| F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat Aces of Vf-2 Contributor(s): Cleaver, Thomas McKelvey (Author), Laurier, Jim (Illustrator), Postlethwaite, Mark (Illustrator) |
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ISBN: 1472805585 ISBN-13: 9781472805584 Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK) OUR PRICE: $22.50 Product Type: Paperback Published: February 2015 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Military - Aviation - History | Military - World War Ii - History | Modern - 20th Century |
| Dewey: B |
| Series: Aircraft of the Aces (Osprey) |
| Physical Information: 0.4" H x 7.2" W x 9.6" (0.70 lbs) 96 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 1940's - Chronological Period - 20th Century |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The first VF-2 was a prewar unit that had been dubbed the 'hottest outfit afloat' due to the skill of their non-commissioned pilots. This first unit only saw combat at the Battle of the Coral Sea, but VF-2 pilots flying Grumman F4F Wildcats were able to rack up 17 claims there during the bitter 48-hour period of fighting. The second 'Fighting Two' was armed with the new Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighter. Arriving in Hawaii in October 1943, the squadron so impressed Cdr Edward H 'Butch' O'Hare, the Medal of Honor winning first US Navy ace of World War 2, that he requested the squadron replace VF-6 in his Carrier Air Group 6 aboard USS Enterprise. No other US Navy unit created as many aces as VF-2, whose pilots went into action over the Carolines, Marianas, Guam, Iwo Jima and the Battle of the Philippines Sea. Using exquisite photographs and first-hand accounts from the elite fliers themselves, this volume tells the story of the ace pilots who comprised the original VF-2 and the second. |
Contributor Bio(s): Laurier, Jim: - Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974-78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon. |