Saturday, January 1, 2011

Why did we write Fogg in the Cockpit?

Fogg In The Cockpit began, and ended, as a labor of love, but the focus of that love changed as the work unfolded. Howard Fogg's legacy was already firmly established thanks to his success as a railroad artist, but what son or daughter-in-law could resist the opportunity to build on that legacy when presented with a document as fascinating as a wartime diary? The format is compelling: no facts lost or colored by time, the trivial and the significant presented with equal clarity, terms, conditions, and events offered up not through the veil of nostalgia but simply as fact. This, then, was the basis, and the inspiration, for Fogg In The Cockpit.

And then the unexpected. The secondary players, men whose names would never appear on an internet search engine, took on a life of their own. Men who helped win the war and then came home to lead quiet lives. Men who, far too often, did not come home. The book was not just about Captain Fogg anymore, it was about the 359th Fighter Group; its pilots, officers, and support personnel. The supporting cast became stars, and the love of Howard Fogg, with whom we shared a lifetime, became a love of the men of the 359th, men we would never have had the privilege and honor of knowing if not for Fogg In The Cockpit.

4 comments:

  1. That's so cool, Janet and Richard. Congrats on getting the book out there. I love the cover.

    Have added the blog to the CIR blogroll and will include the pre-order info in my next "What's New" post.

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  2. My father did not live in the lime light as he was a simple mechanic and not a pilot. He was the Line Cheif for the 359th, and as Janet said they just came home and went back to their lives. Now is a chance for me to read a story of the men my father knew and worked with. I believe that these two men were friends. Fogg flew the planes that my father took care of and now I can read a story, because my father never told me his stories.

    Thank you seems so small Janet. I wished I was a writter and could put a book together to tell my father's story, but I am not a writter and I don't know my father's story. This is the second best.

    Everyone on my Christmas list next year will get this book. (Maybe I will drive over and get SIGNED copies, lol)

    I have never met you in person, but Janet, I do love you.

    Peace to your house and I look forward to the day that we dont have to fight the monsters anymore.


    Msgt. Raymond L. Rocher's daughter
    Phyllis Rocher, RN

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  3. Janet and Pure, I hope to get this book as soon as it is out. This will be a wonderful read of Foo's short yet significant time in the cockpit. To this day he remains the most memorable person in my life of 64 years.

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