The record of Carrier Air Group 15 in World War II is astonishing
by any measure: it scored 312 enemy aircraft destroyed, 33 probably
destroyed, and 65 damaged in aerial combat, plus 348 destroyed, 161
probably destroyed, and 129 damaged in ground attacks. Twenty-six
Fighting 15 pilots became aces, including their leader, Commander
David McCampbell, who became the U.S. Navy's "Ace of Aces."
Twenty-one squadron pilots were killed in action and one in an
operational accident aboard the carrier Essex. The fighter
squadron's partners, Bombing Squadron 15 and Torpedo Squadron 15,
scored 174,300 tons of enemy shipping, including 37 cargo vessels
sunk, 10 probably sunk, and 39 damaged. As well, Musashi, the
world's largest battleship, was sunk, along with a light aircraft
carrier, a destroyer, destroyer escort, two minesweepers and other
craft-plus the Zuikaku, the last surviving carrier that
participated in the Pearl Harbor attack. Incredibly, every pilot of
Torpedo 15 was awarded the Navy Cross, the highest award for
bravery after the Medal of Honor. All of this took place between
May and November, 1944. No other American combat unit in any
service came close to a similar score in such a short time period.
Air Group 15 participated in the two greatest naval battles in
history, the Philippine Sea-also known as the Marianas Turkey
Shoot-and Leyte Gulf, which saw the end of Japanese naval power. On
June 19, 1944, Fighting 15 shot down 68.5 attacking Japanese
aircraft, a one-day record unmatched by any other U.S. fighter
squadron. In documenting the saga of Air Group 15's momentous six
months at war, the author provides an intimate and insightful view
of the group's fabled combat tour, including details of daily life
and human interactions aboard the fleet carrier USS Essex during
the busiest phase of the Pacific War.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
