With the assistance of professional writer Jay A. Stout, Hamilton McWhorter has written an informative and compelling memoir of his experiences in World War II, beginning with his status as a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. McWhorter earned his Wings of gold in early 1942 and as Ensign McWhorter trained to be a fighter pilot on an outmoded F3F wildcat. He first saw combat during November 1942 in North African against the Vichy French. Upon returning stateside, McWhorter and his VF-o unite converted to the new Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters and from mid-1943 was constantly engaged in deadly aerial warfare against Imperial Japanese forces. He became the first ace in the Hellcat during the action off Tarawa Atoll in November 1943, and seven subsequent victories ensured his place in the annals of air-to-air combat. The First Hellcat Ace is a vividly told, informatively presented, thoroughly engaging military biography from first page to last — and highly recommended reading for all World War II military and aviation history buffs.
