Page 3 - DFCS News Magazine Spring 2013

DFCS Member’s Book Makes the
Air Force Chief of Staff’s Reading List
Chuck Sweeney
The Air Force chief of staff published his professional reading list Feb. 1, 2013
In a message on the website, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said, "We are the world's greatest air force because of our Airmen...and we must continue to strengthen that team." He asks Airmen to take a look at the list that highlights the Air Force's heritage and fighting spirit, and encourages innovation and forward thinking. This year's list contains 14 books, seven films, seven TED talks, web-based re- sources, and for the first time, artwork, music and photography selections.
Among the 14 books in this year's reading list is:
"I Always Wanted to Fly: America's Cold War Airmen" by Col Wolfgang Samuel (The entire list can be viewed at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123334991 )
In “I Always Wanted to Fly”, Wolf has gathered first-person memo- ries from heroes of the cockpits and airstrips. Battling in dogfights when jets were novelties, saving lives in grueling airlifts, or flying dangerous reconnaissance missions deep into Soviet and Chinese airspace, these flyers waged America’s longest and most secretively conducted air war.
Many of the pilots Samuel interviewed invoke the same sentiment when asked why they risked their lives in the air-- “I always wanted to fly.” With the advent of World War II, many of these dreamers found themselves in cockpits soon after high school. Of those who survived World War II, many chose to continue following their dream, flying the Berlin Airlift, stopping the North Korean army during the “forgotten war” in Korea, and fighting in the Vietnam War. Told in personal narratives and reminiscences, I Always Want- ed to Fly renders views from pilots’ seats and flight decks during every air combat flashpoint from 1945--1968. Drawn from long exposure to the immense stress of warfare, the stories these warri- ors share are both heroic and historic. The book is available from www.amazon.com.
Wolfgang Samuel is a member of the DFC Society and is also a mem- ber of the Wilbur Wright Nation’s Capital Region Chapter. This is a great honor for him. I and all of the members of the DFC Society and his chapter send their congratulations and a JOB WELL DONE to Wolf.
This book does more than review and detail the production and cinematog- raphy of these films. It relates the movies to their cultural, social, military, aviation and historical context. Carlson interviewed more than 200 actors, pilots, stuntmen, film crew, historians and above all, veter- ans.
Flying on Film provided the opportunity for veterans to talk about their favorite and not-so-favorite films. What was done right, and what was done wrong. It includes com- ments by men and women who had ‘been
there and done that.’ In some cases, their comments in this book are their last words on the subject.
Some of the veterans who provided their memories, comments, observations and anecdotes were Medal of Honor recipient John Finn, DFC holders RADM Paul Gillcrist, RADM James Ramage, Com- mander Dean ‘Diz’ Laird, Brigadier General Robert Cardenas, Col. Steve Pisanos, and many other veterans. Actors who added their memories were Louis Gossett, Jr. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Sean Astin, Jack Larson, David McCallum, and the late Cliff Robertson, to name a few.
Mark Carlson is an aviation historian, writer, classic film buff and student of filmmaking. He has written many articles for DFC News, EAA Warbirds, Flight Journal, The Hook, Aviation History, Vintage Airplanes and several other aviation magazines. As a docent and researcher at the San Diego Air & Space Museum and member of many aviation-related organizations, Carlson has gained an insight into the people who lived the world of airplanes and the movies.
DFCS, PO Box 502408, San Diego, CA 92150
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The Distinguished Flying Cross News