Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Chapter 1 Training 1
Chapter 2 Hawaii 21
Chapter 3 The Combat Zone 39
Chapter 4 Up the Slot 57
Chapter 5 Leapfrog Up the Solomons 71
Chapter 6 Munda and More 83
Chapter 7 Tough Missions … and a Break 97
Chapter 8 Rest and Relaxation 113
Chapter 9 Back in the Saddle 129
Chapter 10 First Shot at Rabaul 151
Chapter 11 Just Another Mission 167
Chapter 12 Hammering the Enemy 183
Chapter 13 Rabaul Defiant 195
Chapter 14 Chasing Zeros 209
Chapter 15 Final Flights 225
Chapter 16 Afterwards 237
Epilogue: Aerial Victories 253
Appendix 1 VMF-215 Losses on First Three Tours 259
Appendix 2 Medal of Honor Citation for Bob Hanson 263
Appendix 3 Navy Unit Citation for VMF-215 265
Bibliography 267
Index 273