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Thach Weave: The Life of Jimmie Thach Hardcover – July 1, 2004

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Steve Ewing (Author)
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Steve Ewing (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 12 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 338 pages
  • Publisher: US Naval Institute Press; 1St Edition edition (July 1, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1591142482
  • ISBN-13: 978-1591142485
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,167,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsBiography falls short of expectations, but still essential
By Brian Carter on May 19, 2006
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Since I was a child, John Thach was my hero. He is only sparsely mentioned in survey history books on World War II. Finding articles about him, or detailed accounts on his history, was always challenging. At age 8, I actually tried calling his house in Coronado, California (he wasn't home).

As I grew older and read more in-depth histories on Midway and other battles, I learned much more of the significant role Thach played - what a master tactician - but there was no biography on him or any information on his early life or life after World War II.

Finally, there is a biography - sort of. While finally getting detail on the full life and history of this Hero, in every sense of the word, is great, there is a lot missing.

This book, along with Reaper Leader (on Jimmy Flatley) and Fateful Rondezvous (on Butch O'Hare) completes a trilogy on the great Navy fighter pilots in early World War II. Ewing's prime interest is clearly with Flatley, but the three men were good friends and worked closely together so that the research lent itself to creating biographies on each man.

To Ewing's credit, he did help discover a treasure trove of Thach's personal papers, adding a wealth of information to the key role that Thach played in saving Naval Aviation (revolt of the Admirals in response to the USAF takeover of military aviation) and in advancing anti-submarine warfare to counter the serious nuclear threat of soviet submarines. In fact, those who know of Thach from his fighter pilot fame, will be surprised to find how much more he did for naval aviation and the US security AFTER the second world war.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Naval Officer
By LMC on May 7, 2008
Format: Hardcover
I am fairly well-read on the U.S. Navy in World War II. But prior to this book, all I knew about John S. "Jimmy" Thach was that he invented the "Thach Weave" air combat maneuver and fought in the Battle of Midway. It turns out that Thatch was one of the truly great U.S. Naval Officers, with a career filled with significant achievements.

The book started a little slow but soon became very interesting. Overall it reads well.

It's not unusual for books of this type to idolize the subject, causing the reader to wonder if the subject was as great as the book implies. I don't get that from this book. If anything, I felt the book understates Thach's amazing achievement on June 4, 1942 in the Battle of Midway. Of the three VF squadrons that escorted the USN attack against the Japanese carriers, only Thach's engaged in combat. Thach's six Wildcats were jumped by approximately 20 Zeros. Despite being outnumbered in a slower, less maneuverable fighter against experienced pilots, Thach shot down three Zeros and his wingman one using the Weave tactic he had developed. Later in the day, Thach shot down a Kate Torpedo plane, probably that of flight leader Tomananga. It was one of the great individual performances of World War II.

Amazingly, Thach never flew in combat again. Immediately after Midway, he was sent to Florida where he had a big part in setting up the training pipeline that produced the thousands of naval aviators who manned the new 1943 and 1944 carrier air groups. I was struck by the contrast with the Japanese training system. Their aviators stayed in the fight until they were killed, after which there were no fully trained aviators to replace them.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsHow the thin blue line was held in 1942
By Harry Eagar on November 1, 2006
Format: Hardcover
Pacifists and cheeseparers in the 1920s and '30s left Hawaii without adequate defenses when the Japanese attacked in 1941.

As the aircraft carrier Saratoga rushed from California to still smoking Pearl Harbor, the planes of Fighting Squadron 3 had only 24 rounds per gun for their Wildcat fighters -- not even enough to "charge" the guns in preparation for combat.

Within a year, 12 of the 19 pilots in VF 3 were dead, killed partly by Japanese aggressors, partly by American politicians and moralizers.

That more young Americans' lives were not lost in the early days was due in large part to three remarkable Navy aviators, Butch O'Hare, Jimmy Flatley and the commander of VF 3 in December 1941, Jimmie Thach.

Of the three, all subjects of biographies by Steve Ewing, curator at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston, Thach may have been the most remarkable.

O'Hare was the matchless marksman in battle, and Flatley was a superior teacher and lobbyist for new tactics. Thach was the originator of those tactics, a man who figured out how to substitute technique for technology.

His solution, worked out over a kitchen table with matchsticks, was put to the test at the Battle of Midway, and with it a few Wildcats were able to hold off four times as many Japanese Zeros, though they were unable to fulfill their mission of protecting American attack planes.

The maneuver, the "Thach Weave," was a lifesaver in the next year of ceaseless combat in the South Pacific, until newer, better planes were delivered.

The weave was not wholly original with Thach; but his version was superior to the technique adopted shortly before by British pilots fighting the Luftwaffe.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsGood read

I enjoyed this book immensely. As a former "occasional" TF34-GE-400 mech I had no idea he had that much influence on the S-3. I have nothing to add to the other reviews.

Published 3 months ago by JCAL
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very interesting, detailed and well written!

Published 5 months ago by consumer
4.0 out of 5 starsThis book is a good read about commander and flight leader during WW2...

This book is a good read about commander and flight leader during WW2 who devised the thach weave tactic for taking out enemy aircraft in a dogfight. Read more

Published 7 months ago by don anthony
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

My former C O.

Published 13 months ago by John E. Vawter Sr.
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Read

Steve Ewing has done it again. A biography that is thoroughly researched, extremely well documented and yet reads like a novel! Dr. Ewing's knowledge of the U.S. Read more

Published 17 months ago by David Pohlman
5.0 out of 5 starshe done good.

impressive man,one to emulate.

Published on September 23, 2014 by bandit
4.0 out of 5 starsArkansan who become a major pioneer of Naval Aviation

This an excellent book on one individual who made major contributions during the early years of U.S. naval aviation. Read more

Published on January 12, 2013 by John E. Barnes
5.0 out of 5 starsSurviving in Inferior Aircraft

At the beginning of World War II, the allies were in very poor condition to face the Germans or Japanese. Read more

Published on November 1, 2004 by John Matlock
5.0 out of 5 starsAwesome

To start with I will admit that I am only half way through this book but wanted to rate what I have read so far and I can say that what I have read is very interesting. Read more

Published on September 10, 2004 by Joe

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