Customer Reviews

The Magnificent Mitscher

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While wary of Naval biographies, I plucked this biography of Mitcher off the Wardroom library shelf for the sheer appeal of the weathered old admiral on the cover; and in so doing proved once again that although we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, a cover sometimes leads one to a very good book indeed. Taylor is commendable not only for his portrayal of Mitcher as an integral player in Naval aviation, but as an individual in his own right. I was captivated not only by tales of his prowess in the tight spots of Naval aviation in the major conflicts of his era, but by the portrayal of his private misgivings and apprehensions. This, coupled with the inclusion of other key players of the times -- Nimitz, Halsey, McCain, and others -- made for an excellent primer on the beginnings of Naval aviation. I highly recommend this work to anyone looking for a few evenings of good reading or an introduction to the intracacies and excitement of Naval aviation.

My review would be slightly biased. Adm. Mitscher was the uncle of my Grandmother. The Book, "The Magnificent Mitscher" is spellbinding, and extremely well written. I enjoy reading it completely... to the point that I am going to have to buy another copy as mine is going to wear out soon. My copy is copyrighted in 1954, by Theodore Taylor. It cost my Grandfather $4.50 to get, and was given to my father as a gift.

A fantastic book for anyone interested in WWII and the Pacific Task force 58/38.

Reading the biography of Admiral Marc Mitscher, I realized the narrative provides firsthand comprehensive information. Theodore Taylor took persistent advantage of his access to both people who served with Mitscher and classified records. His sources are well documented. Taylor was in a position to iterate with primary sources on who, what, when, why and how. His descriptions and fast moving narrative convey tempo and setting of how Mitscher operated and led during WW2. The book made me feel like an observer as Mitscher pioneered and invented U.S. Naval carrier taskforce doctrine as he anticipated and dealt with formidable Japanese forces. I suspect Mitscher would have appreciated how Taylor matter-of-factly conveyed Mitscher's inherent bravery and combative nature. As a result of serving on Mitscher's staff, my father developed a profound respect for his character and leadership. After studying the anecdotes and personal stories, I more fully understand why Admiral Mitscher is held in such high esteem by those who served in his commands.The Magnificent Mitscher (Bluejacket Books Paperback)

I enjoyed the book. It's unfortunate that Admiral Mitscher determined late in his life to destroy his personal correspondence. This caused the author to tell less than a full story. I presume this was part of the Admiral's intentions. None the less, it is a good biography about one of the architects of the winning strategy in the Pacific war.

This is the biography of Admiral Marc Mitscher, first published in 1954. Mitscher was a pioneer naval aviator and commander of the fast carrier task force in the second half of the Pacific War. The biographer, Theodore Taylor, has a much tougher job than most in presenting a full picture of Mitscher since Mitscher destroyed his personal papers shortly after the war. By doing so, the Admiral assured posterity that he would remain a remote figure, despite the fine job Taylor does with the sources he had available up to 1954. The 1991 edition of The Magnificent Mitscher includes an introduction by Jeffrey Barlow that further illuminates Mitscher's life and gives some background on Taylor's research.

As other reviewers have stated, the history of Mitscher's life is in large part the history of naval aviation through the end of WW2. He received his wings in 1916, and was designated naval aviator number 33. He participated in the trans-Atlantic flight of the "Nancys" in 1919. He went through various assignments up until 1941, where he became skipper of the new aircraft carrier Hornet. He commanded Hornet in the Doolittle strike on Tokyo and the Battle of Midway. Later he commanded all air forces in the Solomon Islands. In early 1944 he became commander of the fast carrier strike force, designated Task Force 38/58, depending on whether Halsey or Spruance was commanding the fleet at the time. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the relationship between Mitscher and his chief of staff, Arleigh Burke, who Mitscher initially resented for coming from a non-aviation background. Taylor undoubtedly interviewed Burke at length for that part of the narrative. Mitscher in time came to value Burke very highly.

By writing The Magnificent Mitscher within a decade of the end of the war, Taylor was able to largely offset his lack of abundant written sources by interviewing many of the still-living people who had served directly with Mitscher. Almost sixty years later, any new biographer would not have that opportunity. Should an attempt be made, however, the new biographer would have to address more closely the poor performance of Hornet's air group at Midway, and Mitscher's role therein, which has come under scrutiny in recent decades.