China's wings - Crouch, Gregory
Summary: Documents the contributions of China's daredevil pilots before and during World War II, citing the pivotal contributions of American aviation executive William Langhorne Bond and his team in providing emergency supplies in spite of harrowing risks.
Booklist Reviews
In this thoroughly researched, readable history of the China National Aviation Corporation, Crouch includes everything from Pan Am's participation in a joint U.S.-Chinese venture to the actions of presidents and pilots, businessmen and Flying Tigers. But rather than writing simply a valuable business history, Crouch focuses on the actions of William Bond, Pan Am's man on the ground, who navigated cultural, political, and military clashes while trying to hold together a company that provided significant and profitable service. Straddling the periods before and after WWII, Crouch's account is full of gossipy reports of backroom dealmaking, adventure rooted in the execution of "the Hump" (the world's first strategic airlift), and a hefty dose of intrigue connected to Chairman Mao's ascension. Through it all, Crouch grounds the narrative in Bond's life, recording his travels, struggle to maintain relationships with his wife and children, and clashes with superiors. Crouch's significant study of an overlooked subject is important as both history and an illumination of the current, China-focused business environment. Copyright 2012 Booklist Reviews.
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