America's Few: Marine Aces of the South Pacific

America's Few explores the history of US Marine Corps aviation in World War II, following the top-scoring aces of the Corps over Guadalcanal. Marine aviation began in 1915, but in December 1941, it came to the fore with heroic Marine aviators battling the Japanese over Wake Island. In the summer of 1942, Allied airpower was unified, and Marine Aviation dominated, with Major General Roy Geiger as its commander. Joe Foss and Pappy Boyington emerged as symbols of Marine aviation, with Foss organizing a group of fighter pilots that downed 72 enemy aircraft and Boyington matching Foss's aerial victory score.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 06 January 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

America's Few delves into the rich history of US Marine Corps aviation during World War II, showcasing the remarkable achievements of the Corps' top-scoring aces in the skies over Guadalcanal. Marine Corps aviation traces its origins back to 1915, functioning as a self-contained expeditionary force. During the interwar period, the support of USMC amphibious operations became a crucial aspect of Marine aviation doctrine, and the small force gradually expanded. However, the events of December 1941 marked a turning point. Within hours of Pearl Harbor, heroic Marine aviators engaged in fierce battles with the Japanese over Wake Island. In the South Pacific, the aviators of the US Marine Corps emerged from the shadows to establish themselves as an air force second to none. In the summer of 1942, when Allied airpower was consolidated into the unified entity known as the Cactus Air Force, Marine Aviation dominated, with a Marine, Major General Roy Geiger, serving as its commander. Among the twelve Allied fighter squadrons that formed part of the Cactus Air Force, eight were USMC squadrons. It was during the campaign over Guadalcanal that Joe Foss emerged as a symbol of Marine aviation. As the commander of VMF-121, Foss organized a group of fighter pilots that downed a staggering 72 enemy aircraft, with Foss himself achieving a remarkable score of 26. Pappy Boyington, on the other hand, began his Marine aviation career in 1935 and gained prominence as the commander of VMF-214 in late 1943. Boyington matched Foss's aerial victory score and went on to become one of the most celebrated Marine aces of the war. The stories of these two top-scoring fighter aces, along with many other Marine aces, such as Ken Walsh (21 victories), Don Aldrich (20), John L. Smith (19), Wilbur Thomas (18.5), and Marion Carl (18.5), who received the Medal of Honor, are examined in depth by acclaimed aviation historian Bill Yenne in his book. Through their parallel narratives, Yenne provides a comprehensive account of the development of US Marine Corps aviation in the South Pacific, highlighting the crucial role played by Marine aviators in the Allied victory against the Japanese forces.

Weight: 752g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472847492