Publication

1999 - Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA, Pennsylvania

Language

English

Word Count

54,000 words, Guess

Page Count

216 pages

Identifiers

  • Open LibraryOL53770M
  • ISBN-100764309536
  • OCLC Control Number42135816
  • Library of Congress Control Number99062987
  • Goodreads1477863
and 1 more
  • LibraryThing5240526

Classifications

  • DDC940.54/4973
  • LCCD790 .W558 1999
  • LCCD790.W558 1999

Description

Nearly every World War II fighter squadron that flew in Europe has had its history chronicled. Other than "Pappy" Boyington's famous VMF-214 "Black Sheep", little has been written about Marine Corps squadrons in World War II. The contribution of VMF-223, the Death Rattlers, over Okinawa in the Spring of 1945 is virtually unknown. In two months there, the squadron became the top-scoring unit of any service with 124 1/2 victories and produced 12 aces, the most for one tour of any Marine squadron. The squadron downed 24 3/4 Japanese aircraft twice in its tour, the most for a single Marine squadron in any single action. The squadron's story is not only one of its pilots, combat, and valor, but also of the enlisted men, "the ground-crunchers," who made it function against the Japanese kamikaze menace. Along with the traditional historical perspective, it is an inside look at the personal side of training and war. It is the story of a group of untried young men who trained long and hard and became "family."

Subjects

Topics

HistoryUnited StatesWorld War, 1939-1945American Aerial operationsUnited States. Marine Corps. Squadron VMF-323World war, 1939-1945, aerial operations, americanUnited States. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323

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