The First Hellcat Ace

by Hamilton McWhorter III, Jay A. Stout

THE FIRST HELLCAT ACECdr Hamilton McWhorter, III, USN (Ret)with Jay A. StoutThough he would object to being called such, Hamilton McWhorter III's service to familyand country make him a standout among America's Greatest Generation. A Georgia nativewhose family roots date from that region's settlement during the 1700s, Mac McWhorterwas a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was attacked onDecember 7, 1941.After earning his Wings of Gold in early 1942, Ensign McWhorter was trained as a fighterpilot in the robust but technologically outmoded F4F Wildcat. Initially assigned to VF-9—afiercely spirited and hard-playing fighter squadron—he saw first combat in November1942 against Vichy French forces in North Africa.After returning to the United States, VF-9 became the first unit to convert to the newGrumman F6F Hellcat fighter—the fighter the U.S. Navy would use to crush Japanese airpower during the long offensive from the Southwest Pacific to the shores of Japan.From mid 1943, Hamilton McWhorter was constantly engaged in the unforgiving anddeadly aerial warfare that characterized the battles against Imperial Japan. His fifthaerial victory, in November 1943 off Tarawa Atoll, made him the first ace in the Hellcat,and seven subsequent victories ensured his place in the annals of air-to-air combat.McWhorter's combat service, from the beginning of the war to the last campaign off the shores of Okinawa, makes his story a must-read for the serious student of the Pacific airwar.Hamilton McWhorter III retired from the Navy as a commander in 1969. He passed awayin 2008.A Marine F/A-18 pilot from 1981 to early 2000, Lieutenant Colonel Jay A. Stout is acombat veteran with over 4,600 flight hours. He has also authored Hornets over Kuwait,which recounts his own experiences during the Gulf War.What the experts are saying about The First Hellcat "Mac McWhorter not only survived three carrier deployments in World War II, he earneda reputation as one of the Navy's deadliest fighter pilots. His memoir captures theattitude of his generation—the heroism and the sacrifice, and the return to a lovingfamiy. It was an era never to return again." ——Barrett Tillman, author of TheF6F in World War II"Mac McWhorter became a noted Navy fighter ace during World War II, his three carrierdeployments characterized by intense combat, the loss of numerous squadron mates,and the pain of separation from his wife and family. His memoir is not the stuff of legendsor glamour so often associated with fighter pilots, but a sensitive look at the realitiesfaced by carrier aviators who go in harm's way." ——Bruce Gamble, author of BlackSheep The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington"Not only a thrilling account of some of the great air battles of the Pacific war, HamiltonMcWhorter's book provides a window through which we can view a generation of youngmen at war, impressed by their camaraderie and spirit and humbled by the hardships andfears they overcame." ——M. Hill Goodspeed, historian at the U.S. Navy Aviation Museum"Today the U.S. Navy’s World War II fighter pilots remain less well known than their ArmyAir Forces counterparts.

Genres: Aviation

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[David L. Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Charlie Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

J Stout is an excellent flier, writer and historian…as well as a good Marine. I’d recommend his books to anyone.