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The Skull & Crossbones Squadron: VF-17 in World War II (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

Used Book in Good Condition
This is the true story of one of the most successful of all United States Navy Fighting
Squadrons in World War II. They were the top guns of their day and came to be feared
by the Japanese fighter pilots who described them as "attacks on us by wolves." Their
victorious achievements are as follows: 152 Japanese planes destroyed in the air
and two on the ground in only 76 days of combat; five small enemy cargo ships and
seventeen barges carrying troops and supplies sent to the bottom of the sea. No
bomber escorted by them was lost to enemy aircraft and no ship covered by them was
ever hit by bomb or aerial torpedo. The squadron had thirteen aces and two more who
later went on to become aces with VF 84 (combat veterans of VF-17 composed the
nucleus of this squadron). They were the first Navy squadron into combat action
with the new Chance Vought Corsair and were instrumental in proving this powerful
new fighter to the Navy.
VF-17 were known as the "Skull and Crossbones Squadron" and "Blackburn's
Irregulars" - having adopted the old pirates ensign of the  Jolly Roger as the squadron
insignia, since World War II they have become known as the "Jolly Rogers."
VF-17 were originally part of Air Group 17 on the new "Essex class" carrier Bunker
Hill and on the way to the Pacific VF-17 received orders that upon arrival in Pearl
Harbor they were to be detached and operated as a land-based squadron in the
Solomon Islands.
The Skull and Crossbones Squadron is a mission by mission chronicle of all the
squadron's great air battles. Also included are more than 350 photographs and a
detailed appendices listing all squadron aces, every confirmed victory and war diary.