A small sampling of
Editorial Reviews for the 2021-2022 AND 2022 GOLD GRAND PRIZE WINNER IN NONFICTION! Remember, It is not too early for FATHER’S DAY.
BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737/
The Pencraft Awards for Literary Excellence named MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG its 2022 NONFICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR-BIOGRAPHY. To celebrate, Amazon has temporarily reduced the hardcover price by: EIGHTY-TWO PERCENT (82%.)
Nonfiction Book of 2022/Biography, The Pencraft Awards for Literary Excellence. Nonfiction Book of 2021/2022, Reader Views Choice Awards. Silver Medalist, 2022 CIPA EVVY Book Awards. Silver Medalist, 2022 IPPY Book Awards. Finalist, 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Finalist, American BookFest Awards. Finalist , The Hearten Book Awards, a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (CIBAS).
LINK TO PRESS RELEASE: https://www.prlog.org/12908170.html
BOOK LIFE REVIEW, FEBRUARY 4, 2022.
Nannini, author of Left for Dead at Nijmegen, takes flight in this gripping account of courage in the air, the story of pilot Harry E. Watson, who flew 27 combat missions in World War II and was the recipient of seven Battle Stars and three Air Medals. Nannini, who interviewed First Lieutenant Watson extensively, opens this vivid account in the thick of the war, with the tense tale of Watson, already celebrated for his skill at bad-weather piloting, being tasked to fly “a plane-load of Jerry cans”—that’s fuel— to General Patton’s troops near the French city of Reims, on the front lines, “so they don’t get themselves massacred” by the Germans. The fog’s a beast, and there might be wounded to ferry back, and the adventure that follows will involve Mark IV tanks, 800 German troops, and French champagne in a foxhole.
Nannini proves adept at war-time storytelling, with an emphasis on bravery and camaraderie; his accounts of Watson’s missions take an engaging novelistic approach, with memorable detail—the C-47s Watson flies, the “hot chow” the crews scarf, the rituals a superstitious pilot works into his routine—and a feeling for suspense. On a mission to evacuate a field hospital in danger of being overrun by the SS (from the mission briefing: “get ’em all the hell out of there”), the sight of a German Messerschmitt 262 jet fighter stirs in Watson and readers both a mesmerized awe and then deep alarm.
This inviting volume reads quickly, building to the top-secret, behind-enemy-lines mission of the title—”You’re picking up some top Nazis, and they won’t be happy about it, understand?”—rendered with clarity and power. Nannini excels at establishing the stakes, explaining crucial context like flight conditions, and putting readers alongside Watson in the cockpit. The reconstructed dialogue tends to be upbeat, sounding, perhaps, like Watson’s own voice, sharing these stories. It’s a pleasure to have them set down. The striking photographs offer welcome context.
Takeaway: The high-flying accounts of an American pilot’s daring World War II missions.
Great for fans of: Adam Makos’s A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II, Guy Gibson’s Enemy Coast Ahead.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
- Hitler’s Rise To Power: The Four People That Made It Happen https://allthatsinteresting.com/hitlers-rise-to-power · While the political dealings that put Hitler into power were complicated, the proximate cause is relatively simple, revolving around the machinations of one man: Franz von Papen. A nobleman and career politician, von Papen was ousted from the German chancellorship, after many years near the center of power, in November 1932. von Papen’s photograph is featured on the cover of Midnight Flight to Nuremberg.
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MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW, JANUARY 2022
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW. MILITARY SHELF. https://www.midwestbookreview.com/lbw/jan_22.htm#military
Midnight Flight to Nuremberg
Marcus A. Nannini
Air World
c/o Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
http://www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526792730, $32.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737
Synopsis: The autobiography of C-47 pilot and instructor, First Lieutenant Harry E. Watson, Jr, USAAF., “Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi who put Adolf Hitler into Power” by journalist and biographer is the fascinating story of an American pilot who earned three Air Medals, seven Battle Stars and flew twenty-seven combat missions during the Second World War.
As a young U.S. pilot, Harry Watson, arrived in Britain as the Battle of Normandy was reaching its crescendo. Thrown immediately into the fray, Harry, along with more than 200 aircraft, set off to carry supplies to the troops fighting in France. But with visibility reduced to zero, the aircraft were ordered to turn back — and all of them did except for Harry, who successfully delivered his life-saving cargo of blood and US Army nurses.
Harry continued to take risks, which resulted in many hair-raising episodes. This included almost being caught on the ground, while on an urgent fuel resupply mission for a platoon of General Patton’s tanks, by a German Mk.IV panzer and a battalion of supporting infantry.
He flew throughout Operation Market Garden, losing a close friend to German anti-aircraft fire while taking some hits to his own plane. Thereafter he led a flight of five transports on a desperate mission to evacuate a mobile field hospital that was about to be over-run by the SS. Only four of the planes made it back as they came under direct fire just before they could take-off with scores of casualties and medical personnel crammed aboard each Dakota.
Around midnight, in early April 1945, he was sent on a secret mission to fly to a point near Nuremberg, which was behind enemy lines at the time. It was necessary for him to locate an empty meadow in the dark, land, load a party of US soldiers and their captives, and then take-off again. He pulled it off. Among those prisoners was Franz von Pappen, the man who had persuaded President Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Von Papen had been seized at his own home by First Lieutenant Thomas McKinley and his men from the US 194th Glider Infantry Regiment.
Based on his own recollections, as told to the author Marcus Nanni, “Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi who put Adolf Hitler into Power” is Harry Watson’s exciting account of the air war told, unusually, through the words of a transport pilot.
Critique: A riveting and detailed military memoir, “Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi who put Adolf Hitler into Power” is an extraordinary and recommended addition to community, college, and university library World War II biographies. Of particular interest to academia and dedicated military history buffs, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi who put Adolf Hitler into Power” is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
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July 8, 2021
Title: Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi Who Put Adolph Hitler into Power. LINK: bookreviewdirectory.wordpress.com/?p=19361&preview=true
BOOK REVIEW CREDIT: bookreviewdirectory.com
Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi Who Put Adolph Hitler into Power follows first Lieutenant Harry E. Watson Jr., a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during the height of WWII. Harry became known for his skill at flying in low-visibility conditions, relying solely on his instrumentation and intuition to get him through countless harrowing situations and too-close calls.
From delivering critical medical supplies through German-infiltrated airspace, to performing paratrooper drops, where dropping even half a second late would send men directly into the hands of the enemy, Harry was no stranger to high-stakes operations. As the war progressed, and search mission became more dangerous than the last, Harry discovered his growing reputation as a risk taker. He was asked to complete a career-culminating, top-secret mission that would prove to be more dangerous than anything he’d been tasked with before.
Midnight Flight to Nuremberg is a historical, non-fiction recount of Harry E. Watson’sexperiences during WWII. Black-and-white pictures placed strategically throughout the book range from personal photos of Harry and his comrades during the war, to representative images of what Harry had likely experienced. They provide a historically-accurate account that allows readers to actively visualize the story. The author strikes a good balance between telling Harry’s story and providing interesting historical and military facts about WWII to vary the content and ensure that readers are not only entertained but are learning something along the way.
The book begins with a brief prologue where the author describes how he was introduced to Harry and his general approach to interviewing his subject, something he clearly excels at. The prologue serves to frame the story and provide a glimpse at the author’s writing process and progression of his relationship with his subject. It will prove helpful when events in the book become so vivid that readers may forget it’s nonfiction.
One of the book’s central themes, establishing Harry as a self-proclaimed risk-taker, is shown early via vivid stories from his early childhood, where 10-year-old Harry squirmed his way into abandoned coal mines in Western Pennsylvania to collect enough coal to warm his family’s home. Though he thought nothing of it at the time, the stories showcase Harry’spersonality and set the stage for his military career.
Though the compilation of Harry’s stories can easily stand alone, it is Harry himself who proves to be the heart and soul of the book. Heis smart, meticulous, and dedicated, which he proves again and again through his actions during each mission. Readers may find that by the time Harry’smidnight flight to Nuremberg occurs, the weight of the single event is far surpassed by the book’s other stories and themes. The title, Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi Who Put Adolph Hitler into Power, doesn’t quite accurately represent the focus of the book, nor does the content the justice it deserves.
The book provides a unique historical view of WWII, military terminology, aircrafts, and machinery, and life in the 1940s. Harry is the perfect protagonist to his own story, sharing with readers his harrowing experiences during WWII that many can only imagine. Readers will find a perfect balance of history and biography in MidnightFlight to Nuremberg.
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737/
From LITERARY TITAN EDITORIAL REVIEW, CANADA. August 3, 2021. (literarytitan.com/2021/08/03/midnight-flight-to-nuremberg/)
Midnight Flight to Nuremberg, by Marcus A. Nannini, is the riveting story of Harry Watson Jr’s time as an aviation pilot during World War II. Harry Watson recounts his time enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, as well as his home life, in this stirring and dramatic memoir.
Harry Watson Jr. dreamed of being a pilot. He knew his only chance to get out of a life in the coal mines was to enlist in the military. He went through the necessary training to become a C-47 Pilot/Instructor and earned many awards throughout his time in the Air Corps. One of the most important flights during his career was to bring Franz Von Papen back to base from Nuremberg, Germany. Von Papen was held high in German society and a key contributor to Hitler’s rise in power.
Author Marcus Nannini tells Harry’s time in the Air Corps with precision and a keen eye on the key aspects of a gripping story. As a reader, you feel as if Harry is telling you about his experiences himself. Nannini does Harry justice in the way he tells this story. The reader is able to see what is behind the scenes for a soldier during World War II, the path to becoming an aviation pilot during those times, and who Harry was as a person. Nannini was also able to give the reader a glimpse into the lives of Harry’s fellow crewman and friends. The friendship between Lang and Watson was one I adored reading about. This book not only tells Harry’s military story, but offers further insight into tactics and important figures during Hitler’s reign of terror, making this perfect for military history enthusiasts.
Midnight Flight to Nuremberg is a wonderful retelling of Harry Watson Jr’s experiences as a pilot and instructor during World War II. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys history, listening to real-life experiences from World War II, and to those who want to follow a compelling person through one of the most dramatic times in history.
Pages: 224 | ISBN:1526792737
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737/
MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG: THE CAPTURE OF THE NAZI WHO PUT ADOLF HITLER INTO POWER
By Marcus A. Nannini
IR RATING:
4.8
INDIE READER APPROVED
Marcus A. Nannini’sMIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG: The Capture of the Nazi Who Put Adolf Hitler into power, is an emotional true story and an enthralling political rollercoaster ride.
Biography
- Posted by C.S. Holmes
- | indiereader.com/book_review/midnight-flight-to-nuremberg-the-capture-of-the-nazi-who-put-adolf-hitler-into-power/
- August 9, 2021
MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG is Marcus A. Nannini’s biography of World War II First Lieutenant, C-47 pilot Harry E. Watson Jr.
How marvelous it is when history can be made to come alive, as it is in Marcus A. Nannini’s biography MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG: The Capture of the Nazi Who Put Adolf Hitler Into Power. In it, the captivating World War II experiences of First Lieutenant, C-47 pilotHarry E. Watson Jr. are relayed in full living, breathing color, accompanied often by black/white photographic illustration of the characters and combat that peopled Watson’s life.
Pictures of a narrow road filled with slaughtered horses, as German armies endeavored to retreat without air support or adequate tree line cover, are heartbreaking and touching letters to Watson Jr.’s first wife and son add just the right amount of emotional content.
The highlight of Watson’s adventures, as encapsulated by the book’s title, was perhaps the secret mission behind enemy lines to Nuremberg where he was required to land in a deserted meadow, in the dark, in order to pick up U.S. soldiers and prisoners-of-war including Franz von Papen; a gentleman who once convinced President Hindenburg to appoint first himself, and then later Adolph Hitler, Chancellor of Germany.
If not for von Papen — a spy indicted by a U.S. Federal GrandJury in 1916 — General Kurt von Schleicher (who, unlike von Papen, opposed industrialists profiting from the rearmament of Germany) would likely have been Germany’s Chancellor. But von Papen supported industrialists, and he supported things like the Nazi Sturm Abteilung (SA) who had their own particular manner of eliminating political opposition.
Accompanied by over 100 other key figures, Von Schleicher gets brutally murdered during Germany’s Night of Long Knives. All of which is stirring to read about, though really, the pages of this biography are jam-packed with plenty of other hair-raising adventures, as young Watson joins other American military men seeking to do right by serving and protecting their country and the world.
Watson delivers Army nurses with supplies where they are needed at great personal risk to himself. He manages to evacuate a field hospital just moments before the SS arrive, opening fire. Along the way, he loses friends, and sometimes even the belief that he will survive long enough to return to civilian life.
Yet unlike many bittersweet tales of just how difficult it can sometimes be for war veterans to eventually return home, Watson’s ultimate next life chapter as a Continental Airlines pilot is quite satisfying. A bit dryly factual in spots, mostly this biography is a riveting read throughout.
Marcus A. Nannini’s MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG: The Capture of the Nazi Who Put Adolf Hitler Into Power, is an emotional true story and an enthralling political rollercoaster ride.
~C.S. Holmes for IndieReader
indiereader.com/book_review/midnight-flight-to-nuremberg-the-capture-of-the-nazi-who-put-adolf-hitler-into-power. BUY IT HERE https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737/
***** FIVE STARS*****
Midnight Flight to Nuremberg: The Capture of the Nazi who put Adolf Hitler into Power
THE BOOK COMMENTARY. Biographies and Memoirs
Publisher: Air World“Midnight Flight to Nuremberg by Marcus A. Nannini begins with a biographical account of Harry E. Watson Jr., which gives readers a chance to understand his character and get to know Harry as a pilot. The story evolves as the story progresses and becomes more interesting as the main character follows through on several tasks and missions, ranging from something as mundane as simple milk deliveries to complex situations where he must learn to fight and defend himself in a war zone.
Throughout the book, the writer talks about the happenings during the war that we rarely get the chance to know about. A case in point is the experience of taking home prisoners of war and the lives of loved ones waiting for their beloved soldiers (fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons) to return. In Midnight Flight to Nuremberg, Nannini brings history to life by perfectly narrating the experiences of Harry E. Watson during WWII. The book is brimming with strategically placed black-and-white pictures of First Lieutenant, C-47 Pilot/Instructor Harry, and his comrades, representing their experiences throughout the war.
There’s nothing more thrilling and exciting than reading about World War II and how it changed the world. However, the part where you read about Harry’s involvement in capturing someone as influential and powerful as Franz Von Papen makes for an even more captivating read. The surreal writing style and details made me feel as though I was right next to Harry, and a part of his journey. Midnight Flight to Nuremberg is easily one of Nannini’s most well-written and well-researched books; an enthralling rollercoaster ride for history buffs.”
REVIEWED BY DANIEL RHODES for THE BOOK COMMENTARY
Review Date: October 5, 2021
Category: Biographies and Memoirs
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737/
MIDNIGHT FLIGHT TO NUREMBERG, THE CAPTURE OF THE NAZI WHO PUT ADOLPH HITLER INTO POWER. BUY IT HERE https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Flight-Nuremberg-Capture-Hitler/dp/1526792737/
MARCUS A. NANNINI
74,320 words
Air World, an Imprint of Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
ISBN-10: 1526792737
ISBN-13: 978-15267922730
AISN: 1526792737
COPYRIGHT 2021-2023 MARCUS A. NANNINI