AIRCRAFT CARRIER

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1954

The journal which the Navy asked the author to keep during his tour of duty on the Yorktown here comes to the general reader, who will soon find himself involved in the life of the Pacific fleet as he lives through February, March and April on the carrier. We come to know ""The Fighting Lady"", her men, her enemies. We share the daily life -- call to General Quarters, signals between French Girl and Frankenstein with voices to match; the danger -- raids to Tokyo and Okinawa, attacks by the deadly kamikazes. Effective touches add the personal element to the authentic daily journal -- there is Cooper Bright, who teases his comrades into liveliness and high morale, and Carveth, a youngster braving terrible wounds to face life smiling. Aboard the lucky Yorktown, we can safely sympathize with those on the luckless Intrepid, known among the fleet as the ""Decrepit"" or ""Dry I"". President Roosevelt and Ernie Pyle die while the men of the fleet face the dread kamikazes, and Washington underlings worry about driving their higher-ups to picnics. This is an absorbing picture, told with compassion and without sensationalism, and most of all with thought to the ironies and comradeship and heroism of wartime existence.

Pub Date: March 15, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ballantine

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1954

Categories: NONFICTION