Torpedo Squadron Four - A Cockpit View of World War II (Paperback or Softback)
Language: English
Published by Doc45 Publishing 6/28/2014, 2014
- Softcover
- New
Seller: BargainBookStores, Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.BargainBookStores
AbeBooks seller since January 23, 2002
Condition: New
£ 15.16
Quantity: 5 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Torpedo Squadron Four - A Cockpit View of World War II.
Seller Inventory # BBS-9780982870907
- Title
- Torpedo Squadron Four - A Cockpit View of World War II (Paperback or Softback)
- Author
- Thomas, David
- Publisher
- Doc45 Publishing 6/28/2014
- Publication year
- 2014
- Condition
- New
- Book Type
- Book
- Binding
- Paperback or Softback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0982870906
- ISBN 13
- 9780982870907
- Item weight
- 1.46 pounds
For twenty-five months of continuous combat, Gerald W. Thomas flew TBM Avenger torpedo bombers with Torpedo Squadron Four (VT-4), serving aboard three legendary aircraft carriers — USS Ranger, USS Bunker Hill, and USS Essex. As a member of Air Group Four, the only U.S. Navy carrier air group to fight in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, Thomas participated in some of the most significant naval air operations of World War II.
His combat career began in the North Atlantic during Operation Leader, the U.S. Navy's historic carrier strike against German shipping and shore installations near Bodø, Norway — the largest American carrier attack ever launched against occupied Northern Europe. During the raid, Thomas's TBM Avenger was hit by intense anti-aircraft fire while attacking an ammunition-laden vessel. With his aircraft burning, oil covering the windshield, and one crewman's parachute accidentally deployed inside the airplane, bailout became impossible. Thomas nursed the crippled aircraft back to USS Ranger and crash-landed aboard the carrier, saving the lives of all three crewmen.
Transferred to the Pacific, Thomas flew combat missions over the Philippines, Formosa, French Indochina, Hainan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. He participated in the first carrier strikes against the Japanese home islands since the famous Doolittle Raid and witnessed firsthand the relentless final campaigns of the Pacific War.
While serving aboard USS Essex, Thomas had just returned from a strike when the carrier was struck by a kamikaze aircraft, killing sixteen sailors and wounding forty-four. Later, after another combat mission, he was forced to ditch his Avenger in the China Sea when it ran out of fuel. After enduring towering pre-typhoon seas in life rafts, Thomas and his crew were rescued by USS The Sullivans.
Unlike memoirs written decades after the war from memory alone, this book is grounded in Thomas's wartime journal, letters home, and more than forty years of interviews with fellow pilots and crewmen. Supported by twenty oral histories, five combat journals, and 209 photographs, most never before published, it provides an unparalleled cockpit-level view of carrier aviation during World War II. Among the illustrations are gun-camera photographs, reconnaissance images, rare photographs collected during the war, and the extraordinary image of Thomas's own torpedo bomber sinking beneath the China Sea after his forced water landing.
For his extraordinary combat service, Gerald W. Thomas received three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations, retiring from the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander.
Richly illustrated and meticulously documented, Torpedo Squadron Four is essential reading for anyone interested in naval aviation, aircraft carriers, the TBM Avenger, the Atlantic and Pacific air wars, Operation Leader, USS Ranger, USS Bunker Hill, USS Essex, and the personal experiences of the men who flew some of World War II's most dangerous combat missions.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
BargainBookStores
Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since January 23, 2002
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 4 to 10 business days | 4 to 9 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 29.62 |
Payment methods
Store description
Save up to 90% on your favorite items at BargainBookStores.com! Our 20,000 square foot warehouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan is filled with hundreds of thousands of books and consumer goods, all at the lowest prices! We've been serving internet customers with great deals since 2001. All books ship from Grand Rapids, Michigan. 100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed We want to ensure your satisfaction. If you are dissatisfied with your purchase or shopping experience, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us by email: cs@bargainbookstores.com. Please be sure to include your contact information and order number. We do not charge a restocking fee for returns. Your Privacy BargainBookStores.com does not provide, sell or market customer information to other businesses or organizations.…
Specialty
Out of Print Books, Specializing in Academic and Professional Books, Bargain Books - Save Up to 90% Off Publisher's List Price!, Remainder Books, Store-Wide Range of New Books in all CategoriesSeller's business information
BargainBookStores
3423 Lousma Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI U.S.A. 49548
Terms of sale
BargainBookStores guarantees 100% Customer Satisfaction. We ship worldwide and offer a variety of shipping methods to meet your needs. Please place your order directly via ABEBooks.com. We accept payment by MasterCard and Visa. For more information, contact us by email at cs@bargainbookstores.com. Full contact info is below:
BargainBookStores.com LLC
3423 Lousma Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to BargainBookStores, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
We will ship to all domestic and most international destinations.
Please note: Shipping times are estimated and are not guaranteed by BargainBookStores.