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The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn And Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
In an action-packed war memoir and squadron history, ace fighter pilot Tom Blackburn describes exactly how he shaped a crew of over-eager hotshots into one of the highest scoring fighter squadrons of World War II and U.S. Navy history. In only 76 days of combat, Blackburn's Jolly Rogers downed a record 154 enemy warplanes, and Blackburn himself emerged as one of VF-17’s leading aces with eleven aerial combat victories to his credit. A complete history of the squadron from its commissioning in January 1943 to its disbanding in April 1944—including a harrowing account of the squadron’s intense, winning campaign against the Japanese over the northern Solomon Islands and Fortress Rabaul—this book offers a fascinating look at Blackburn’s approach to organizing, training, and leading his pilots—thirteen of whom, the author included, became air aces.
270 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 6, 2011
This is a fabulous book, which provides many insights into the aerial war in the Pacific and Tommy Blackburn's leadership style.
By selecting the name Jolly Rogers for VF-17, his fighter squadron of F4U Corsairs, Blackburn signaled his vision for his team. They were to be daring, adventurous and aggressive in bringing the fight to the enemy. He worked them hard, trained them even harder but allowed them to play hard as well when off duty.
His squadron quickly became legendary by shooting down 154 Japanese planes in 2 combat tours totaling 76 days. This record surpassed even Pappy Boyington and his famous Black Sheep Squadron.
In addition to some spellbinding passages of aerial combat, Blackburn chronicles the early problems landing Corsairs on carriers and how they overcame that as well as some novel tactics to draw the Japanese out to fight; something they became reluctant to do when they know The Jolly Rogers were in the area.
F
ully indexed with some good maps and a few photographs, this book is a must read for anyone interested in aerial combat in the Pacific and some of the heroes that achieved American air supremacy.
John E Nevola
Author of The Last Jump: A Novel of World War II
By selecting the name Jolly Rogers for VF-17, his fighter squadron of F4U Corsairs, Blackburn signaled his vision for his team. They were to be daring, adventurous and aggressive in bringing the fight to the enemy. He worked them hard, trained them even harder but allowed them to play hard as well when off duty.
His squadron quickly became legendary by shooting down 154 Japanese planes in 2 combat tours totaling 76 days. This record surpassed even Pappy Boyington and his famous Black Sheep Squadron.
In addition to some spellbinding passages of aerial combat, Blackburn chronicles the early problems landing Corsairs on carriers and how they overcame that as well as some novel tactics to draw the Japanese out to fight; something they became reluctant to do when they know The Jolly Rogers were in the area.
F
ully indexed with some good maps and a few photographs, this book is a must read for anyone interested in aerial combat in the Pacific and some of the heroes that achieved American air supremacy.
John E Nevola
Author of The Last Jump: A Novel of World War II
August 1, 2021
Tom Blackburn was the CO of VF-17 and his story shows what it was like to be the commanding officer of a fighter squadron in the Pacific. The story starts with his career as an instructor pilot and progresses to how he ended up as the commanding officer of this squadron.
What I liked is the way how the development of the unit is portrayed, with all its ups and downs, and how they tried to exploit the Corsair's potential to the full. They poineered using the gull-winged fighter as a fighter-bomber and also helped to make the aircraft carrier qualified. Next to this the unit developed tactics to break up the Japanese formations over Rabaul before the attack force arrived. Later on this was used throughout the Pacific.
As usual with a bunch of pilots, there are some really funny stories intermingled with the serious side of air combat. Well written and an easy read.
What I liked is the way how the development of the unit is portrayed, with all its ups and downs, and how they tried to exploit the Corsair's potential to the full. They poineered using the gull-winged fighter as a fighter-bomber and also helped to make the aircraft carrier qualified. Next to this the unit developed tactics to break up the Japanese formations over Rabaul before the attack force arrived. Later on this was used throughout the Pacific.
As usual with a bunch of pilots, there are some really funny stories intermingled with the serious side of air combat. Well written and an easy read.
May 10, 2017
Best of the best of the best!
Recommend to all who hold freedom dear and wish to honor those who have made it available to us, subsequent generations.
...and a hearty Thank You to Tom, Ira and all the rest of the Jolly Rogers!
Recommend to all who hold freedom dear and wish to honor those who have made it available to us, subsequent generations.
...and a hearty Thank You to Tom, Ira and all the rest of the Jolly Rogers!
February 10, 2019
A good book describing the problems with the first squadron on a carrier to have the F4U in the Pacific. They did most of the work from land based operations n the Solomon Islands. A fun read. I enjoyed the Epilogue.
December 11, 2019
Everything you need to know about VF-17, with bits and pieces of CV-17 Bunker Hill and CV-4 Ranger. Not sure what to think about Pee-Wee. Thanks for the History.
July 14, 2020
Excellent if you are a Corsair buff. In
August 2, 2021
Well written account of the formation of VF-17 and there action in the Pacific.
November 22, 2023
Good book
January 17, 2008
As an avid student of WWII combat aviation, I don't think a book has ever thrilled me as much as THE JOLLY ROGERS. Tom Blackburn's writing style is easy and effective, especially in conveying the emotions and excitement of close engagement with enemy fighters. The books traces Blackburn's inauspicious debut in Operation TORCH to his glory days as CO of Fighting 17, with stories that are often as moving and tragic as they are exhilarating. Two sections of the book feature numerous photographs of the men and machines of the squadron, as well as detailed maps of the Solomons combat arena. I think I've read this book 3 times in its entirety and I still frequently read select passages just as refresher. I couldn't recommend it more highly. Tom Blackburn remains, even after his passing a few years ago, a true American hero; often frightened, sometimes arrogant, far from perfect, but always devoted to duty and able to stare death in the face and come away better for it.
October 7, 2007
Nice hx review of VF 17. Gives a nice general not too much details though.
August 6, 2008
True story about a Navy fighting squardron VF-17. Combat narratives leave alot to be desired. Hard to place yourself in the center of action.
March 30, 2017
When I was a kid, there was nothing I could imagine that was more adventurous than flying a Corsair over the South Pacific during WWII. It was the most beautiful plane ever built, and there were hundreds of them flying around the islands and atolls of Eden. At 12 or 13 years old, I lacked the sophistication to really delve into the specifics of what it must have been like for those pilots - the miserable heat, the distance from home, the crappy canned food, the anxiety of knowing people were trying to kill you. None of those things affect the imagination of a 12-year old kid. It just seemed a lot cooler than elementary school.
Blackburn's book gave a little more insight into the day to day lives of the people who flew those machines, though not as much as I would have hoped. Blackburn was the CO of a Corsair squadron, and I think he felt an impulse to corroborate all of the stories that were gobbled up by the 12 and 13 year old kids of the time, about swashbuckling and daring, not going by the book and being rebellious. He had an image to uphold, and I can sort of understand that, but it became somewhat obvious that that was what he was doing, rather than trying to paint a fully accurate picture of what it was like.
And that's what I'd really like to read. I spent so much time as a kid daydreaming about what it would be like to sit in the cockpit behind that huge engine, haul it over to the side and look down at some dormant volcano covered in jungle. There is a strong sense of romance to that. But I'd also like to know what it smelled like, what it felt like, the physical sensation of the fear they must have felt. And that isn't really there in this book. Not as much as I wanted it to be.
Blackburn's book gave a little more insight into the day to day lives of the people who flew those machines, though not as much as I would have hoped. Blackburn was the CO of a Corsair squadron, and I think he felt an impulse to corroborate all of the stories that were gobbled up by the 12 and 13 year old kids of the time, about swashbuckling and daring, not going by the book and being rebellious. He had an image to uphold, and I can sort of understand that, but it became somewhat obvious that that was what he was doing, rather than trying to paint a fully accurate picture of what it was like.
And that's what I'd really like to read. I spent so much time as a kid daydreaming about what it would be like to sit in the cockpit behind that huge engine, haul it over to the side and look down at some dormant volcano covered in jungle. There is a strong sense of romance to that. But I'd also like to know what it smelled like, what it felt like, the physical sensation of the fear they must have felt. And that isn't really there in this book. Not as much as I wanted it to be.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews