Werner Baumbach ship destroyer

[ClinA-78]

Hello Larry,

I know a Belgian writer/publisher who may help you...
Such an amount of time spent 'just' for a manuscript, a shame not to be published. Keep writing.

ClinA-78

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Larry and all Historians,

It is really a pitty. I understand what you say. Although I do have no published work under my name, during the last 25 years I have been in contact with veterans, historians like you, Associations, etc...and have started my own books, which I still do keep going. One day, I am sure they will be edited, even though if by electronic means (PDF format), which seems the best way nowadays.

I have been inspired by fellows like you Larry de Zeng and have met several authors whom I admire here (Chris Goss, Nick Beale, Theo Boithen, Bowman, J-Y Lorant, Jochen Prien and several others - whose names by heart I fogot). Sadly the old ones have passed away: Middlebrook, Hector Bolitho, etc...

I understand that, there is SO MUCH to be written yet...so many stories and histories (individual and Squadrons Histories) to be told and researched, and written, that each contribution to keep those memories alive must be cherished and stimulated. I have seen so many nice Works coming out....that one must keep Faith and keep writing...

Like Dr. Theo Boithen, I have been, during the last 5 years researching about the Brazilians in both RFC and RAF service (WW1 and WW2)....a huge task....so far, one of the books do have some 1,300 pages in 6 volumes...I may have more 5-6 years to finish it..but this is a pleasure and job I firmly believe in...and if this is not published commercially, I will edit it electronically, since I do not want a single penny from those books...just to keep History alive (and maybe help children in need here, donating 100% of my part of the revenues). Hundreds of persons have helped me so far...and we keep going...just to keep History alive...I guess, we are all linked by this love and passion for books. Some professionally....some humbly and privately, like 90% of us....

Just for instance...BAUMBACH and Hans-Georg Bätcher deserves a full biography, like so many great airmen of NZ, Austrália, Germany, France, etc...

Adriano

[knusel]

Yes, guys like Baumbach, Bätcher and also their Allied couterparts deserve biographies as well as a detailed statistical analysis of their successes (missions flown, ships sunk...).

Michael

[Larry deZeng]

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words.

@ Schnautzer: yes, crowd sourcing or funding is a good way to raise money for start-ups, medical expenses, burial expenses and similar, but usually not for books. Besides, the most critical issue to me is the time factor rather than the cost.

@ ClinA-78: thanks for the information!

@ Adriano: that was a very nice post, Adriano. I really hope you are able to finish your manuscripts and get them published. Regarding advances and royalties, Doug and I never made a penny from our 4 books. By the time the photos, graphics, set-up and printing costs are covered, there is nothing left for the author. The only book subjects that seem to yield a profit these days are sex and scandal!

L.

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

It's all written, Stig. I completed the research and finished the manuscript about 4 years ago. I am still trying to decide whether to make a book out of it or put it up on the internet. I don't think any publisher would touch it because only about 2% to 4% of the Luftwaffe fans have any interest in the reconnaissance units

Larry

Well I am in that 2% to 4% and I would definatly buy a book of yours on the Aufklärungsgeschwader.

A similar book on the ZG units would also be welcome too! I live in hope!

Regards Richard.

[BerndP]

I agree with Richard and would be very happy if a book of the Aufklärungsgeschwader will be available. There´s not much "on the market".
Bernd

[Richard Aigner]

I third Richard and Bernd.
another Richard

[Jim P.]

Sorry Larry, (for the late post for one thing) that was not meant in any way as criticism by any means - I have all your books! My comment was meant as that there have not been (and probably will never be) many detailed histories or diaries of most LW units along the lines of the Prien team's work for fighter units or the few other detailed unit histories that have been published such as those done for KG 27 (Walt Waiss), LG 1 (Peter Taghon), JG 26 (Don Caldwell), etc. On the contrary, you and Doug have opened the door, so to speak, to begin to give us even a basic history/understanding of so many units about which we're likely to never to know anything else about except for the odd entry in the loss reports. I certainly thank you for that.

[knusel]

...most airwar enthusiasts are intrested in lists, compilations, records, and statistics which can easily be performed with the aerial kills of the fighter aces.
I think, the key to move the bomber and reconnaissance pilots into the focus is expressing their achievements in some kind of numerical value...

[Larry deZeng]

@ Jim P. -

Thanks, Jim. I fully agree with your comments. To provide the level of detail found in Prien, Waiss, Taghon and a few others, one needs lots and lots of money and time to do just one Geschwader. Few of the veterans are left and their Flugbücher, Soldbücher and other records either lost, thrown out by disinterested relatives or scattered to the four winds. And we all know that there are only fragments left in the archives. Together, this makes the task impossible or nearly impossible.

L.