Sun Downers: Vf-11 in World War II (Gold Wings) [Paperback]

Barrett Tillman (Author), John C. Valo (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Specialty Pr Pub & Wholesalers (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962586080
• ISBN-13: 978-0962586088
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,579,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barrett Tillman (b. 1948) was born into a NE Oregon ranching family and developed an early interest in aviation history. He learned to fly as a teenager, was first published at age 15, and graduated from the University of Oregon with a journalism degree in 1971. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, book publisher, and magazine editor, but has been self employed all but seven years since graduating from college. Though best known for his histories of US naval aviation, he also has published six novels plus short stories, and has sold a screenplay.

Tillman continues writing nonfiction books and has written more than 550 articles in the US and abroad. He frequently appears as a commentator on TV documentaries in addition to his speaking appearances. The recipient of six writing awards, he lives with his wife in Arizona.

Tillman's web site and blog are found at www.btillman.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Famous USN WWII Fighter Squadron in Action!, May 9, 2009

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sun Downers: Vf-11 in World War II (Gold Wings) (Paperback)

The Sun Downers are one of the Navy's most famous fighter squadrons, having seen action - and scored kills - in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. Noted aviation historian Barrett Tillman chronicles VF-11's World War II exploits in this 1993 release from Phalanx Publishing.

Fighter Squadron 11 served two combat tours in WW II, ending the war with 446 e/a destroyed in the air or on the ground, 30,000+ tons of Japanese shipping sunk and so on. The first tour was flown from Guadalcanal in 1943; the squadron's mount, the venerable Grumman F4F Wildcat. In 1944 the squadron, now equipped with the F6F Hellcat, flew combat from the deck of USS Hornet. The damage done by the Sun Downers came at a cost, 20+ VF-11 pilots being KIA including two COs. Seven Sun Downer aces had been crowned including 'Skull' Stimpson, Vern Graham, 'Doc' Savage and Jim Swope.

SUN DOWNERS is vintage Tillman. Well versed in USN fighter aviation, he recounts the VF-11 story in an engaging, eminently readable fashion, his authoritative text including reminiscences from several VF-11 vets. Along with several well-done color profiles by John Valo, the book includes numerous photographs, most not previously seen.

Though long out of print, air war buffs will want to include SUN DOWNERS in their collection. There haven't been that many books published on Navy fighter squadrons and Tillman's book is one of the best of the bunch! Recommended.
*****

NB. Tillman's expanded history of VF-11/-111 is set to be published by Osprey Publishing in 2009.