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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Aug 30, 2012 - 01:39pm PT
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Over the weekend, I got interviewed about China's Wings by Marshall Poe at the New Books Network. It's great being interviewed by somebody who has actually read the book. You'd be amazed how many haven't. (It takes me about two second to know for a god-given fact whether or not the interviewer has read the damn thing or is trying to bullshit their way through.) Anyway, Marshall was definitely in the brigade of those who have, and I really enjoyed our conversation.
Here's the interview, with the podcast at the bottom of the page.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jul 17, 2014 - 09:42am PT
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Rand, for god's sake start reading it. It actually is a terrific story Greg has there. You will be completely hooked within a matter of pages. Though completely tight history and researched to death, frankly, it reads nearly like a novel!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jul 17, 2014 - 10:07am PT
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Peter that is a Martin-130 the first true China Clipper before the name became synonymous with all of Pan Am's ocean voyaging "ships."
These were first based out of Alameda and later Treasure Island in our very own Bay Area backyard.
Just finished "China's Wings." Super read about a most fascinating era.
Crouch is a world class author and we are lucky to have such talent among the tribe.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2014 - 07:45am PT
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Blushing, Guido.
And yes, that is not just a China Clipper, but THE China Clipper.
Only 3 M-130s were built: The China Clipper, the Hawaii Clipper, and the Philippine Clipper.
Since this seems to be the week for air disasters, here's the fate of the 3 M-130s: The Hawaii Clipper vanished between Guam and Manilla in 1938--no trace of it was ever found, leading to all kinds of conspiracy theories (15 lost). The Philippine Clipper crashed in California in 1943, after being pressed into service by the US Navy. A Navy Admiral was killed aboard, along with 18 other PAX and crew. The China Clipper broke apart on landing in Port o Spain, Trinidad in 1945, killing 23.
As an interesting aside to the Alameda connection, there is a bar on Alameda called The Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge that makes a GREAT signature cocktail called The China Clipper.
Super funky-cool place, and a fine tipple. Well worth a visit if you happen to be on the island.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 24, 2014 - 08:01am PT
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A great read for any history buff. I had heard of flying the "Burma Hump" during WW11 but was completely unaware of the really intriguing story behind the creation of China's first airline.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Jul 24, 2014 - 08:04am PT
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The last Crouch book I read was wonderful. I am looking forward to the next :)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 24, 2014 - 08:09am PT
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My copy arrives in a few days - looking forward to it muchly.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jul 24, 2014 - 11:19am PT
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After "China's Wings" I searched out Greg's other works. Just finished "Enduring Patagonia." Awesome book and you can tell Greg dug deep, very deep to write this.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 24, 2014 - 11:29am PT
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It's largely because of Enduring Patagonia that I've ordered China's Wings.
Enduring Patagonia sits next to The Hard Years and Norman Clyde's
Close Ups of the High Sierra. And I don't gush easily. ;-)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2014 - 01:02pm PT
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Don't expect anything that has anything to do with climbing in China's Wings, Reilly.... although Charlie Fowler did provide the initial clue that led to my discovery of the story.
I'm really bummed he didn't survive to hold and enjoy (I hope) the fruit of that lead. He'd have thought that was pretty cool, I think.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 24, 2014 - 01:10pm PT
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Greg, perhaps I should have said that it was largely due to the quality of
writing in Enduring Patagonia that I ordered China's Wings. As a pilot
it never crossed my mind to expect any climbing. The only question now
remaining is will it go onto the shelf next to Gann and St Exupery? ;-)
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 24, 2014 - 01:41pm PT
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Fingers crossed, Reilly. ;-)
Did you ever hear the Three Books thing I did that includes both those titles? It's mercifully short.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Jul 26, 2014 - 09:17am PT
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Ha! Glad somebody reads those things.
Sometimes linking through a google search will evade the WSJ paywall...
"Only One Way Down" in today's Journal. (And for the record, writers don't get to title their own stories. Because there is always another way down. )
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Sep 11, 2014 - 11:28am PT
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In what I think I can fairly claim as a fabulous outgrowth of the China's Wings project, the SFO Museum just opened a "Legend of CNAC" exhibit.
It's a gorgeous, well executed exhibit, and it opened in conjunction with this year's CNAC reunion, which was held last weekend. (The museum is on the departures level of the International Terminal.)
Here's my post about the combined event: exhibit opening & the 2014 CNAC reunion.
The weekend had many highlights, but perhaps the best was that the Washington State based Historic Flight Foundation flew their beautifully restored DC-3 down for the event.
Amazingly, that airplane once flew for CNAC, as CNAC No. 100, and in 1944, it was ferried from Miami to Dinjan, India by Pete Goutiere, who is one of the characters in China's Wings. Pete flew it over the Hump a number of times.
Well, last week, Pete flew to Washington, and he helped fly the airplane down the coast to San Francisco--taking some time in the left seat. (I've linked to some of the stories about his flight in my post.)
BTW, we celebrated Pete's 100th birthday at the reunion last weekend.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sep 11, 2014 - 11:40am PT
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Fabulous Greg! Flying must be good for longevity.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Sep 11, 2014 - 12:17pm PT
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Except when it isn't... like climbing.
I think you're a good bet to be climbing at 100, Methuselah... I mean Jim. ;-)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 11, 2014 - 01:10pm PT
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This is only a semi-review as I'm only half done. Yeah, I'm a slow reader,
especially with good books. Make that really good books. In my defense
I've also been on my annual Great Sierra Death March and China's Wings
didn't make weight. In all honesty I'm going to say it is one of the best
non-fiction books I've read and that is primarily what I read. Without
exaggeration I can also say it reads like a novel, a really good novel,
very much like Gann and St Ex. And I dig the OG pics. I also look at
those slowly 'cause they're good, too.
One criticism - the dust cover is too slippery. I dropped it the first
time I picked it up. ;-(
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sep 11, 2014 - 01:17pm PT
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Ditto....I love histories, especially books, like China's Wings, that read like a novel.
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