Clapton Press Some Still Live

Great book

Fascinating personal account of air warfare in the Spanish Civil War - strongly recommend.

Buena edición y económico.

Interesting story from a personal perspective concerning a nearly forgotten war. I'm sure the war is well remembered by the people of Spain but not so much by the rest of the world as it was overshadowed by WW2. For me it was well worth the time to read.

Naval Academy graduate Frank Tinker appears to have had no real political views other than a dislike for Benito Mussolini on traveling to Spain and enlisting as a pilot with the Republican government. Tinker as part of an air force comprised of nearly any aircraft available seems to simply have been a "free Lance" as Sir Walter Scott in "Ivanhoe" coined the term. Here is a no nonsence recollection of a dangerous time whether it be with "facists" or "Reds". Americans in no small way viewed Republican Spain as something romantic. 1930s depression ridden America easily overlooked Stalin and Soviet Communism as well as savage purges and purposely enduced famines, while supporting the "Republic". Hindsight has always been easy but the likes of Ernest Hemingway and others added to this feeling. Here is Tinker's story complete with anecdotal references to his mates in La Patrulla Americana, Spanish and Russian flight leaders, mechanics and of course the senoritas. His recounting of air combat is without emotion though as one by one his friends disappeared, this would have taken a toll on him. A casual mention of a gunner of an Italian aircraft whose parachute caught on the tail end of his downed plane bringing the man to his death is descibed as simply luckless. An "Afterward" by one George Nicholas ties up the end of Tinker in a few paragraphs. However a history of alcohol and brawling and perhaps depression recognized today as a very real illness, contributed to his rejection by America's air services. Also flying for Republican Spain did not in the same way affect his close friend Albert Baumler a decorated pilot of World war II. I can not help but believe there was more to his story but perhaps this is best left to his ultimate judge.