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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.544973092
EAN num: 9781557508652
ISBN number: 1557508658
Label: US Naval Institute Press
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 176
Printing Date: 2002-10
Publishing house: US Naval Institute Press
Sale Popularity Level: 1769051
Studio: US Naval Institute Press
Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In the summer of 1942 Jim Vernon, a nineteen-year-old college student in Butte, Montana, joined the U.S. Navy's aviation cadet training program and by the spring of 1945 was flying F6F Hellcats from the USS Ticonderoga off of the coast of Japan. This memoir of his years at war provides a carrier pilot's view of the conflict in the Pacific during the final months of the war when the atomic bombs were dropped and Japan capitulated. He gives an up-close-and-personal account of life in a bomber-fighter squadron and the roller-coaster emotions involved in combat sorties over the hostile sea and land.
As a member of VBF-87, Vernon offers a unique glimpse into the past at a time when teenagers matured quickly as they faced the realities of war. He has recorded his own feelings about meeting the challenges of war, his love of flying, and the camaraderie of his flying mates--both in the air and on liberty--along with the factual details of battle that contribute important dimensions to the overall story of the air war. Added to these stirring memories are his entertaining descriptions of the mobilization and training of carrier pilots and his recounting of the high incidence of non-combat fatalities and the change in the composition of the air group in response to the Kamikaze threat. Such a book not only will appeal to aviators everywhere but also will prove to be a thrilling read for those interested in World War II and air combat.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Vernon was a naval pilot in World War II and flew Hellcats. This story is his experiences during the later part of the conflict. Much of his story concerns his experiences during his training at various naval bases. This experiences relate to the difficulty in learning to fly and qualifying as a naval aviator.
Other expiences such as dating and drinking and playing cards are also related in this time period. The last 40-50 pages dealt with combat experience and how he adjusts to losses through both training and combat.
I enjoyed this read very much, but there are so many books just like his out on the market. There is no unique material in here, just a story of an average man making an adjustment to his life to fight for his nation. Our nation in built upon the sacrifices of young people like him.
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