Kriegie

Author: Kenneth Simmons
Publisher: Thomas Nelson & Sons Canada
Edition: First
Cover: Hardcover
Published: 1960
History
Kriegie, is the World War Two account of American airman Kenneth Simmons (8th Air Force) who was forced to bail out after his B-24 aircraft was damaged on a bombing run over Germany

More Reference Books

Synopsis: Ian McLachlan's fascinating exploration of aviation archaeology reveals how crash site investigations and artifact recovery continue uncovering dramatic stories from World War II more than half a century after the conflict ended. This compelling work demonstrates how scientific investigation of aircraft wreckage, combined with historical research and survivor testimonies, creates detailed reconstructions of individual wartime incidents that illuminate broader patterns of aerial warfare. McLachlan's expertise as both historian and archaeologist enables unique insights into how physical evidence confirms, contradicts, or supplements documentary records of air operations. The book begins with explanation of aviation archaeology methodology and the scientific techniques used to extract information from aircraft wreckage sites that have remained undisturbed for decades. McLachlan demonstrates how careful excavation and artifact analysis can reconstruct precise details of aircraft crashes while revealing personal stories of individual aircrews whose final moments had remained mysterious until archaeological investigation provided conclusive evidence. The author reveals how forensic analysis of crash sites often provides information unavailable through traditional historical sources, including technical failures, combat damage patterns, and crew actions during emergency situations. Through detailed case studies of specific crash site investigations, McLachlan shows how archaeological evidence can resolve historical controversies while providing closure for families who had never learned the fate of missing relatives. The work extensively covers various types of aircraft accidents and combat losses, revealing how different circumstances created distinctive archaeological signatures that enable reconstruction of final flight events. McLachlan's analysis demonstrates how investigation of crash sites provides insights into aircraft design, crew training, and operational procedures while documenting the human cost of aerial warfare through personal artifacts and remains. The author's technical expertise enables detailed explanation of how aircraft systems failed or performed under extreme combat conditions, providing engineering insights that complement historical analysis of operational effectiveness. Through examination of multiple crash sites, McLachlan reveals patterns in aircraft losses that illustrate broader trends in aerial warfare while highlighting individual tragedies that represent the human dimension of strategic operations. The book includes extensive coverage of international cooperation in aviation archaeology, showing how researchers from former enemy nations work together to honor fallen aircrews and preserve historical evidence for future generations. McLachlan's work demonstrates how aviation archaeology serves both historical research and humanitarian purposes by providing definitive information about missing aircrews while preserving artifacts that document technological and social history. The author doesn't ignore ethical considerations in aviation archaeology, examining how investigators balance scientific research objectives with respect for war graves and family sensitivities regarding disturbed remains. Through detailed photographic documentation and technical drawings, McLachlan provides visual evidence that enhances understanding of aircraft technology and crash dynamics while preserving records of archaeological investigations for future research. The work reveals how aviation archaeology continues expanding knowledge of air warfare while providing opportunities for international reconciliation through shared respect for military sacrifice and historical preservation. The book concludes with assessment of aviation archaeology's contribution to historical understanding and its role in preserving tangible connections to wartime experiences for future generations. For historians, archaeologists, and aviation enthusiasts, this work provides fascinating insights into how scientific investigation of physical evidence continues revealing new information about one of history's most extensively documented conflicts.

Kriegie, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.