PROFESSIONAL READING.Sweet, Donald H., Lee Roy Way and William Bonvillian. The Forgotten Heroes: The Story of Rescue Squadron VH-3 in World War II. DoGo Publishing, Eze-Read Books, 76 North Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450. 2000. $25. This spiral-bound volume tells the little-known story of PBM Mariner The Martin PBM Mariner was a United States Navy patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War period. It was designed to complement the PBY Catalina in service. crews (of which the authors were members) in the Pacific during the last year of WW II, who flew the twin-engined flying boats into hostile territory to rescue downed aircrews. If you are a seaplane seaplane, airplane designed to take off from and alight on water. The two most common types are the floatplane, whose fuselage is supported by struts attached to two or more pontoon floats, and the flying boat, whose boat-hull fuselage is constructed with the veteran or buff, this book is a must. The half dozen VHs were established in 1944, and their crews had to make do with worn-out aircraft that did not always have the latest engines, weapons or equipment. But with plenty of heart and determination, they recovered nearly 200 aviators Well-known aviators People largely known for their contributions to the history of aviation While all of these people were pilots (and some still are), many are also noted for contributions in areas such as aircraft design and manufacturing, navigation or , sometimes right from under Japanese guns. The Forgotten Heroes begins with a series of forewords, prefaces and introductions leading up to the main narrative. The photographs are interesting, often showing crews in informal activities. Sweet and his co-authors try to include too much in their book, often diverging di·verge v. di·verged, di·verg·ing, di·verg·es v.intr. 1. To go or extend in different directions from a common point; branch out. 2. To differ, as in opinion or manner. 3. into other areas, but when they begin to recount operations, the book becomes enjoyable. The best part is the short accounts of rescues, saving flight crews shot down during the intense ground-attack campaign at Okinawa after the initial landings on 1 April 1945. There's the story of one crew who searched unsuccessfully in a Japanese harbor for a reported downed pilot on 8 August 1945. The following day, the city and the harbor-Nagasaki--were incinerated by an atomic bomb atomic bomb or A-bomb, weapon deriving its explosive force from the release of atomic energy through the fission (splitting) of heavy nuclei (see nuclear energy). The first atomic bomb was produced at the Los Alamos, N.Mex. ! This section truly brings home how terrible the action was, and that the last six months of the Pacific war were as bloody as any of the other periods. We lost a lot of men and aircraft at Okinawa, but many people were rescued by the VH squadrons and their PBM PBM - play by mail. See play by electronic mail. crews. And that is the main appeal of this book. Two other related books by Donald Sweet that are worth reading: The Sailor Person who navigates ships or assists in the conduct, maintenance, or service of ships. Sailors have historically received special treatment under the law because of the nature of their work. Aviators, A Tale of the Men of Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron 21 in World War II (1996, $20) and Seaplanes at War (Celo Valley Books, 1999, $27). |
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