Why is there so little data on some Experten?

[SMF144]

Rob,

Just curious, but other than asking questions on this forum or conducting research on the triple 'W', have you done any heavy duty research in archives seeking out primary documentation or secondary academic works?

Stephen

[Rob Romero]

Stephan,
The answer to this question might surprise you. I have conducted over a decades worth of research/writing on the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Over several years, I spent about a month over at the National Archives, in College ParkMd. photocopying material. I crossed the Pacific to do research at the National Defense Agency in Japan, where I discovered documents indicationg among other things that Admiral Nagumo had information that carrier Enterprise was in the vicinity of Oahu and inferentially much in need of fuel by the evening of December 7th. I spent several weeks with Dan Martinez at the Arizona Memorial on Oahu. I inteviewed/tape recorded interviews with over 100 surivors of the attack, including a number of notables (i.e., Kenneth Taylor –who claimed to have shot down 4 attackers in his P-40, Iyozo Fujita –Zero fighter pilot). And much, much more.
And what has become of this research –well a lot of the various texts I have worked on are on my hard drive, unfinished, but many of the documents I have collected remain underutilized, collecting dust and have not been looked at in years. In short, I have accomplished more on the internet in 6 years (much of it photographic research), then I did ‘conventially’ in 15 and have become dedicated to the premise that the www (still in its infancy) is the future, and this is the domain which I will remain –no travel –no archive restrictions/personalities to deal with –no weeks of searching blind alleys –NO TRANSCRIBING!

Thanks,

Rob Romero

[SMF144]

Hi Robert,

Thank you very much for your reply because it certainly explains a lot, at least to me. Like you, I have spent many hours in the archives consulting primary documentation and for every action there is a reaction, so, consequently, my time at the bar drinking, chasing women or going on vacations has been limited. Not once did I ever think that the triple 'W' would replace the archives as being the source of primary documentation.

I appreciate what you are doing but I am not about to spend my valuable time searching "for your answers" when you use the internet as a primary source. The collecting of books and primary documentation that I have accumulated over the many years have come at a great expense.

In short, if you expect "us" on this board to basically do your research, well, I wish you all the best because I don't take the authorties on this board for granted.

Best wishes and I look forward to end product.

Stephen

PS: I used to think that Playboy was a primary source until I discovered women.

[Rob Romero]

Stephan,

You don't have to 'do my research', but everyone benefits -not just me- from those who do answer querries. I think I have also made some contributions here as well (ie. my 'Most one sided Luft victory over the 8th AF' thread -almost all my own research –went through many BG sites on that one), as well as bringing valuable internet sources to light through links, and various threads I've started.
There is also a growing trend, of posting primary source documents or their transcripts on line –Tony Woods/Jim Perry Luftwaffe’s Claims Lists -I came across a site where someone was keeping copies of their PRO documents -the Naval Historical Center (NHC) has transcribed many WWII Action Reports (Pearl Harbor, Midway, etc.) -I’ve come across a U.S. Civil war site with transcripts of many Confederate Documents). Moreover such sites tend to display the more interesting/essential documents i.e,. the posters tend winow the wheat from the chaff –a sort of natural selection process taking place.

Adios,

Rob