Largely responsible for crushing Japanese airpower wherever the American fast carrier force sailed, the Grumman F6F Hellcat was considered the most important Allied aircraft in the Pacific during 1943 and 1944. Designed for speed, range, and climb to compete with Japan's exceptional Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it succeeded not only in engaging the "Zeke" on equal terms but also in dictating the rules of combat. Fighters in every sense of the word, the Hellcats were credited with destroying more than five thousand Japanese aircraft, gaining outright air supremacy over the invasion beaches, and helping ensure Allied amphibious victories in the Central Pacific. Aviation historian Barrett Tillman presents the full story of the fighter plane--the men who built and tested it, the squadrons that flew it, and the heroes it created. Heavily illustrated with photographs from the pilots' own collections, this spirited, carefully documented operational history is an absolute must for anyone interested in aviation history. It is now available for the first time in paperback.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Well Done:
I enjoyed Hellcat by Barrett Tillman but then I'm biased; the Grumman F6F Hellcat has always been one of my favorite planes. The first chapter of the book covers the Hellcat's history, from conception, to manufacturer, introduction to the fleet, and after the war. It's very well done. The remainder of the book covers the Hellcat's combat history in chronological order. The author apparently reviewed every combat report involving Hellcats. I must confirm what other reviewers have noted: that reading every... more info
Not mandatory reading:
I have purchased three other Tillman books & they all follow similar format. Tiny bit of detail regarding history & development, a lot of what pilot shot down how many enemy planes on what day. Gives a good flavor for the heroism & valour, the courage of these vets, but it does get dry & redundant after awhile. Few photos, all black & white.
In summary, a good book, nice to have on the bookshelf, but not one you'll be re-reading over and over...unless, of course you are tired of... more info
The other guys must have read a different book:
As a major war history buff, this book was NOT by any stretch of the imagination an authoritative book detailing the exploits of the Hellcat.
The main problem with this book is that the Hellcat was involved in so many engagements in the Pacific and elsewheres during World War II that it is simply not possible to write a decent book about it in only 265 pages. And Tillman/McCampbell did not write a good book about it here.
As a result, the book is basically just a summary, filled with lists and lists of... more info
This book is another that needs to be re-published:
It seems that everyplace I turn, Barrett Tillman is there. He contributes to The Hook magazine, The Blue Press, and is a fellow member of the Association of Naval Aviation, Flying Beaver squadron.
This book is all about my favorite fighter aircraft of all time, Grumman's F6F "Hellcat." Of all the Japanese aircraft shot down in air-to-air combat during the Second World War, this airplane and its pilots accounted for nearly 8 out of 10 of them.
Yet, it was a "generic" fighter, the big brother to the... more info
