Marine Air: The History of the Flying Leathernecks in Words and Photos

By Robert F. Dorr

Book Overview

The first fully illustrated oral history of the United States Marine Corps Air Force-the "Flying Leathernecks." The U.S. Marines generally inspire thoughts of a peerless ground force that has always bravely answered America's call to arms. But the Marines also have an air arm with a tradition every bit as proud and legendary as the ground infantry they support. Now, military historian Robert F. Dorr presents the first fully--llustrated oral history of the Marine Air Wingand gives the "Flying Leathernecks" the recognition they deserve. When America entered World War I in 1917, the Marine Air Wing had only thirty-five aviators. During World War II, it expanded to sixty-one squadrons--twenty with at least one flying ace--and over 10,000 pilots. Led by men like their top ace, Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, Marine planes ruled the air in the Pacific. Marine Airis a long-overdue, illustrated history-from WWI to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Filled with the Flying Leathernecks' own words and packed with photographs of the "the few, the proud" of the skies, this is the story of their unwavering commitment to protecting their comrades on the ground-and to defending the country they have never let down-no matter what the odds.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425207250
• ISBN13: 9780425207253
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

True History

Robert Dorr again presents his usual well researched and very readable work. A must read for anyone interesred in the accurate and facinating history of Mariner Corps aviation.

Flying Devildogs

As a former Marine and combat vet, I owe my life to a couple of Marine pilots out there. This is an incredible and highly entertaining read for those interested in aerial combat...or Marine Corps history. These accounts put you right in the cockpit. Robert Dorr has done a good job. Very informative and well written. Well done. Semper Fi to my flying brothers out there and thanks for giving me an oppotunity to praise you in this manner.

Any military collection will find it a 'must' addition

Think of Marines and you'll think of the ground forces - but their air arm is also legendary, and military historian Robert F. Dorr provides here the first illustrated oral history of the Marine Air Wing, which began in 1917 and became a major force during the Second World War. Any military collection will find it a 'must' addition, and many a public library holding will find it a popular lend. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

USMC Aviators in Combat 1941-1991

Noted aviation historian Robert Dorr chronicles the air and air-to-ground combats of a variety of Marine aviators in this book from Berkley Caliber. Based in large part on interviews with over 70 pilots and aircrew, Dorr's book covers the whole sweep of Marine aviation from Grumman Wildcats to McDonnell F/A-18 Hornets. In the fifty years of air combat covered by Dorr, the Marines flew a variety of aircraft in harm's way - Wildcats, Corsairs, Skyraiders, helos, Skyknights, A-4s, F-4s, Intruders, you name it. Whatever your interest in Marine aviation, there's something for everyone in this book -dogfights, air-to-mud, rescue missions in early helos, etc. A few familiar names and tales crop up - John Bolt, John Cummings, etc. - but, by and large, the first-hand accounts are new and very interesting. The text is well-illustrated with over 100 black and white photographs. All in all, a good introduction to flying Leathernecks in action.

OOHRAH !

OUTSTANDING BOOK WITH ONLY A FEW FAULTS. ONE, IT'S SOMEWHAT LIMITED IN SCOPE AND TWO, IT TENDS TO JUMP AROUND. THAT SAID, JUST READING THE SECTION ON THE A-6 INTRUDER WAS WORTH THE PRICE. THE SKYRENE WHO WALKS YOU THROUGH WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO FLY THAT GREAT PLANE IS OUTSTANDING. THE BOOK BASICALLY GOES FROM WW II TO THE FIRST GULF WAR AND HAS SOME GOOD AND NEW INFORMATION FOR MOST OF US. FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS UNAWARE THAT MARINE CORSAIR UNITS WERE ALMOST SENT TO EUROPE IN WW II TO ATTACK THE GERMAN SUBMARINE PENS AT BREST AND THE V-1 AND BUZZBOMB SITES. I WAS AWARE GENERAL MARSHALL DID NOT WANT MARINES IN EUROPE AND SAID AS LONG AS HE WAS IN CHARGE "THEY'LL BE NO MARINES IN EUROPE". I ALWAYS ASSUMED IT WAS JUST TYPICAL ARMY FEAR OF THE MARINES OUTSHINING THEM AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL, I WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPECIFICS OF THE AIR UNITS. ANYWAY, AS AN OLD GRUNT WHO, ALONG WITH MANY, OWES HIS LIFE SEVERAL TIMES TO MARINE CLOSE AIR SUPPORT PILOTS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. THOSE GUYS WERE INCREDIBLE AND AT MY VERY BEST I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE WHAT THEY DID. SEMPER FI GUYS AND GOD BLESS!