Customer Reviews

A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author Robert Mrazek's first non-fiction volume is a winner. It's the story of the men of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) during World War II like you've never seen it before. Mrazek went over the top in tracking down all of the squadron's remaining members and recording their reminisces about Midway and Guadalcanal to the fullest extent one could imagine. We've long read of the gallantry of the USS Hornet's VT-8 aircrews at Midway and how their sacrifice was a vital factor in the "incredible victory," but this book goes well beyond the familiar Midway story. It gives the reader insight not previously seen on the men involved, including the good as well as the bad.

About half of the book focuses on that part of VT-8's history that is seldom remembered: their participation in the Solomons campaign. Although the tragedy of the Hornet's VT-8 aircrews at Midway could hardly have been worse, it was over with in less than an hour, while on Guadalcanal the squadron's detachment there endured months of brutal attrition during the long Japanese campaign to retake the island.

But the book isn't primarily about wartime history; instead it tells of the men who lived VT-8's portion of that history. There are new revelations about their celebrated commander, John Waldron, plus the aircrews that died with him at Midway. But as expected, there is a great deal more about those who went on to Guadalcanal, including the new commanding officer, Lt. Harold "Swede" Larsen. It turns out that Larsen was an insufferable martinet, as miserable a leader of men as anyone who ever disgraced a leader's uniform. At the other extreme, there are ample tales of the honorable service of the pilots and enlisted men who helped make VT-8's legacy despite the excesses of their skipper.

The book does have several factual errors that readers well-versed in this subject matter will spot, like referring to Japanese "Betty" bombers as carrier aircraft. But none of those detract from the book's essential value, which is a superb telling of the VT-8 story like it's never been told before. Highly recommended.

I am a passionate student of WW2 history and have read many accounts of the war in the Pacific over the past 30 years. This is by far the most compelling account I have encountered of two of the most pivotal battles of the war. More remarkably, it's an amazing account of some true American heroes and, sadly, some who were not so heroic. I know it sounds corny, but I really felt I was in the cockpit with these pilots and couldn't believe what they did to support each other and the troops on the ground. I was humbled by their courage and much more affected by their individual stories than I expected. I don't want to ruin the story for you, so suffice it to say I am sure you won't forget many of the individual stories told in this book.

This book was given to me as a gift and I have already given it to several others who ended up confirming my own reaction. This is a must read if you are interested in any aspect of the War in the Pacific or the reality of what it was like to fly on impossible missions. I wasn't able to put it down...

Author Robert J. Mrazek has written a compelling and informative read about a heroic squadron of pilots who sacrificed themselves against vastly superior odds. This is the story of Torpedo Squadron Eight and their unselfish contribution to the defeat of Japan in the early stages of the Pacific war.

During the pivotal Battle of Midway in June, 1942, this brave group of men, flying obsolete aircraft, nevertheless fearlessly attacked the Japanese carrier striking force. Forty-five of the forty-eight men in the squadron were killed that day. But, they cleared the way for the Dauntless dive bombers by bringing the Japanese fighters down so low that they couldn't react once the dive bombers started their dives. The end result was the loss of four Japanese carriers, and the turning of the tide inexorably toward Japan for the rest of the war.

After the battle of Midway, torpedo eight was based on the American carrier USS Saratoga. From here, the new pilots participated in many attacks against the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Guadalcanal. After the Saratoga suffered a torpedo hit and was forced to withdraw, the men of torpedo eight became part of the Cactus Air Force based on Guadalcanal. During their time on Guadalcanal, torpedo eight pilots helped sink numerous enemy ships, including 2 battleships, a light carrier, and several cruisers and destroyers. After Guadalcanal, the squadron was disbanded and its pilots were assigned to new squadrons.

This is an excellent book. The author does a fine job of introducing the reader to some of the pilots in the squadron. He also describes in great detail the heroic sacrifice these men made at the Battle of Midway and the sweet revenge they were able to extract at Guadalcanal. I've read many works of naval history, and I would rate this book as one of the best I've read.

I give this fine book my highest recommendation. The action is non-stop, and the author does a fine job of detailing America's first two offensives in the Pacific war. This book is a must-read for naval history fans.

A Dawn Like Thunder - Torpedo Squadron 8 - the Battle of Midway is a very
interesting, well written and thoroughly researched book about a turning point of the Pacific War on 4 June 1942, the destruction of much of the
Japanese fleet by this Squadron of skilled fliers, fliers who gave their
lives to accomplish this feat. Bob Mrazek brings these men back to life by quoting from their diaries and letters and what their commanding officers wrote about them. You really feel you are getting to know these heroes and their families too. You also get a look at the skill of Admiral Nimitz and his team in their planning and their strategy to fight the Pafific War. WWII

I read this book like an action-adventure novel--straight thru with no chaser. Torpedo Squadron Eight epitomized all that was good about the struggle America undertook in the most righteous of wars. Robert Mzarek executed a great job of research and the pilots and ground crew of the squadron came very alive and I feel I am better now that I know them. One always wonders what one would do when confronted with a challenge like they had and Mr. Mzarek's history serves as a humbling example of how you should act and follow through on serving your country. The book is very well written and ranks in my library of all histories as one of the most stirring and emotional in the bunch. I literally could not put it down and it left me emotional and reflective, but most of all proud, which I think all histories like this should do. Buy the book and learn about this group of men, officers and enlisted, and the battle of Midway and Guadalcanal, and it will be a very worthwhile investment. Outstanding book!

This book was given to me as a Christmas present. Fantastic selection! The author speaks the language of the naval aviator and expertly reveals the multiple personalities that make up a combat squadron. Those who have flown missions in any conflict will appreciate the detail. All will understand the incredible sacrifice of a small group of men. Very, very good read.

Rarely are expectations met when looking forward to reading a book and then getting to the last page. But...A Dawn Like Thunder has exceeded all of the expectations that I had.

I have always been an avid reader with eclectic tastes--from Raymond Chandler to Edward Whittemore and Malcolm Gladwell to George Saunders. My oral junior high book report was American Caesar by William Manchester (replete with a crappy MacArthur costume). That being said, I don't read as much as I like but I want to I like what I read. So I take great care in choosing my books.

I first discovered Mr. Mrazek with Stonewall's Gold. That novel was one of the few, in all honesty, that I couldn't put down. When I saw that he had a new, non-fiction work, I was interested. Then I read the blurbs from early reviews and I raised my expectations. And finally, I received the book, read it and can fully understand why it deserves all the praise it has gotten. Mr. Mrazek is able to bring to life the heroic and tragic story of the men of Torpedo Squadron Eight. And I couldn't recommend it more strongly.

If you like history, a gripping story and a compelling narrative of bravery and sacrifice then, I promise, you will not be disappointed.

I just hope my father, a Navy veteran, doesn't read this review because then he'll know what is under the Christmas tree for him this year.

I thought it was a book well worth the read. It is an accessible account of this particular torpedo squadron, both during the Battle of Midway and during the Battle for Guadalcanal.

Mr. Mrazek is not a lifelong historian, so the book lacks the magisterial depth and breadth of other accountings of either of those two battles/campaigns. This is not a criticism; some readers find dense and deeply footnoted military histories quite authentic and informative, while others find too much historical undergrowth an impediment to fine narrative. And in fact, Mr. Mrazek's book is not exactly lean on endnotes and references, by any standard. But either way, this book is a readable account of one squadron's glories and travails during the period examined, without interference of too much broader historical tie-in.

What I liked about the book were two things. One, I liked the accounting at the very end of the pilots and crewmembers of Torpedo Squadron 8, and what they did in the remainder of their lives. Very often, the story of fighting men years down the road is a poignant reflection of loss and guilt and search for purpose after the fact. And two, I found the critical review of Marc Mitscher's performance at the Battle of Midway an entirely new line of analysis. Not to fault that officer, because war is more often than not a desperate goat-rope, but the record is more complete with an accounting of what may actually have happened.

To all the other rave reviews here, I can only add this. Having read many books on the Battle of Midway, "A Dawn Like Thunder" brought out a new dimension I've not seen before. Probably because Mrazek used so many intimate sources, the book presents the characters on a personal level, which makes it a far more interesting story. What this new information shows is that as remarkable as it was that America won the battle at all, how we came even closer to losing it than I ever knew.

For example, one torpedo squadron located its targets "solely because he (Waldron) disobeyed a direct order" from his incompetent commander (Ring), who then flew off in the wrong direction all alone. Only when Ring returned to the Hornet still alone and still armed did Ring ask to be taught which button was the torpedo release.

Worse even than Ring was Commander Browning who tried to send another squadron off the Enterprise with too many bombs and too little fuel, making it certain that the pilots would have to ditch in the sea. An big argument ensued and again, a lesser ranked officer (McClusky) spoke up such that Admiral Spruance had to intervene, siding with the pilots.

When it was finally moved to Guadalcanal, Torpedo Eight was commanded so severely, that on two occasions two men were moved to shoot their leader (Swede Larson), one of whom actually aimed his loaded .45 to kill. Murder was avoided in both cases but it was a near thing at that.

Anyway, you will enjoy this book especially since it lives up to its sub-title, "The TRUE story of Torpedo Squadron Eight".

Gripping story and great detail without being overwhelming.

HOWEVER, the Kindle edition downloads horribly. Word are hyphenated where they do not belong, crazy ampersands and other such such typing characteristics interposed where they do not belong. It takes away from the fluidity of reading the story.