The Last Great Ace : The Life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. [Paperback]

Charles A. Martin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The first book ever about the life of Major Thomas B.McGuire, Jr., one of this country's most decorated soldiers of all time. McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, is named for America's number two all-time ace. He was awarded America's highest awards, including Congressional Medal of Honor, Dist. Service Cross, six Dist. Flying Crosses, three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, 14 Air Medals and others in two years of WWII combat. He died in closing days of the war saving a wingman's life. Book cotains a never before published letter from Charles Lindbergh to McGuire's widow. Lindbergh had befriended McGuire, flying combat with him in SW Pacific. Book includes 50 photographs.

From the Author

I have known the McGuire story most of my life. McGuire and I were raised in Sebring, Florida and graduated from the same high school. I waited 25 years for someone to write the story and then spent 25 years researching and writing this book with the help of McGuire's widow and other family members. I had access to McGuire's service record and log book where McGuire kept meticulous notes. McGuire's 201 file even included a record of money owed to him from players in the 24-hour-a-day alert shack poker game. I traveled from one end of the country to the other and conducted hundreds of interviews, some as late as the fall of 1998.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Charles a Martin; 2 edition (January 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096677910X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966779103
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Book About a True Hero, January 23, 2003

By 

Jeffrey T. Munson (Dixon, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Last Great Ace : The Life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (Paperback)

There is only one word to describe this book; TREMENDOUS! Author Charles A. Martin has written a masterpiece of aviation history. In this book, the reader is given insight into the life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. who would end up as America's number two all-time ace with thirty eight confirmed (and many more unconfirmed) victories. This book does a superior job of giving the reader insight into McGuire's life. The first half of the book deals with McGuire from a young age until he entered flight training. Some of the other reviewers of this book thought that the first half was a waste; I highly disagree. Mr. Martin gives us insight into Tommy's youth and his upbringing, which in the end ultimately resulted in the kind of pilot and leader of men he turned out to be. His upbringing had a major impact on the type of commander he was, and I applaud Mr. Martin for including the early years of McGuire's life. Too often, biographers just concentrate on a specific area of a person's life. I'm glad that I found out what type of person Tommy McGuire was when he was younger. It's easy to see from his childhood how he grew to become such an effective leader.

The second half of the book deals with the actual combat life of Tommy. From August 1943 until his untimely death on January 7, 1945, Major McGuire compiled a record which most fighter pilots only dream about. He shot down thirty eight enemy aircraft; second only to his rival and friend Dick Bong's forty. He also grew to be a highly respected leader, tactician, teacher, and friend. Tommy was a fiery individual in combat, but he was a true friend to his comrades in every sense of the word and he always looked out for the well-being of everyone in his squadron.

I've read dozens of books about the Pacific war, but this book rates as one of my all-time favorites. This is a true classic of aviation history. Read it and discover the life of a true American hero.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Biography -- You'll feel you know McGuire, July 27, 1999

By 

Michael T. Terry ([e-mail] (Reading, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Great Ace : The Life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (Paperback)

Most biographers like their subjects, and that is likely the case with Charles Martin and his subject, Tom McGuire. Still, Martin presents a generally well balanced view of our second leading ace of all time, and one comes away with a sense of a very complex young man with lots of "background" going on in his mind as he goes off to war. Martin tends to downplay McGuire's prickly personality, but does acknowledge that many felt that Mac could be difficult. More importantly, we come to understand more WHY Mac was sometimes difficult -- as noted previously, there was lots of baggage there. I highly recommend this book for aviation fans and those who are interested in what made one of our lesser known, but of first magnitude, heroes tick. If the definition of a well written book includes a)wanting to meet the subject, b) wanting to meet the author, and c) wanting the author to turn to another subject you are interested in, then The Last Great Ace qualifies on all counts.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of American Ace Thomas McGuire, April 17, 2000

By 

Greg Pierce - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Great Ace : The Life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (Paperback)

Prior to reading this book I had some knowledge of Major Tom McGuire, but this book allowed me to "peel" back the layers of what made up the Man, the husband and the Pilot. The book methodically took me through his early life, flight school and into the Pacific Theater where we find this skilled pilot in the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning "Puddgy." Unlike some books written about famous fighter pilots of the WWII era you will be treated to a look at his friendship with flying legend Charles Lindburg, letters to his wife, recollections from his crew chief and his relationship with Americas Ace of Aces "Dick" Bong.

The author also takes into account the day to day life on the airbase(s), meetings with Generals and of course his aerial battles with the Japanese. Well balanced, insightful, this is a great book about a Medal of Honor recipient, I hope you enjoy it.