Book recomendation

[Rich46yo]

I'd like a book on the Hellcat fighter by Grumman. Any recommendations? Thanks.

Specifically I'd like to get some first person reports from both sides during the first months it went into battle in 1943. Or at least I'd like a book with these battles included.

[mthrockmor]

Not exactly what you are after but I would recommend "McCampbell's Heros." It is about Commander David McCampbell, CO of the Fighting 15th off of the USS Essex. He ended the war as the 3rd highest scoring US Ace with 35 kills, I believe. His fighter squadrons flew the F6F, which is also what he scored all of his kills in. It does talk about combat life in the Hellcat a bit.

One great story recounts how a Division of Hellcats (4 birds) comes across an older A6M all by its lonesome. They go in for the kill, almost doing 'paper, scissors, rock' to decide who gets the kill. When the smoke clears, not a single Hellcat placed a single round in the Zero. It flew away after flying circles around them. They noted it must have been flown by some "old school" stick.

Great book!

boo

[Ack-Ack]

F6F Hellcat vs A6M Zero-sen: Pacific Theater 1943-44
F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-2 (Aircraft of the Aces)
The First Hellcat Ace
Hellcat Tales: A U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot in World War II

[Rich46yo]

Thanks for the recommendations. Im trying to get as much firsthand accounts of the initial impact of the airplane in 1943. I'll look for these books.

As I understand it the Hellcat was being developed even before PH. So the Zero-san wasnt as big a surprise as one is led to believe.

[Ack-Ack]

As I understand it the Hellcat was being developed even before PH. So the Zero-san wasnt as big a surprise as one is led to believe.

Yeah, think design for the Hellcat started in '38 or '39 and the prototype in mid-'41 to replace the Wildcat.  Once the war started the engineers and designers worked with the USN to incorporate lessons learned with the Wildcat against the Zeke.

[pangea]

Hellcat: The F6F in World War II by Barett Tillman

[Widewing]

Hellcat: The F6F in World War II by Barett Tillman

Seconded.... I've known Barrett for years. Great writer and researcher.

A couple of Facebook links to Barrett and the F6F.

Barrett's page:

https://www.facebook.com/barrett.tillman.3


Hellcat page maintained by Photo Historian Jack Cook (it's a closed group, so you'll have to request be added).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1399078083702117/

[Rich46yo]

Thanks for the Links. Right now Im engrossed in History from thee Japanese side. Only so much time. The intro of the Hellcat appears to be a pivotal moment in the war in Asia. It had such an impact. I want to know what THEY thought.

[Ack-Ack]

Thanks for the Links. Right now Im engrossed in History from thee Japanese side. Only so much time. The intro of the Hellcat appears to be a pivotal moment in the war in Asia. It had such an impact. I want to know what THEY thought.

If you're interested in reading about the Japanese side of the conflict, I recommend the following books:

The Miraculous Torpedo Squadron by Jūző Mori
The Last Zero Fighter: Firsthand Accounts from WWII Japanese Naval Pilots
A Tomb Called Iwo Jima: Firsthand Accounts from Japanese Survivors

ack-ack

[lyric1]

Right now Im engrossed in History from thee Japanese side.

Then you would like this book.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/157684581/Gendas-Blade-Japans-Squadron-of-Aces-343-Kokutai

[Rich46yo]

The Last Zero Fighter: Firsthand Accounts from WWII Japanese Naval Pilots

Just bought  I'll letya know how I liked it.

[branch37]

Clash of the Carriers by Barrett Tillman. 

While not specifically about the introduction of the F6F, the book is about the Marianas Turkey Shoot in which the majority of U.S. fighters were Hellcats.  It is also a great read. 

[Rich46yo]

Im so excited, my new copy of "The Last Zero Fighter" arrived. Tonight I'll be laying in bed reading the words of actual IJN Zero pilots.

[Ack-Ack]

Im so excited, my new copy of "The Last Zero Fighter" arrived. Tonight I'll be laying in bed reading the words of actual IJN Zero pilots.

One thing you'll find very interesting in the book are the comments from the interviewed pilots that took part in the sinking of USS Panay in 1937 on how they felt the IJA misled the IJN into attacking the US river gunboat.

[Rich46yo]

One thing you'll find very interesting in the book are the comments from the interviewed pilots that took part in the sinking of USS Panay in 1937 on how they felt the IJA misled the IJN into attacking the US river gunboat.

Yes already read it. There were medieval conflicts between not only services in Japan during the early Showa but also between factions in the services. Indeed the faction itself that wanted war for years strengthened their own position by murder and intimidation of moderates. Many thought conflict with the US and Britain to be inevitable and wanted it sooner then later.

This is a hard book to put down. Im enjoying it immensely.