lessons.
I’ll look for those books.
Hornfisher is one of the best narrative history writers I know of, he really knows how to bring the era alive. In “Neptune’s Inferno” he pointedly illustrates to the reader that this was the first real shooting war the US surface navy was involved in since Dewey shelled Manila in 1898. They had to unlearn their obsolete 1930’s era tactics and learn modern ship to ship fighting against a very skilled and aggressive foe and in a huge hurry. This curve and the lessons and mistakes made on both sides makes for a massively interesting read.
Vic & Steve,
I should give you both a list of some of the good history authors I’ve read. I’ll second Vic’s recommendation on “Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors”. Really good narrative.
Speaking of which, 2014, represents 100 years since the start of WWI, and may archivial material that has been locked up for 100 years will get opened to the public for the first time. It might be a while, but I’m guessing that in 2016-2018 timeframe a slew of WWI history narratives will be published. 
Bart “Mr. Worldwide” Salmons said:
AWESOME!!! What was the name of the movie…old black and white flick…that featured the crew of a B17 that was on the flight coming into Pearl Harbor on Dec 17th and I think it ended with the Battle of Midway?
I believe it TORA TORA TORA
Ron
“Tora Tora Tora” was in vivid color. “Air Force” is the movie in question, it covers loosly from Pearl Harbor to the Battle of the Bismarck Sea when a large force including many B-17s plastered a Japaneses invasion convoy. The timeline is condensed but its roughly sort of accurate …as accurate as any censored war movies
One surprisingly accurate movie is "They were expendable ", it follows accurately the events of the PT boats in the Phillipeans after Pearl Harbor …except for Dona Reed but thats ok, she’s easy on the eyes.
I remember seeing the movie “Run Silent, Run Deep,” and then a few months later, reading the book. I was sooooo disappointed in the book. It wasn’t anything like the movie. I think that I was 10.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo was great both as a book, and as a movie.
They Were Expendable was about LCDR Blukley, right, Vic? I think that they may have changed the name a bit, but it was still recognizable to those in the know.
Speaking of B-17’s and “30 Seconds over Tokyo”…Here’s a B-25 in Pa.
Steve Featherkile said:
They Were Expendable was about LCDR Blukley, right, Vic? I think that they may have changed the name a bit, but it was still recognizable to those in the know.
Yep, they changed the names, the bearded “wild man” of the Phillipines Lt Bulkeley became a very clean shaven Lt Brickley and Lt Bob Kelly became John Wayne.
“Thirty Seconds OverTokyo” is a great read, the movie romance is gone but the actions, crash and infection that costs the author his leg are much more visceral in the book. The movie does a great job though.
One book I haven’t got to yet is “PT 109”, I have the DVD. It will be interesting to read that after reading “Devil Boats” and Hara’s account of the events.
I read PT 109 a long time ago, probably in Junior High. Looking back on it, it was a romanticized novel aimed at getting someone elected to high office. Probably accurate in most details, though. Still, worth the read.
Looking around for loading depots and other facilities which would complement my rolling stock I have been interested in the Hershey chocolate history. Hershey modeled his empire on that of the British Cadbury company who preceded Hershey by some 70 years or so. However Hershey built, in a truly American manner, a very grandiose scheme. There are many strands to the history but for the purpose of this thread I post a link concerning an aircaft and a flyer of WW2.
http://www.thehersheycompany.com/about-hershey/our-story/hersheys-history.aspx
You need to click the “Going to war” tab and then the Hershey Hellion.