The First Hellcat Ace

Hamilton McWhorter III, a naval aviation cadet during World War II, became the first ace in the Hellcat by achieving five aerial victories, including one off Tarawa Atoll. His service to family and country makes him a standout among America's Greatest Generation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Despite his objections to being labeled as such, Hamilton McWhorter III's unwavering dedication to his family and country places him among the distinguished members of America's Greatest Generation. Hailing from Georgia, with family roots dating back to the region's settlement in the 1700s, "Mac" McWhorter embarked on his naval aviation cadet journey when Pearl Harbor was tragically attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941. Earning his Wings of Gold in early 1942, Ensign McWhorter underwent rigorous training as a fighter pilot, flying the technologically outdated F4F Wildcat. Initially assigned to VF-9, a spirited and formidable fighter squadron, he experienced his first taste of combat in November 1942, engaging Vichy French forces in North Africa.

Upon his return to the United States, VF-9 became the pioneering unit to transition to the new Grumman F6F Hellcat, which would become the weapon of choice for the U.S. Navy in its relentless offensive from the Southwest Pacific to the shores of Japan. From mid-1943 onward, Hamilton McWhorter immersed himself in the relentless and perilous aerial warfare that defined the battles against Imperial Japan. His fifth aerial victory, achieved in November 1943 off the Tarawa Atoll, earned him the prestigious title of the first ace in the Hellcat, a feat that was followed by seven additional triumphs, solidifying his place in the annals of air-to-air combat. McWhorter's remarkable combat service, spanning from the outbreak of the war to the final campaign off the shores of Okinawa, makes his story an essential read for those passionate about studying the Pacific air war. Retiring from the Navy in 1969 with the rank of commander, Hamilton McWhorter passed away in 2008, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and service to his country.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 161 x 235 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636244099