The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War Two by Barrett Tillman

The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War Two by Barrett Tillman

Popularly known as the Douglas Dauntless, the U.S. Navy's SBD dive bomber was well named. Though considered obsolete at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Dauntless turned the tide of war in the Pacific with the destruction of four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway, making its mark in aviation history for sinking more enemy carriers than any other aircraft. Still in service at war's end, the Dauntless was the only U.S. carrier aircraft in operation from Pearl Harbor to V-J Day. The Dauntless was the only American Navy aircraft to fly in al five of the naval engagements fought exclusively by aircraft carriers and was credited with sinking the first Japanese fleet submarine and dropping the first bombs on Japanese-occupied soil during the war. The SBD was also active in the Atlantic, sinking Vichy French shipping at Casablanca and German vessels in Scandinavian waters. In between his authoritative accounts of these missions, Barrett Tillman tells the rousing story of the men who took the slow but deadly Dauntless into combat, loving her for her ruggedness and dependability while wishing for more speed and firepower. Among the people he describes is the pilot who nearly single-handedly knocked out a Japanese carrier and died in the process, and SBD squadron that flew unexpectedly into the Pearl Harbor attack. Filled with fascinating photographs, this book was widely acclaimed in 1976 when first published and is now available for the first time in paperback.

Written in Tillman’s highly readable style and profusely illustrated with photographs, this book should be in every collection of World War II literature* Naval Aviation News *
Like Tillman’s other books about great airplanes and the men who flew them, this is a thoroughly satisfying profile. The research is on target, the narrative is engaging, and the photographs are well chosen. * Morning Union (Springfield, MA) *
Tillman writes well and with great attention to the telling detail. * Seattle Post-Intelligencer *
The Dauntless story is a thrilling account about the planes and pilots who flew into history. * Portland Magazine *
A must for aviation buffs. * Tacoma News Tribune *

Barrett Tillman (b. 1948) was born into an Oregon ranching family and developed an early interest in aviation history. He learned to fly as a teenager, was first published at age 15, and graduated from the University of Oregon with a journalism degree. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, book publisher, and magazine editor, but has been self employed all but seven years since graduating from college. Though best known for his histories of US naval aviation, he also has published six novels plus short stories. He frequently appears as a commentator on TV documentaries in addition to his speaking appearances. He is recipient of six writing awards.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781591148678
ISBN 10	1591148677
Title	The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War Two
Author	Barrett Tillman
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Naval Institute Press
Year published	2006-05-01
Number of pages	248
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.