Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I've got my copy!

So I don't know how long we will be in Blythe, but I find it to be a pretty interesting place. Now that I work at PVC I am finding it to be even more interesting (you can interpret that how ever you want).


Anyways, I got an email announcing a book signing here at the PVC library. A local author wrote a book about the Blythe Airport and I thought that since I had gone on a preschool field trip to the airport with the kids, and also since we don't know how long we would live here in Blythe...that it would make for a great momento of our time here. So I went over, bought a copy and had it signed to the kids. I hope they like it!




Here are the details about the book:

Palo Verde College library hosting book signing for local author Palo Verde College’s Harry A. Faull Library is hosting a book sale and signing next Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. for local author Art Wilson. The public is invited to attend, and light refreshments will be served.The library is located on the second floor of the John O. Crain College Services building at the main campus in Blythe.During World War II, Blythe’s airport and the surrounding desert areas on both sides of the Colorado River became an important training area for the airmen who would fly bombing missions in Europe and the ground troops who fought with General George S. Patton, Jr., in Africa and Europe.The history of that period is captured in a new book, “Runways in the Sand: The History of Blythe Army Air Base in World War II,” which took Wilson eight years to complete. It is a well-written, easy-to-read book that includes photographs and personal recollections of the men and women who endured primitive facilities and the harsh climate to work and train at a US army airbase built in a few months on a desert mesa west of Blythe.The book will hold special interest for aviation buffs and anyone interested in learning more of Blythe’s history.Wilson said he first became interested in Blythe Airport while his wife was doing some volunteer work at the Palo Verde Historical Museum. His attention was drawn to a sign-up sheet in the veterans’ section which included names of individuals who served in the 34th Bomb Group, which trained at the airport during a 16-month period in 1943-44.Wilson contacted one signer who had included an address and was rewarded with a membership roster of the 34th Bomb Group organization. Wilson then mailed a questionnaire to individuals on the roster and received “a big response, including letters, pictures and poems” written by members.

1 comment:

Kar said...

Good for you, for soaking in the local scene. That is really interesting. Wait... Blythe has a college?? I didn't realize it was that big!

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