David McCampbell

Top Ace of U.S. Naval Aviation in World War II

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About the Book

This book explores the life and career of David McCampbell, the leader of the most successful naval air group in combat in WWII. An unequalled naval aviator, McCampbell shot down a total of 34 Japanese aircraft across numerous battles. Eventually awarded the Medal of Honor, he first served in the Atlantic as a carrier Landing Safety Officer, then as an air group leader in the Pacific theater. The author details McCampbell’s 31-year career, revealing an incredible diversity of leadership roles and service assignments. McCampbell commanded ships, training centers, aircraft squadrons and held a variety of Navy and Defense Department senior staff positions.

About the Author(s)

David Lee Russell is a retired Naval Air Intelligence Officer, and former IT director. He is also the author of three history books on the American Revolution, a book on the history of Eastern Airlines, and two intelligence thriller books. He lives in Canton, Georgia

Bibliographic Details

David Lee Russell
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 273
Bibliographic Info: 26 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7779-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3607-8
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

 1. Birth of a Hero 3

 2. Bessemer to Annapolis 9

 3. Going Navy: From Ships to Aviation 15

 4. VF-4 and the Ranger 22

 5. LSO on the Wasp 27

 6. Training Carrier Air Group 15 42

 7. Marcus and Wake Islands Raids 53

 8. Marianas Operation Forager Begins 65

 9. Iwo Jima 80

10. The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot 88

11. Ozawa’s Retreat and Protecting Saipan 99

12. Saipan Operations and Softening Up Guam 106

13. Supporting Landings on Guam and Tinian 116

14. Stalemate II: Palau, Southern Philippines 126

15. Stalemate II: Visayas, Manila Strikes and Second Visayas 133

16. Okinawa Jima, Nansei Shoto 147

17. Battle of Formosa 151

18. Battle of Leyte Gulf 163

19. Last CAG-15 Strikes 183

20. Post-War Naval Career 199

Appendix A: Aerial Victories 215

Appendix B: Aces of the Navy Fighting Squadron Fifteen (VF-15), December 1, 1944 217

Appendix C: Medal of Honor Citation of Commander David McCampbell 219

Chapter Notes 221

Bibliography 244

Index 249