Intrepid Aviators, Gregory G Fletcher
Intrepid Aviators, Gregory G Fletcher
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Intrepid Aviators
The True Story of U.S.S. Intrepid's Torpedo Squadron 18 and Its Epic Clash With the Superbattleship Musashi

Author: Gregory G Fletcher

Narrator: Don Hagen

Unabridged: 16 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ascent Audio

Published: 07/30/2012


Synopsis

On the morning of October 24, 1944, in the Sibuyan Sea amidst the Philippine Islands, VT-18, a close-knit squadron of six young American torpedo bomber pilots, departed the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid on a search and destroy mission. Their target: the super-battleship Musashi, the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The pilots were tasked with preventing the immense enemy warship and the huge naval armada of which she was a part from inflicting unspeakable damage on the transports and supply ships that were supporting the American amphibious landings within nearby Leyte Gulf. Little did these young men know that they had embarked on the opening rounds of history’s greatest—and last—epic naval battle.
Two bomber crews launched in the first wave of attackers were shot out of the sky. Only pilot Will Fletcher survived the crash landing. Adrift at sea, Will made his way to land and escaped into the jungles of the Philippines, where he eluded capture by the Japanese with the help of Filipino guerrillas and joined their ranks against their common enemy.

Intrepid Aviators is the thrilling true story of the brave bomber pilots, their daring duel with the Musashi, and Will Fletcher’s struggle to survive as a guerrilla soldier. The sinking of Musashi inflicted a crucial blow in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and would mark the first time in history that aviators had sunk a Japanese battleship on the high seas.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alex

Good book. Lots of info here and good unique perspective on many battles. I think my criticism of it would be that the first third of this book is a recap of previous battles that intrepid was not really involved in. But the narrative on the sinking of musashi was great......more

Goodreads review by Douglas

A very well researched, detailed history of a group of aviators - bombers, fighters, and torpedo bombers, who trained and then served aboard the USS Intrepid in 1944/5, this book is a valuable narrative that describes a critical period in the Pacific War - at both a strategic and personal level. It'......more

Goodreads review by Chad

Written by the son of the main character, this is the true story of the World War II Pacific naval battle that pitted the USS Intrepid's naval aviators against Japan's superbattleship Musashi that made a dramatic difference in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. “October 24, 1944: As World War II raged, six yo......more

Goodreads review by Anthony

This book first tells the story of the training and formation of the Intrepid's Air Group 18 which consisted of 3 units; the fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers that made up her strike force. Then it details their service record leading up to the time when they took part in attacking the supe......more

3.5 Stars The book is a historical description of Torpedo Squadron 18 aboard the carrier Intrepid during WW II. The book entails the parallel history of the war intermixed with the careers and stories of the pilots. It also details the history of the Japanese naval ships and commanders. For me, there......more