Semper Fi in the Sky: The Marine Air Battles of World War II
Astor now adds to his distinguished record as a popular military historian this superior history of Marine Corps aviation in World War II. That story opened in the wreckage of the corps' Hawaiian base at Ewa and with heroism in the last-ditch defense of Wake Island. It ended with marine Corsairs flying tactical missions in support of the coming invasion of Japan from bases in Okinawa. In between, the marines raised one of the world's larger air forces and carried out every form of mission except strategic bombing and despite the high casualty rate of their efforts at carrier-based fighter operations. Astor's treatment is balanced and sober. He doesn't exaggerate the swashbuckling qualities of Gregory Boyington's famous "Black Sheep" squadron, and he gives all due credit to the outstanding air-defense and antishipping work done at Guadalcanal. Altogether, this book is Robert Sherrod's venerableHistory of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II(1952; 2d ed., 1980) updated for younger generations who need the story newly retold.Roland GreenCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved