Today, Amazon listed “Clean Sweep” the #1 New Release in Military Aviation History. And it’s a best seller at the major airport bookstores. This is “new territory” for me. If any of you have completed the book, it only has ratings right now at Amazon, no reviews. Any reviews deeply appreciated.
I had just started the book when I paused work for my surgery. I purchased the audio version and since I’ve been off work, no commute. I found I have a hard time listening to books when I’m not driving and I can read them instead. I go back to work in 2 weeks so will be happily listening again during my long commute. Congratulations on the #1 best seller at major airport bookstores, and the #1 new release in Military Aviation History. 🥂 Nice work!
my own problem. about thirty years ago, I discovered that the car is absolutely the best place to listen to audiobooks. now that I can no longer drive, I have to figure out on a day-to-day basis what the best circumstances are for listening to audiobooks. and if I settle on a time and place one day, it might not be the same deal on the next day.
I never thought I'd be sorry I no longer have long commutes.
and congratulations, Tom. I plan on leaving my review as soon as I finish the book. but I've actually been planning it already. I really have.
I'm trying, Tom..... Ordered it from evil Bezos and they said it was undeliverable due to damage, so I just ordered it again - wish us luck. I have no doubt it will be a great read and fine history. My late first wife's uncle flew B-17s out of Foggia, Italy in the 15th AF - got the DFC for flying several hundred miles from St. Valentin, Austria back to Foggia with only half a tail. His plane was hit by another B-17 that was hit by flak in the cockpit and fell out of the high box into the tail of his ship. It lost the last 7-8 feet of fuselage, the lower third of the rudder and the entire port stabilizer and elevator. He never knew until he landed - the crew was afraid to tell him how bad the damage was. So I have been interested in the air war for many years (more than I'll admit to.....). I look forward to getting the new book soon.
Tell me more about that in a private email. Respond to "reply" at the bottom of my next post. I'm doing a book on the 15th and that is a helluva story.
Tom, send me an email to baker24(at)earthlink.net - I have some completely unexpected news - Mort Connelly is still alive, at 99, living in San Diego..... I am going to call him tomorrow and see if he can give us some more information. If the phone number I have is no good, I'll write to him tomorrow as well, as I have his address. Wish us luck.
I am trying to get more information - Covid largely shut down the US museums, and of course the big fire in St. Louis many years ago destroyed millions of military personnel records. All I have is his name - Morton B. Connelly Jr. I think he flew in the 301st BG in the 15th AF - he told me, but that was over 50 years ago and regrettably I didn't write anything down. I have a photo that shows a B-17 with damage very similar to what he described, thought the photo is of a B-17 from the 100th BG in the 8th AF, based at Thorpe Abbotts in the UK. I can send it to you but probably not here. I do have a photo of his crew in the states with all the crew names on the back - I scanned the photo but not the back, so I'll have to pull it out an do that. As far as the mission is concerned, the target was in St. Valentin, Austria. On the way back a B-17 in the high box was hit by flak in the cockpit and dived out of control. It hit the rear of Mort's plane, taking off the last 7-8 feet of the fuselage, the bottom third of the rudder and the entire port stabilizer and elevator. Unfortunately, it killed the tail gunner. They had hoped he might have gotten out, but they found his parachute stowed behind the tail wheel where the tail gunners usually put them - there wasn't enough room to wear it in the rear turret. Mort knew the plane had been hit - everyone felt the impact, and the plane was sluggish but flew well otherwise. The crew was afraid to tell him how much of the tail was missing - he asked them to check the damage and they told him some damage to the tail. The rest of the flight back to Foggia was uneventful and he made what he told me was the best landing he ever made in a B-17. When he went back to the tail section he nearly passed out - he had no idea it had been that badly damaged. He later received the Distinguished Flying Cross for successfully reaching the base with a badly damaged airplane. I wish I had more corroboration - only my memory..... I'll try again with St. Louis to see if I can find anything - everyone who could have helped me is long gone - Mort, his family, my late wife's family, everyone. If I had written down the information, the archives or veterans' groups could help. Possibly looking at the MACR or damage records for the 15th AF might lead somewhere. I may ask on Hyperscale (yeah, I know, but some of the folks there do a lot of research and may have a lead on scources). Wish us luck.....
He is studying for his FE exam for engineering at the moment. Said, if this book is anything like your others ( all of which I gave him) he will not be able to put it down. I will remind him about writing a review! He has loved your books!!
The book so far is awesome. My introduction to WW2 aviation history was the biographies of Wing Commanders Johnnie Johnson and Douglas Bader so this is like the adult version, with better details and a slightly different point of view.
Like Karen and David, my review will go up on Amazon when I finish but this gives a little preview.
Johnny Johnson's memoir is pretty accurate. "Reach for the Sky" (Bader) is another of Paul Brickhill's annotations of RAF propaganda, like his book The Dambusters, which presents the "official version" of Guy Gibson. If you want to get the accurate story of he Dambusters, get Sir Max Hastings' "Operation Chastise." He interviewed everyone alive back in the 1970s and presents the real Gibson - how did a guy like that attract the guys who had nothing left to prove to come follow him?
I grew up, in England and US hearing about this from my parents, mum in WAAF and dad RAF and then Sandhurst, as well as the movie. Read all the Brickhill stuff too. My library in Brooklyn does have the Hastings and TA DA! several of TCINLA’’s books. There’s my summer reading! Think I’ll buy the new one though.
I had just started the book when I paused work for my surgery. I purchased the audio version and since I’ve been off work, no commute. I found I have a hard time listening to books when I’m not driving and I can read them instead. I go back to work in 2 weeks so will be happily listening again during my long commute. Congratulations on the #1 best seller at major airport bookstores, and the #1 new release in Military Aviation History. 🥂 Nice work!
my own problem. about thirty years ago, I discovered that the car is absolutely the best place to listen to audiobooks. now that I can no longer drive, I have to figure out on a day-to-day basis what the best circumstances are for listening to audiobooks. and if I settle on a time and place one day, it might not be the same deal on the next day.
I never thought I'd be sorry I no longer have long commutes.
and congratulations, Tom. I plan on leaving my review as soon as I finish the book. but I've actually been planning it already. I really have.
Great!
I can listen and actually hear and process words when I do jigsaw puzzles.
Congratulations!!
That's thrilling! Congratulations!
Congratulations! 🍾🎊🎈 I have a trip to Japan coming up later this month. Guess what will be in my briefcase?
I'm trying, Tom..... Ordered it from evil Bezos and they said it was undeliverable due to damage, so I just ordered it again - wish us luck. I have no doubt it will be a great read and fine history. My late first wife's uncle flew B-17s out of Foggia, Italy in the 15th AF - got the DFC for flying several hundred miles from St. Valentin, Austria back to Foggia with only half a tail. His plane was hit by another B-17 that was hit by flak in the cockpit and fell out of the high box into the tail of his ship. It lost the last 7-8 feet of fuselage, the lower third of the rudder and the entire port stabilizer and elevator. He never knew until he landed - the crew was afraid to tell him how bad the damage was. So I have been interested in the air war for many years (more than I'll admit to.....). I look forward to getting the new book soon.
Tell me more about that in a private email. Respond to "reply" at the bottom of my next post. I'm doing a book on the 15th and that is a helluva story.
Tom, send me an email to baker24(at)earthlink.net - I have some completely unexpected news - Mort Connelly is still alive, at 99, living in San Diego..... I am going to call him tomorrow and see if he can give us some more information. If the phone number I have is no good, I'll write to him tomorrow as well, as I have his address. Wish us luck.
I am trying to get more information - Covid largely shut down the US museums, and of course the big fire in St. Louis many years ago destroyed millions of military personnel records. All I have is his name - Morton B. Connelly Jr. I think he flew in the 301st BG in the 15th AF - he told me, but that was over 50 years ago and regrettably I didn't write anything down. I have a photo that shows a B-17 with damage very similar to what he described, thought the photo is of a B-17 from the 100th BG in the 8th AF, based at Thorpe Abbotts in the UK. I can send it to you but probably not here. I do have a photo of his crew in the states with all the crew names on the back - I scanned the photo but not the back, so I'll have to pull it out an do that. As far as the mission is concerned, the target was in St. Valentin, Austria. On the way back a B-17 in the high box was hit by flak in the cockpit and dived out of control. It hit the rear of Mort's plane, taking off the last 7-8 feet of the fuselage, the bottom third of the rudder and the entire port stabilizer and elevator. Unfortunately, it killed the tail gunner. They had hoped he might have gotten out, but they found his parachute stowed behind the tail wheel where the tail gunners usually put them - there wasn't enough room to wear it in the rear turret. Mort knew the plane had been hit - everyone felt the impact, and the plane was sluggish but flew well otherwise. The crew was afraid to tell him how much of the tail was missing - he asked them to check the damage and they told him some damage to the tail. The rest of the flight back to Foggia was uneventful and he made what he told me was the best landing he ever made in a B-17. When he went back to the tail section he nearly passed out - he had no idea it had been that badly damaged. He later received the Distinguished Flying Cross for successfully reaching the base with a badly damaged airplane. I wish I had more corroboration - only my memory..... I'll try again with St. Louis to see if I can find anything - everyone who could have helped me is long gone - Mort, his family, my late wife's family, everyone. If I had written down the information, the archives or veterans' groups could help. Possibly looking at the MACR or damage records for the 15th AF might lead somewhere. I may ask on Hyperscale (yeah, I know, but some of the folks there do a lot of research and may have a lead on scources). Wish us luck.....
So proud of you, TC. Just so…so SIZZLIN’!
Salud!
🗽💜
Congratulations, Tom. I have ordered it through Bookshop.org rather than Amazon. The price with shipping and local tax is essentially the same, but the profit goes to my local bookstore. https://bookshop.org/p/books/clean-sweep-viii-fighter-command-against-the-luftwaffe-1942-45-thomas-mckelvey-cleaver/18761874
Good for you doing that.
Congratulations!!!
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Well deserved, Tom!!
Congratulations! Just placed my order. Amazon says it will arrive this evening.
Great!
Congratulations Tom. Clean Sweep is next up on my Kindle. I will be most happy to leave a review.
Sent it as a gift to my nephew, the WWII buff.
I just texted him. Asked him to write a review.
Hope he does....he is in his 20's .....different perspective!
That would be good. Thanks!
He is studying for his FE exam for engineering at the moment. Said, if this book is anything like your others ( all of which I gave him) he will not be able to put it down. I will remind him about writing a review! He has loved your books!!
Thank you.
The book so far is awesome. My introduction to WW2 aviation history was the biographies of Wing Commanders Johnnie Johnson and Douglas Bader so this is like the adult version, with better details and a slightly different point of view.
Like Karen and David, my review will go up on Amazon when I finish but this gives a little preview.
Thanks.
Johnny Johnson's memoir is pretty accurate. "Reach for the Sky" (Bader) is another of Paul Brickhill's annotations of RAF propaganda, like his book The Dambusters, which presents the "official version" of Guy Gibson. If you want to get the accurate story of he Dambusters, get Sir Max Hastings' "Operation Chastise." He interviewed everyone alive back in the 1970s and presents the real Gibson - how did a guy like that attract the guys who had nothing left to prove to come follow him?
I grew up, in England and US hearing about this from my parents, mum in WAAF and dad RAF and then Sandhurst, as well as the movie. Read all the Brickhill stuff too. My library in Brooklyn does have the Hastings and TA DA! several of TCINLA’’s books. There’s my summer reading! Think I’ll buy the new one though.
Thanks very much.
Thanks, I'll see if the local library can get Hastings book.
Congratulations! Well deserved!
Congratulations!
This is great news and a wonderful balance to “other things” in the universe! I’m still waiting for my copy, but can’t wait to read it.