Corsair Down!: Tales of Rescue and Survival during World War II

by Martin Irons

Overview

Brings the inherent danger of flying the Corsair to life through photographs and interviews of 15 WWII combat veteran Corsair pilots.

The Vought F4U Corsair was the greatest fighter plane in the WWII Pacific theater. For its pilots, survival was not guaranteed. Enemy planes and antiaircraft fire were dangerous, but aerial mishaps, poor flying, mechanical gremlins, weather, and bad luck took their toll too. American, British, and New Zealander Corsair pilots often found themselves with just seconds to escape. Some disappeared as POWs. A few, such as Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, emerged alive at the end of the war. Others had to rely on their training and the means at hand to escape do-or-die situations. Coast watchers, submarines, blimps, and air-sea rescues saved many. Even the French Foreign Legion smuggled a pilot to safety in the most daring Corsair pilot rescue of WWII. Others escaped death initially only to have to fight alongside their rescuers.

• Firsthand accounts from surviving pilots
• Tales of many of the great WWII Corsair aces
• Includes maps, diagrams, and over 100 vintage photos

The son of an Army officer and a military librarian, author Martin Irons uses his background as both a former soldier and as a scientist to bring World War II stories to light.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764362248
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	12/14/2021
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,074,784
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

The son of an Army officer and a military librarian, Martin Irons was raised in an environment that fueled his interest in history and World War II. Using his background as both a former soldier and as a scientist, Irons brings World War II stories to light. He resides in Vermont.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 6

Foreword 8

Introduction 11

Chapter 1 Training for the Fight! 18

Chapter 2 Combat 24

Chapter 3 The Caterpillar Club 56

Chapter 4 Weather You Survive 65

Chapter 5 Luck, Dumb Luck, Gremlins, and Otherwise 74

Chapter 6 Prop Chop 87

Chapter 7 Escape from Rabaul: The Rookie and the Ace 92

Chapter 8 Qualifications 112

Chapter 9 Deck Tales 121

Chapter 10 Escape and Evasion 132

Chapter 11 Salvation at Kure 163

Chapter 12 A Torpedo for My Bunk 169

Chapter 13 The Escape Artist 180

Chapter 14 The Hunters Become the Hunted 188

Chapter 15 Seaborne Savior 194

Chapter 16 Death of the Aces: Kamikazes against the Bunker Hill 201

Chapter 17 SNAFU 218

Chapter 18 Shepherding the Flock 226

Chapter 19 Last Birdman Saved 232

Chapter 20 From Ofuna to Inferno 241

Epilogue 264

Appendixes 268

Glossary 271

Notes 274

Bibliography 288

Index 297

Editorial Reviews

A book that proves to be a page-turner...The amount of varied and up-close and personal episodes, the anecdotes and unusual facts, plus the perspective one has learned and experienced by the end of the book are worth it by themselves. It is strongly recommended to any fan of both aviation, and the Pacific War.”

Anthony Tully Managing Editor

"This deeply researched and rigorously reported history is a must read for anyone who wishes to deepen their understanding of World War II. Mr. Irons has told a story anew—and created a narrative that is both gripping and acutely factual. The War in the Pacific was the first great battleground for aircraft carriers and carrier warfare became the backbone of US Naval strategy. Mr Irons demonstrates how this, most astonishing war-ship ever created, relied ultimately on the bravery of the men fighting aboard her—-and he clarifies the unique challenges inherent in a system driven, quite literally by all-too-fragile human beings."

Maxwell Kennedy

Corsair Down is a thoroughly enjoyable book. It is original, well written, entertaining, and easy to read. The excellent research plus the diagrams, maps, and little cartoons are very good and really useful for the reader. The book provides a different perspective on the F4U [Corsair]. The stories are great though the POW stories are horrific. Overall, Corsair Down! is an excellent book!”

Lee Cook Author of Schiffer Military History books The Skull & Crossbones Squadron: VF-17 in Wor

The F4U Corsair is rightly regarded as among the significant U.S. naval aircraft, as it was a cutting-edge design that served well into the jet age. During WWII its pilots logged a wide variety of experiences throughout the Asia-Pacific theaters, as recorded by Marty Irons in his detailed survival accounts of land- and carrier-based aviators.

Barrett Tillman

"Martin Irons has corralled an astonishing number of stories describing the adventures (and misadventures) of Corsair pilots from the US and Allied nations during World War II. Fans of the F4U will enjoy these fast-paced tales of do-or-die ditching attempts, crash-landings, and daring rescues."

Bruce Gamble Author of The Rabaul Trilogy