F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-9

by Edward M. Young, Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

Overview

VF-9 was activated in March 1942 as part of Carrier Air Group (CAG) 9, one of the many air groups the US Navy was hurriedly forming in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Equipped with Grumman F4F Wildcats, VF-9 first saw combat during the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942, where the squadron engaged Vichy French fighters over Morocco. Returning to the United States, VF-9 became one of the first squadrons to receive the Grumman F6F Hellcat and to deploy on the USS Essex, the first of its class of fleet carriers that would form the backbone of the US Navy's Fast Carrier Task Force. VF-9, the Hellcat, and the Essex all entered combat in the fall of 1943. In the hands of the squadron's pilots, and with other Navy fighter squadrons, the Hellcat proved superior to the Imperial Japanese Navy's A6M Zero, which had heretofore been the world's premier carrier fighter plane.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782003373
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	03/20/2014
Series:	Aircraft of the Aces , #119
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Edward Young is a retired financial executive with degrees in Political Science from Harvard University and the University of Washington. During his career he had assignments in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok. He has had a long-standing interest in the war in the Pacific, and has written on American fighter units in Burma and the Philippines. He has also co-authored a history of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, as well as several other works on aspects of aviation history. He is the author of Osprey Campaign Series 136: Meiktila: The Liberation of Burma, Warrior Series 141: Merrill's Marauders, Osprey Combat Aircraft Series 87: B-24 Liberator Units of the CBI, and Duel Series 41: B-24 Liberator vs. Ki-43 Hayabusa. He lives with his wife in Seattle, Washington.
Edward M. Young is a retired financial executive with a BA degree in Political Science from Harvard University and an MA from the University of Washington. In 2015 he received an MA in the History of Warfare from King's College, London and in 2020 completed a PhD in History at King's College. During his career he had assignments in New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. He is the author of numerous books and articles on aviation history. He lives with his wife in Seattle, Washington.
Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Table of Contents

Organisation, Training and First Combat Cruise /Second Combat Cruise /Third Combat Cruise /Appendices

Editorial Reviews

In this latest book on aces from Osprey, we get a look at the history of VF-9, their conversion to the Hellcat and a look at all of the various actions in which the unit was involved during their three combat cruises; two of which were with the Hellcat. The book is full of pilot photos and some great stories, the sort of things that make this series so popular. Add to it a goodly selection of full color profiles and you have a book that makes for a great read and reference. Pick yours up today.” —Scott Van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com

“Highly recommended!” —Rachel E. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com

“A flavor of the aircraft, pilots and tactics used in World War II duels over the Pacific...a detailed look at one unit, Fighter Squadron Nine (VF-9), that flew Wildcats against the Vichy French in North Africa and then, equipped with F6F Hellcats, became a scourge in the Pacific, claiming 250 Japanese aircraft, resulting in 20 VF-9 aces.” —Seapower Magazine

From the Publisher