David McCampbell
Top Ace of U.S. Naval Aviation in World War II
$39.95
In stock
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)
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
