[Frank Olynyk]

I must start by apologizing most profusely to Chris Thomas (CT) for badly understating his contribution to the four-volume 2nd TAF history authored by him and Chris Shores (CS). I have since learned the nature of their working relationship. The book started from CS’s Osprey history of 2nd TAF, which was organized by aircraft type; CS took that manuscript and reorganized it in chronological order with some additional material added by CT.

The original book had no listings of claims and losses, which had to be added. Rather than work from CS’s handwritten claims notes, CT worked from the 2nd TAF Log files at the PRO, keying them into a matrix format for each volume amplified with information from ORBs, combat reports, and casualty records

Whilst the bulk of the daily narrative (excluding the lists) was by CS, the majority of the stand-alone articles included (e.g. Spartan, Starkey etc) plus most of the substantial Appendices were by CT. Furthermore, the latter was also responsible for the acquisition, research and captioning of nearly all the 900 or so photos plus the creation of all 90 color ‘profiles’ and the maps. In the final (fourth) volume CT was responsible for 5 of the 10 Chapters, CS for 3 and 2 were by ‘guest’ authors.

I would also note a tendency, which I deplore, to tend to ignore any additional authors when referencing a ‘Chris Shores’ book. It is Shores and Thomas for 2nd TAF but Thomas and Shores for The Typhoon and Tempest Story; it is Shores and Williams for the various volumes of Aces High; and it is Shores and Cull for their earlier Mediterranean and SE Asia volumes; etc.


Enjoy!

Frank.