They were top guns, one of the Navy's foremost fighter squadrons in World War II. In just 76 days, they shot down 154 japanese planes over the South Pacific, a record surpassing the kill roster of the famed Black Sheep fighters under "Pappy" Boyington. They were Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17, known as the Jolly Rogers. Told by Lieutenant Commander Tom Blackburn, the charismatic flying ace who led them, this is their story: their skill in engaging and bringing down the enemy; the astounding achievement of 13 squadron pilots who became fighter aces in less than three months; their unbreachable defense of America's flying arsenal of bombers and aircraft carriers; the innovative conversion of the F4U Corsair fighters into devastating bombing machines. Here is the thrilling first hand account of the superbly successful team that completely cleared the skies of Japanese Zeros over the Solomon Islands.
- ISBN10 0935553673
- ISBN13 9780935553673
- Publish Date 18 June 2009 (first published 13 March 1988)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Pacifica Press,U.S.
- Imprint Pacifica Military History
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 308
- Language English