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The First Hellcat Ace
A simple, personal and very engaging story that describes in detail the combat career of one of naval aviation's deadliest fighter pilots.
Although he objected to being called such, Hamilton McWhorter III's service to family and country made him a standout among America's Greatest Generation. A Georgia native whose family roots dated from that region's settlement during the 1700s, "Mac" McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941.
After being designated a naval aviator in early 1942, Ensign McWhorter was trained as a fighter pilot in the robust F4F Wildcat. Initially assigned to VF-9, a fiercely spirited and hard-playing fighter squadron, he saw first combat in November 1942 against Vichy French forces in North Africa while flying from the USS Range r . After returning to the United States, VF-9 became the first unit to convert to the new Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter, the aircraft the U.S. Navy would use to crush Japanese air power during the long offensive from the Southwest Pacific to the shores of Japan.
From mid-1943, Hamilton McWhorter was constantly engaged in the unforgiving and deadly aerial warfare that characterized the battles against Imperial Japan. His fifth aerial victory, achieved in November 1943 while flying from the USS Essex, made him the first Hellcat ace. Seven subsequent victories, and his role as a combat leader, ensured his place in the annals of air-to-air combat. McWhorter's combat service, from the beginning of the war in 1942 to the last campaigns off the shores of Japan in 1945, makes his story a must-read for the serious student of the Pacific air war.
Hamilton McWhorter III retired from the Navy as a commander in 1969. He passed away in 2008.
Coauthor Jay A. Stout is an accomplished author, historian and combat-proven fighter pilot who logged more than 4,600 flight hours during his career.
Although he objected to being called such, Hamilton McWhorter III's service to family and country made him a standout among America's Greatest Generation. A Georgia native whose family roots dated from that region's settlement during the 1700s, "Mac" McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941.
After being designated a naval aviator in early 1942, Ensign McWhorter was trained as a fighter pilot in the robust F4F Wildcat. Initially assigned to VF-9, a fiercely spirited and hard-playing fighter squadron, he saw first combat in November 1942 against Vichy French forces in North Africa while flying from the USS Range r . After returning to the United States, VF-9 became the first unit to convert to the new Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter, the aircraft the U.S. Navy would use to crush Japanese air power during the long offensive from the Southwest Pacific to the shores of Japan.
From mid-1943, Hamilton McWhorter was constantly engaged in the unforgiving and deadly aerial warfare that characterized the battles against Imperial Japan. His fifth aerial victory, achieved in November 1943 while flying from the USS Essex, made him the first Hellcat ace. Seven subsequent victories, and his role as a combat leader, ensured his place in the annals of air-to-air combat. McWhorter's combat service, from the beginning of the war in 1942 to the last campaigns off the shores of Japan in 1945, makes his story a must-read for the serious student of the Pacific air war.
Hamilton McWhorter III retired from the Navy as a commander in 1969. He passed away in 2008.
Coauthor Jay A. Stout is an accomplished author, historian and combat-proven fighter pilot who logged more than 4,600 flight hours during his career.
- GenresAviation
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 27, 2018
Air combat
I liked the experiences he had in becoming a pilot. How he started out as a boy. I would have liked more about the F6F aircraft
I liked the experiences he had in becoming a pilot. How he started out as a boy. I would have liked more about the F6F aircraft
October 9, 2021
J Stout is an excellent flier, writer and historian…as well as a good Marine. I’d recommend his books to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews