Overview

USS Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) was one of the U.S. Navy's highest-scoring carrier units of World War II. Despite having only one combat veteran in its roster, its aviators were credited with shooting down more than 170 planes during their eighty-one-day tour of duty, earning the squadron the nickname ""Two-a-Day 18"" in newspapers nationwide. How did a novice unit with a comparatively short time in theater accomplish such a feat? To answer this question, Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 follows squadron members through training, into combat, and finally to the end of their harrowing stories. Drawing extensively on archival and family collections, author Mike Fink reveals the personalities of these men and the binding friendships they built. Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 is as much about the bonds these young men formed as it is about Pacific War history. They were one of the first squadrons to engage Japan's massive battleship force during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, racked up incredible scores and suffered devastating losses during the Formosa Air Battle, and bore witness to an unthinkable new weapon as the war entered its desperate endgame. Ultimately, Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 showcases the powerful impact of war on those who fight it and sheds light on the impact of those men on the war itself.

Full Product Details

9798228564442

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Mike Fink is manager of development content at the Intrepid Museum. An avid researcher/historian, he spent six years combing through archives and interviewing pilots and their families to uncover the incredible true story of ""Two-a-Day 18,"" Intrepid's highest-scoring fighting squadron. Fink lives in Wilmington, Delaware. Tom Campbell hosted morning radio shows for over twenty-five years in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Virginia, during which time he voiced comedy bits, interviewed celebrities, MC'd concerts, flew in a stunt plane, landed by helicopter on an aircraft carrier, and even joined a seance hoping to connect with Houdini. Tom brought his vocal skills to the equally exciting world of audiobook production in 2017, and he's narrated over fifty audiobooks, including the Devolution series by John Casey (books reviewed by the CIA!); Conrad's Honor by Alex Ryan; the seven-book Linear Tactical series by Janie Crouch; the Lunatic City series by T. Allen Diaz; thrillers by Mike McCrary, and many more. Tom possesses a deep, rich baritone, ideally suited for the sarcastic detective, the clandestine spy, the romantic lover, the wandering cowboy, or the military commander. Whether it's mystery, romance, political thriller, multi-character, autobiography, or nonfiction, Tom loves giving voice to the printed word.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available