Ding Hao: America's Air War in China, 1937-1946 [Paperback]

Wanda Cornelius (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1999

This history book celebrates a near-forgotten band of gallant American airmen, led by Claire Lee Chennault, who served in the midst of a strange land at a time of great turmoil. They arrived in China, not as conquerors, but as codefenders, appreciated by the most humble and grateful Chinese who would smile to them and in many cases utter the only mutually recognizable words of communication: "Ding Hao," meaning "It is good."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wanda Cornelius worked on William Allen White's Emporia Gazette in Kansas and later went on to work as a correspondent and editor for several Oklahoma and Louisiana dailies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (April 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565545230
• ISBN-13: 978-1565545236
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fails as Credible History, November 3, 2000

By 

John Hernandez (KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ding Hao: America's Air War in China, 1937-1946 (Paperback)

The goal of a comprehensive history of the air war in China was certainly laudable. At an anecdotal level, it is quite engaging, and as noted in a prior review, could serve well as a source for valuable selected fragments for a more serious, more even, historical effort.

For me, the book failed as a history largely because too much information is taken at face value (e.g. American Kill claims) and insufficient verification (I submit that any serious attempt at documenting the events of WW2 cannot ignore a thorough examination of relevent survivng records of ALL parties). Typical of this is the perpetuation of the Zero vs the AVG myth.

What I found most troubling, however, was author indulging in somewhat jingoistic remarks concerning the Japanese and their capabilities. One such example was the description of an incident wherein a P-40 was rammed by a "Zero", after which the author gratuitously remarked that that was "the only sure way a Zero could knock down a Curtiss fighter." (Having recently had the pleasure to briefly discuss the P-40 with Tex Hill, I'm sure he'd disagree). While forgivable in a contemporary account, such editorializing really detracts from the overall work - particularly a half-century later. If you are looking for a work on the CBI airwar against Japan equal to the standard set by such US/Japan airwar authors as John Lundstrom, you will be most disappointed. Not Recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars some good first-hand accounts, July 20, 2000

By 

Daniel Ford (at danford dot net) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ding Hao: America's Air War in China, 1937-1946 (Paperback)

This is a very odd book, apparently the result of a collaboration between a military history buff and a ghost writer. I wouldn't recommend it at all, except that there are some good interviews with Flying Tiger vets including Tex Hill. (I used some excerpts in my own history of the Flying Tigers.) Typical of the early confusion about Japanese aircraft, there's a photo of Hill with a "Zero" fighter--which is very definitely a Nakajima Ki-43, called "Oscar" by Allied pilots.

5.0 out of 5 stars DING HAO - 5 STARS, August 15, 2010

By 

Betty Short - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

My husband co-authored this book. When it was first published by Pelican Publishing Company in Louisiana,
the military book club liked it so much, they chose to offer it to their members. Not too long after the
hardback book was printed, there was a fire at Pelican, destroying all remaining hardbacks. So, I like
checking Amazon from time-to-time to see if one in good condition is available. I'm grateful to Amazon
Book Department for making this possible.