Category Archives: CNAC

Another adventure in the Consolidated Commodore

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Gregory

On February 4, 1938, Hugh Woods was bringing one of CNAC’s twin-engine Commodore flying boats down from Chungking to Hankow. One-hundred miles west of the temporary capital, one of his oil coolers sprung a serious leak. Woody executed a perfect … Continue reading →

Posted in aviation history, China's Wings, CNAC | 2 Comments

CNAC and the Consolidated Commodore

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Gregory

The Consolidated Commodore is the plane Moon Chin flew during the Hankow evacuation in October, 1938 (China’s Wings, Chapter 14), and he’s quite possibly the last Commodore pilot alive. An all-metal monoplane flying boat originally designed to meet US Navy … Continue reading →

Posted in aviation history, China's Wings, CNAC, Moon Chin | 1 Comment

Ceremony in China commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hump

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Gregory

A ceremony was held yesterday in Kunming, China, to honor the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Hump airlift. British, American, and Chinese dignitaries attended the event, and an article about the ceremony written by Patrick Scally appeared in … Continue reading →

Posted in aviation history, China, China's Wings, CNAC, World War II | Leave a comment

Rudy Maxa, The Savvy Traveler, and China’s Wings

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Gregory

This morning, Rudy Maxa, aka “The Savvy Traveler,” posted a nice review of China’s Wings in the “Travel Minute” section of his website in which he calls China’s Wings “a riveting book.” I did a short radio interview with him … Continue reading →

Posted in aviation history, China, China's Wings, CNAC, Enduring Patagonia | Leave a comment

Today, the 81st Anniversary of Bond’s arrival in China

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Gregory

Today, Saint Patrick’s Day, is the 81st anniversary of William Langhorne Bond’s arrival in China, in 1931. It has been a thrilling week for China’s Wings. I did two incredibly successful events at two top-shelf bookstores: Bookshop West Portal in … Continue reading →

Posted in China's Wings, CNAC, Moon Chin | Leave a comment

CNAC luggage labels and an airline poster

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Gregory

One of the best aspects of the last couple of weeks is the number of CNAC-related people and aviation-o-philes who’ve been contacting me to share their enthusiasm for China’s Wings. One of them is Daniel Kusrow, who has a collection … Continue reading →

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China’s Wings piece at Rock & Ice

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Gregory

Alison Osius at Rock & Ice magazine wrote a brief article about how a lead that Charlie Fowler provided me in 2002 led to me discovering the story of William Langhorne Bond and the China National Aviation Corporation.

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China’s Wings and Craig and Harold Chinn

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Gregory

Here’s Craig Chinn holding a portrait of his father, CNAC pilot Harold Chinn, and surrounded by the twelve copies of China’s Wings he has bought as gifts for friends and family. Craig lives close by, and I drove to his … Continue reading →

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China’s Wings reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, and other reviews…

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Gregory

Quite a thrill to see China’s Wings well reviewed in the Wall Street Journal (“exciting”; “displaying Mr. Crouch’s talents as a researcher, portraitist and chronicler”; “inhabited by a host of interesting characters”) Also by the Pan Am Historical Foundation (“Diligently … Continue reading →

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More news on my March 3 event at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Gregory

I’m excited to announce that two CNAC veterans are planning to attend my first China’s Wings book event at Vroman’s bookstore in Pasadena on Saturday, March 3, at 4:00 pm. Both are great guys, genuine Southern California success stories who’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, aviation history, China's Wings, CNAC, Writing | Leave a comment