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Aphrodite: Desperate Mission
A classic! First time in digital format! This is the story of the most incredible mission of World War II, born in desperation and carried out with foolhardy courage and at the cost of brave men's Mission Aphrodite! A real-life, aerial Guns of Navarone scheme that called for volunteers to guide B-17 drone planes packed with explosives into the Nazi V-2 rocket bases. The mission that cost Joe Kennedy, Jr., his life. The award-winning author of thirty-three books, Jack Olsen’s books have published in fifteen countries and eleven languages. Olsen's journalism earned the National Headliners Award, Chicago Newspaper Guild's Page One Award, commendations from Columbia and Indiana Universities, the Washington State Governor's Award, the Scripps-Howard Award and other honors. He was listed in Who's Who in America since 1968 and in Who's Who in the World since 1987. The Philadelphia Inquirer described him as "an American treasure." Olsen was described as "the dean of true crime authors" by the Washington Post and the New York Daily News and "the master of true crime" by the Detroit Free Press and Newsday. Publishers Weekly called him "the best true crime writer around." His studies of crime are required reading in university criminology courses and have been cited in the New York Times Notable Books of the Year. In a page-one review, the Times described his work as "a genuine contribution to criminology and journalism alike." Olsen is a two-time winner in the Best Fact Crime category of the Mystery Writer’s of America, Edgar award.
- GenresHistoryMilitary History
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 19, 2016
I've read a lot about the Kennedy family and had long wondered about how exactly Joe Jr. died in the war. This book tells that story within a wider account of the United States' military's attempts to develop and apply drone technology to the battlefield.
Olsen's writing style is, in my opinion, rather too chatty, his focus a bit too narrow. The German side of the failed strikes is not discussed at all, an odd exclusion given that the original targets were presumed V2 launch sites.
Olsen's writing style is, in my opinion, rather too chatty, his focus a bit too narrow. The German side of the failed strikes is not discussed at all, an odd exclusion given that the original targets were presumed V2 launch sites.
June 8, 2017
This is the little known true story of the early development of drone warfare, code-named Aphrodite, a program during which Joseph Kennedy Jr. died in World War II. This top-secret program saw mistakes were piled upon mistakes but through it all brave pilots stepped up to volunteer for the mission. It's a very interesting read and shows how much of a struggle it was to get to the point we're at now.
January 5, 2017
In 1944 German V-1 and V-2 rockets were raining death and destruction upon London and other English cities. Allied intelligence received information indicating that the Nazis were developing a more powerful rocket, capable of destroying a city block and even possibly reaching New York City. This news inspired a desperate mission; a secret project that involved flying drone B-17 bombers into hardened German sites near the coast of France to destroy the new menace. Volunteer pilots were to get the drone planes aloft and then parachute out over friendly territory. The drones would then be guided to their targets by operators in ‘mother’ planes using a guidance system that had been developed for smaller rockets.
Though ultimately unsuccessful, and designed for a target that did not in fact exist, this highly secret project set the stage for the kind of guided munitions that featured so significantly in wars of this century. But, the cost was high, including the untimely death of Joe Kennedy, Jr., elder brother of John F. Kennedy.
Aphrodite: Desperate Mission by Jack Olsen is a riveting account of the men and the mission. Based upon previously classified Defense Department documents, it reads like fiction, but is an historical account of a heretofore unknown operation in the late stages of World War II. The author cites documents obtained from military archives, and while the conversations are recreations, they have a ring of authenticity and truth, and paint a grittily realistic picture of the horrors of war.
For fans of books about this era, this is a must-read. It gives another look at historical figures, such as James Rand, a major during the war, who later founded Rand Corporation, and James Doolittle, an acclaimed flyer.
This is a book that is just waiting to be made into a movie
Though ultimately unsuccessful, and designed for a target that did not in fact exist, this highly secret project set the stage for the kind of guided munitions that featured so significantly in wars of this century. But, the cost was high, including the untimely death of Joe Kennedy, Jr., elder brother of John F. Kennedy.
Aphrodite: Desperate Mission by Jack Olsen is a riveting account of the men and the mission. Based upon previously classified Defense Department documents, it reads like fiction, but is an historical account of a heretofore unknown operation in the late stages of World War II. The author cites documents obtained from military archives, and while the conversations are recreations, they have a ring of authenticity and truth, and paint a grittily realistic picture of the horrors of war.
For fans of books about this era, this is a must-read. It gives another look at historical figures, such as James Rand, a major during the war, who later founded Rand Corporation, and James Doolittle, an acclaimed flyer.
This is a book that is just waiting to be made into a movie
December 3, 2016
Secret Mission
This is about Aphrodite the code name for a secret Navy mission carried out during World War II. It's notable because one of the casualties was Joseph Kennedy,Jr.
a man who might have been president had he survived.
This is about Aphrodite the code name for a secret Navy mission carried out during World War II. It's notable because one of the casualties was Joseph Kennedy,Jr.
a man who might have been president had he survived.
December 6, 2016
Exceptional
It truly shows what some misguided ideas can cost in talented personal, millions of dollars and time wasted. But enjoyable reading on true secret activities.
It truly shows what some misguided ideas can cost in talented personal, millions of dollars and time wasted. But enjoyable reading on true secret activities.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews