Re: Book review: Red Wings Over the Yalu: China,the Soviet Union and the Air War in Korea

[Joe Brennan <jbren1@optonline.net>]

I guess it goes without saying to those who've read it, but that's really
too bad a reviewer would distort the theme of a scholarly, sober and
objective book like Red Wings. I know Cookie helped out Xiaoming Zhang with
info and I've corresponded with him asking questions and we can probably
agree what comes across in person is the same style as the book, he's a
gentlemanly scholar.

I really recommend it but it's not about "coverups" after "hundreds of
planes were shot down in flames" but rather an objective attempt to bring
into focus, with exhaustive research but ultimately limited available
information, the real role of the PLAAF in the KW. This was indeed
previously obscured, first by older lower classification level US accounts
characterizing the MiG's as Chinese generally, and then also later by
Russian veteran accounts that tend to belittle the Chinese and North Korean
air efforts IMO.

Dr. Zhang is also scrupulously fair I think in dealing with conflicting
accounts among participants, rather than presenting "shocking revelations"
based on one side's more recently published. but not necessarily remotely
realistic, claims. He simply states where Chinsese or Russian claims can't
be substantiated (and they generally can't be) in declassified US records
rather than falling into that bad old trap of theorizing who's "lying" based
on preconception and without any particular evidence.

Good book, stupid review.

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Evanhoe" <evanhoe@arbuckleonline.com>
To: <KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: Book review: Red Wings Over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union
and the Air War in Korea


> At 12:29 PM 6/9/2003 -0700, you wrote:
> >http://www.washtimes.com/books/20030607-102038-6034r.htm
> >
> >How the great powers flew over Korea
> >By Joseph C. Goulden
> >THE WASHINGTON TIMES
> >Published June 8, 2003
>
> Oh boy!  I can see Cookie and few others on this list sharpening their
> knives. <LOL>
>
> Ed
>
> Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523-0916
> Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
> Author:  DARKMOON:  Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
>