Oct. 24, 2023 — I'm looking forward to giving a presentation at next month's Pacific Coast Air Museum membership meeting on my last book, "Flying Tiger Ace." The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in PCAM's Hangar 2, One Museum Way, Santa Rosa, CA. I will have copies of the book for sale at the meeting.
Sept. 15, 2023 – I am pleased to report that I have just signed a contract with Osprey Publishing to write a new book for the Duel series titled VLR P-51 Mustangs vs Japanese Fighters: Japan 1945. This will complement my earlier book, Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War, by including more material about the Japanese air defense of the Tokyo area during the last six months of World War II. Original artwork will include two aircraft three-views (one P-51 and one Japanese fighter), three armament views, one cockpit view (Japanese fighter), a battle scene, two maps, two formation diagrams and two combat scenes for the cover. These, plus fifty photos, will illustrate nine chapters of text. The tentative publication date is November 2025.
July 26, 2022 — Browse the best books on World War II as recommended by authors, experts and creators, along with notes on why they recommend those books, at The best WW2 books - Shepherd. The link connects you to Shepherd's 218 book lists about WWII. My contribution describes books about the air war in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II.
May 29, 2022 — On this Memorial Day weekend when we honor our fallen American servicemen, I'm thinking of Lieutenant Colonel Bill Reed, subject of my latest book "Flying Tiger Ace." Reed shot down nine enemy aircraft while serving in China during World War II with the American Volunteer Group and the Chinese-American Composite Wing. He died bailing out of his P-40N Warhawk fighter near Liangshan, China, in Dec. 19, 1944.
April 27, 2022 — After living in Washington state for 48 years, my wife and I have moved to Petaluma, CA, to be closer to our daughter and her family. The pull of grandkids was just too strong to resist. I have been away from aviation history writing since last fall as we prepared for the move, but now I’m hoping to stir up interest among publishers and readers for some new projects. As always, you can reach me with questions, comments or whatever via the contact form at the bottom of the “ABOUT” page.
Nov. 21, 2021 — Thanks to everyone who showed up for my reading from my latest book, “Flying Tiger Ace / The Story of Bill Reed, China’s Shining Mark,” today at the Skagit County Historical Museum. We had some good questions from the audience, and I was happy that the museum was able to sell some copies of the book.
Oct. 27, 2021 — I'm happy to announce that I will read from my latest book, “Flying Tiger Ace / The Story of Bill Reed, China’s Shining Mark,” at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S 4th St. in La Conner, WA. The museum will offer books for sale, and I will be available to sign copies after the reading.
May 10, 2021 — I’m honored that the Shepherd web site added me today. The site, which describes itself as “like browsing the best bookstore in the world,” has recruited more than 350 authors to list what they consider the five best books in their areas of concentration. My entry describes books about the air war in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. You can read it here.
June 12, 2020 — “Flying Tiger Ace” has garnered favorable reviews in two leading aviation history magazines. The May edition of Air Classics gave the book a four-star “excellent” rating, while the June edition of Flight Journal stated, “this hardcover book is well worth a read for anyone interested in the famous Flying Tigers of WWII.”
April 26, 2020 — I was sorry to read an obituary in the Seattle Times this morning for Col. Edward H. "Duke" Ellington, USAF-retired. He was 100 years old when he died March 24. Duke flew two tours in the 65th FS / 57th FG, completing 180 combat missions in P-40s and P-47s. He was the last living member of the 72 pilots who flew their P-40s off the carrier USS Ranger on July 19, 1942, when the 57th FG deployed to North Africa. I was fortunate to meet Duke a few years ago; a humble, funny guy. There are several mentions of him in my book, “57th Fighter Group, First in the Blue.” RIP Duke.
April 6, 2020 — “Military Mustang Week” started Saturday on the “P-51 Mustang” Facebook page, where contributors will be posting photos of Mustangs in active military service, as opposed to contemporary shots of restored war birds. I am posting pictures each day from my collection, showing P-51s of each squadron that flew Very Long Range missions from Iwo Jima to Japan during the closing months of World War II.
March 22, 2020 — Peter Franklin interviewed me yesterday for his podcast, “Gabby Cabby.” I had a great time talking to Peter, who is quite a character. You can hear the interview here.
March 15, 2020 — The Frederick (MD) News-Post, the newspaper in the town where I grew up, has published a question-and-answer session with me about “Flying Tiger Ace” in today’s edition. You can see it here.
March 14, 2020 — I’m sorry to report that we have postponed the March 29 book launch party for “Flying Tiger Ace” at the Skagit County Historical Museum due to the coronavirus. We will reschedule after the crisis passes.
March 8, 2020 — Fellow aviation historian Dan Jackson posted a terrific review of my new book on Amazon and two Facebook pages today. Thanks, Dan! I’m humbled. Here’s what he wrote:
“I would like to commend Carl Molesworth on his outstanding new book about Flying Tiger ace Bill Reed. Reed resigned his commission in the U.S. Army Air Forces to serve in Claire Chennault’s famed American Volunteer Group—the original Flying Tigers—in 1941 and ‘42 and later returned to China as a squadron commander in the Chinese-American Composite Wing. Molesworth has been writing about the World War II air war in China for over thirty years now and his deep familiarity with the subject is apparent from the very first page. He is a careful researcher who conscientiously presents the full scope of information available, especially when dealing with historical controversies. Readers familiar with Molesworth’s other books will find Flying Tiger Ace a much more intimate view of the war, immersing the reader in Reed’s heartfelt and detailed letters to his mother, intermittent journal entries, and combat reports. In most unit histories, characters like Reed come across as two-dimensional patriotic cutouts. Now, Molesworth paints the man in his full complexity, including his struggles as a man, a son, and a leader. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in the Flying Tigers, World War II, or aviation history.”
March 4, 2020 — I'm very pleased that the Skagit County Historical Museum in La Conner will host a launch party for my new book, "Flying Tiger Ace / The Story of Bill Reed, China's Shining Mark," at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 29. I'll give a brief presentation and then be available to sign copies of the book. Proceeds from the book sales will benefit the museum.
Feb. 28, 2020 — I got a terrific guided tour of the aircraft collection at the Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, CA, thanks to Bob Matreci, guest speaker coordinator for the museum. The collection is focused on Cold War aircraft and includes some really interesting examples. I especially liked the B-26 Invader in Korean War markings. Bob and I are working on finding a date when I can come back to the museum to do a reading and signing event.
Feb. 19, 2020 — The hardcover edition of “Flying Tiger Ace” is now on sale at bookstores, as well as online. If you want your local bookstore to order a copy for you, the book’s publisher is Osprey Publishing, and its ISBN number is 978 1 4728 4003 5.
Feb. 7, 2020 — A blog I wrote about a story from Bill Reed’s boyhood that didn’t make it into “Flying Tiger Ace” went up today on the Osprey web site: https://bit.ly/39enlWB
Feb. 6, 2020 — Frank Losonsky, the last surviving member of the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers, passed away today. He was 99 years old. Frank, a crew chief in the "Hell's Angels" 3rd Pursuit Squadron, did much to preserve the AVG's history as an active member of the AVG veterans' association and the author of, "Flying Tiger, A Crew Chief's Story." Truly a historic day, as the last original Tiger goes west.
Jan. 31, 2020 — Noah Tetzer interviewed me last week about “Flying Tiger Ace” for his excellent podcast, “Stories of the Second World War.”
Jan. 8, 2020 — Bill Reed, celebrated AVG and 14th Air Force fighter ace who was killed in China in December 1944, would be turning 103 years old today. My biography of Bill is available for pre-order from Osprey Publishing. "Flying Tiger Ace" is due for release on Feb. 20. Click on the cover image in the “Publications” section for more information.
Nov. 1, 2019 — I'm excited to report that my new book is now available for pre-order on the Osprey Publishing web site. "Flying Tiger Ace" is due for release on Feb. 20, 2020. The web listing includes a detailed outline of the contents, chapter by chapter. Here’s the link: Flying Tiger Ace
Sept. 30, 2019 — Tonight I was honored to be the guest speaker at the 78th Annual Banquet of the American Volunteer Group / Flying Tigers Association at the Crown Plaza Hotel in San Diego. I spoke the the audience of about 125 AVG family members and friends about my new book, “Flying Tiger Ace - The Story of Bill Reed, China’s Shining Mark,” and the series of events that led up to my decision to write it. It was a high point of my writing career to speak to this very special group of people.