Book Reviews

Life and Death Aboard the USS Essex by Richard W. Streb. Dr. Richard Streb, a former professor at Columbia University, has written a unique and penetrating account of life and death aboard the USS Essex. Here´s a review of this fascinating book.

History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II by Robert Sherrod. The best book on WWII Marine Corps Aviation by the Time/Life reporter who risked his life many times to get a story, including flying with Torpedo 4 on January 12, 1945.

Avenger at War by Barrett Tillman outlines the development and use of the TBF Avenger in WWII. This book contains a number of photos of Air Group 4 planes.

Corsair: The F4U in World War II and Korea by Barrett Tillman covers this remarkable plane during its 13 years of operational life—"a record for longevity in Naval aviation matched only by the Martin PBM Flying Boat." VMF-124 and VMF-213 flew the Corsair during their Air Group 4 operations.

Hellcat: The F6F in World War II by Barrett Tillman is a history of the Grumman F6F fighter, the most important Allied aircraft in the Pacific during 1943-44. VF-4 (the "Red Rippers") flew the Hellcat from the USS Bunker Hill and the USS Essex, often using the plane as a fighter-bomber.

TBM/TBF Avenger in Action by Charles L. Scrivner contains a number of photos from the personal collections of Air Group 4 members. The text provides information on the development, specifications, and performance of the Avenger.

Fighting Squadron Fourteen "Tophatters" by Thomas F. Gates traces the history of the "Tophatters" from 1919 to the 1990s when the name was adopted by Fighter Fourteen. The Tophatters began on the USS Langley and, as VB-4, served on the USS Ranger, USS Bunker Hill, and USS Essex during WWII.

Wildcats Over Casablanca by John W. Lambert covers the role of the US Navy during the Allied invasion of North Africa in November, 1942. The book details the air battle and contains interviews with pilots about their combat experiences. This revised edition was issued in 1992.

Thunder Gods: The Kamikaze Pilots Tell Their Story by Hatsuho Naito is one of the most fascinating books about WWII to be translated from the Japanese. It explains why the Japanese decided to use kamikazes, and provides first-hand accounts of the pilots who flew them.

Typhoon: The Other Enemy by Captain C. Raymond Calhoun Air Group 4 was in several typhoons, but only one received exceptional notoriety. This book tells the story of that typhoon, which claimed 778 men, 3 destroyers, and more than 100 aircraft.

Halsey´s Typhoon, The True Story of a Fighting Admiral, an Epic Storm, and an Untold Rescue by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin tells the engrossing story of this ferocious storm through the eyes of those who were there, based on extensive interviews of the survivors.

Flight of the Avenger: George Bush at War by Joe Hyams tells the story of former President George Bush´s service as a torpedo bomber in VT-51, including his rescue by submarine after being shot down.

USS RANGER: The Navy´s First Flattop from Keel to Mast by Robert J. Cressman is an excellent comprehensive history of the USS Ranger. The personal accounts add to the readability and historical value of the book.

In Their Own Words: True Stories and Adventures of the American Fighter Ace by James A. Oleson gives the personal accounts of many WWII and Korean fighter Aces and provides a comprehensive listing and analysis of all fighter Aces for the two wars.

In Their Own Words: True Stories of American Fighter Aces. The Final Chapter by James A. Oleson. This is the second and final volume in this series. When Oleson began this project 20 years ago, 40% of America´s World War II, Viet Nam, and Korean aces were living. Today it is less than 10%.

If you have a book review to contribute to AirGroup4.com, or a book to suggest that we review, please contact us here.

Air Group 4 - "Casablanca to Tokyo"
Copyright © 2023 by AirGroup4.Com
Site Design by Cloudcroft New Mexico Online