The Globemaster

By Anthony J. Tambini

The history of military air transport to date has been incomplete. Lacking is the document legacy of two relatively unknown Douglas transports, the reciprocating engined Globemaster I and II. These... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0828320446
• ISBN13: 9780828320443
• Release Date: July 2014
• Publisher: Branden Books
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.4" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Old Shaley

This author does a good job describing "Old Shakey". I think that it would be particularly intersting to former crew members, especially those who flew both the C-74 and the C-124. As the Author states, the C-17 was relatively new when the book was written. The book is written from the perspective of a Pacific Division crew member but most of it is quite relevant to the Atlantic. I highly recommend this book.

Good coverage on systems

I love this book! But let me quickly add that I was a line mechanic assigned to the 904 CAMS during the general era that Sgt. Tambini was flying with the 336th, and I also hold Airframe & Powerplant licenses. It is the mechanical systems that interest me. Shaky was a fun airplane to work on. Big, robust, large pieces that could tolerate young airmen wrenching on them. "A reader's" review below is correct: "[the book is almost] devoid of the bird's flying characteristics (note: Shaky's glide ratio resembed a rock) , navigation and communication systems" but there are other books that provide such info. Perhaps Berlin's book would provide more of that. If you want to see what it was like to "work around" this great airplane, this book will give the flavor of the task. I would give a great amount to be back on the flightline at Hamilton on a 25 degree morning listening to the engineer try to coax the 4360s to life for a flight. Coughing, sputtering, clattering, clouds of oil smoke, and then it finally came to life. Radial engines offer a symphony of sensations that contemporary aircraft cannot provide. One of the interesting sections is a list of all the the "mishaps" that affected Shaky over the years. Suffice it so say that 1958 was not a good year. Here's a joke from the era. "How would you describe a 124, airman?"... "Ten-thousand rivets flying in loose formation...."

Some added information

I really enjoyed the book and Mr. Tambini did an excellent job of researching the material. As a former crewmember (flight Engineer) of the C-124s in the 374th Troop Carrier wing during 1952 to 1954 I didn't find any errors in describing the aircraft. I would like to talk to the author about some additional information I can supply about indiviual aircraft by serial number. If Mr. Tambini reads this review I would like to have him E-Mail me. If any other members of the 374th wing especially the 22 Troop Carrier Sqd read this review E-Mail me.

Looking forward to the next book.

I came across this book by word of mouth. Although I am not an aircraft expert, I did find this book very informative. The author knows how to keep the readers interest at a peak with his stories of the Vietnam War, etc. I look forward to additional publications by Mr. Tambini.