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Pacifica Military History
The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
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THE JOLLY ROGERS
The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
Tom Blackburn with Eric Hammel
The Jolly Rogers is the story of one of the U.S. Navy’s foremost World War II fighter squadrons, VF-17, and its charismatic commander, Tom Blackburn. In his action-packed war memoir and unit history, Blackburn describes VF-17’s intense campaign against the Japanese over the northern Solomon Islands and Rabaul in late 1943 and early 1944.
Blackburn provides a rich account of how he shaped a crew of over-eager hotshots into one of the highest scoring fighter squadrons of World War II. In only seventy-six days of combat, Blackburn’s Jolly Rogers knocked down 154 enemy warplanes, and Blackburn himself emerged as one of VF-17’s leading aces with eleven kills to his credit.
Blackburn explains the methods he used and example he set to shape and wield VF-17 before and during its South Pacific combat tour. Not least of the challenges facing him and VF-17 was taming the hot new Vought F4U Corsair fighter. Slated to serve aboard a fleet aircraft carrier, VF-17 was transferred to land-based duty when the Corsair proved too hot to handle during carrier-deck landings. Though the Corsair’s teething problems were worked out by others, it was Blackburn and his Jolly Rogers who proved its full potential as a killer of enemy airplanes.
Both a war memoir and a caring tribute to the aggressive, hold-nothing-back young men he trained and led in combat, Blackburn’s story is an epic in World War II history annals.
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Critical Acclaim for The Jolly Rogers
Publishers Weekly says: “Blackburn was an exceptionally talented, resourceful, inspiring leader who imparted to his men a fierce warrior ethic . . . especially noteworthy is the author’s straightforward description of the methods he used organizing, training, leading his pilots in combat and developing air tactics.”
The Shipmate says: “Tom Blackburn [was] exceptional, and so is his book.”
The Hook says: “Tom Blackburn [was] one of the most successful fighter squadron commanders the U.S. Navy ever produced . . . not only a cracking good story, but a valuable primer on dealing with the rugged individualists who populate naval aviation, Highly recommended.”
The San Diego Union says: “[This] thrilling saga focuses on unsung heroes.”
Stars and Stripes says: “In a book generously laced with tales of air combat, Blackburn talks of the days spent building VF-17 into an outfit with its own identity and then leading his men into combat . . . ”
The Naval Institute Proceedings says: “Excellent . . . a well-rounded, coherent story that focuses on intense combat . . . As a professional’s account of his squadron’s . . . war, Blackburn’s has no peer.”
Kirkus Reviews says: “A macho, like-it-was memoir . . . a gritty, action-packed slice of WWII life.”
The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
Tom Blackburn with Eric Hammel
The Jolly Rogers is the story of one of the U.S. Navy’s foremost World War II fighter squadrons, VF-17, and its charismatic commander, Tom Blackburn. In his action-packed war memoir and unit history, Blackburn describes VF-17’s intense campaign against the Japanese over the northern Solomon Islands and Rabaul in late 1943 and early 1944.
Blackburn provides a rich account of how he shaped a crew of over-eager hotshots into one of the highest scoring fighter squadrons of World War II. In only seventy-six days of combat, Blackburn’s Jolly Rogers knocked down 154 enemy warplanes, and Blackburn himself emerged as one of VF-17’s leading aces with eleven kills to his credit.
Blackburn explains the methods he used and example he set to shape and wield VF-17 before and during its South Pacific combat tour. Not least of the challenges facing him and VF-17 was taming the hot new Vought F4U Corsair fighter. Slated to serve aboard a fleet aircraft carrier, VF-17 was transferred to land-based duty when the Corsair proved too hot to handle during carrier-deck landings. Though the Corsair’s teething problems were worked out by others, it was Blackburn and his Jolly Rogers who proved its full potential as a killer of enemy airplanes.
Both a war memoir and a caring tribute to the aggressive, hold-nothing-back young men he trained and led in combat, Blackburn’s story is an epic in World War II history annals.
==================
Critical Acclaim for The Jolly Rogers
Publishers Weekly says: “Blackburn was an exceptionally talented, resourceful, inspiring leader who imparted to his men a fierce warrior ethic . . . especially noteworthy is the author’s straightforward description of the methods he used organizing, training, leading his pilots in combat and developing air tactics.”
The Shipmate says: “Tom Blackburn [was] exceptional, and so is his book.”
The Hook says: “Tom Blackburn [was] one of the most successful fighter squadron commanders the U.S. Navy ever produced . . . not only a cracking good story, but a valuable primer on dealing with the rugged individualists who populate naval aviation, Highly recommended.”
The San Diego Union says: “[This] thrilling saga focuses on unsung heroes.”
Stars and Stripes says: “In a book generously laced with tales of air combat, Blackburn talks of the days spent building VF-17 into an outfit with its own identity and then leading his men into combat . . . ”
The Naval Institute Proceedings says: “Excellent . . . a well-rounded, coherent story that focuses on intense combat . . . As a professional’s account of his squadron’s . . . war, Blackburn’s has no peer.”
Kirkus Reviews says: “A macho, like-it-was memoir . . . a gritty, action-packed slice of WWII life.”
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