THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion

I must turn to this group in supplication, for I know you alone can assist me. Searching for a lost, long-forgotten WWII paperback book title, the incarnation of which I last saw on a shelf when I was a wee lad.

The reason I'm trying to recall it now is that I want to look again at its lurid-most paperback cover. It depicted a night-time battleship attack in the South Pacific; painted in scorching hues of red and black.

The title is something to do with the word, 'salvo'. 'Under Salvo'? 'Hellish Salvo'? 'Final Salvo'? 'Something'-Salvo.

Of this I am sure. It was a strange vocabulary word for me to encounter at the time (and what's worse, I've never found an opportunity to use it in real life).

Definitely WWII --could be nonfiction, could be fiction. Printed during the 60s. Owned by an older relative and handed down to the family bookshelves long before I even arrived on the scene.

I know this is the place to bring this cryptic request!

Thanks all!

Feliks

Feliks wrote: "I must turn to this group in supplication, for I know you alone can assist me. Searching for a lost, long-forgotten WWII paperback book title, the incarnation of which I last saw on a shelf when I ..."

How about:

Salvo!: Classic Naval Gun Actions by Bernard Edwards

That caught my eye too, yes--when I searched just moments ago. But the publishing dates seem all wrong, eh?

Otherwise I would be sure it was the title.

Thanks ManRay

Feliks wrote: "That caught my eye too, yes--when I searched just moments ago. But the publishing dates seem all wrong, eh?

Otherwise I would be sure it was the title.

Thanks ManRay"

Sure it wasn't "Savo," as the island?

I'm as sure as I can be that it had to do with naval mayhem in the Pacific...rather than a specific place...

I fully understand your quest to find a long lost book but if folks could check and see if there is a thread already set up to use first before starting another one as I don't what this group to end up with a proliferation of one-of posts/comments which tend to clutter the group up. If you can't find a thread that is appropriate send me a message and I will set one up or suggest a thread to use. In this case could we use the thread: 'I'm looking for a book on':

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Or even in the pacific theatre thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'll leave this thread up for a while then I will either archive it or delete it.

Agreed. Concur.

But in my defense, you surely can see that this group homepage already has a LOT of sections and already has a LOT of threads. Kind of difficult to spot 'exactly where' a new thread should go. Especially with a 'stuttering bandwidth' connection (lately).

If you wish me to re-post or delete or move this thread, let me know..

It was even worse before I took over Feliks! :)

I go through and archive and delete threads on a regular basis but try to keep those in use open for as long as I can. I will keep this thread active for a while in case someone knows the title of the book you are after and I will delete/archive it during one of my regular clean ups.

That's very fair. I'm at ease with whatever you gotta do to maintain order. Policing the area! I'm all in favor of it!

This is a very well managed group, anyone can see so, at a glance.

p.s. I did try try to spot a 'lost book' thread before I posted but I got dizzy just skimming down through all the activity!

I am currently trying to find a copy of a book in my library that may be the one your looking for, I'll get back to you with details as soon as I can lay my hands on it :)

This was the book I was thinking of but wrong time period if you are talking about the 1960's:


The Shame of Savo: Anatomy of a Naval Disaster by Bruce Loxton

Thanks Rick. Appreciate you trying to help out on this one. I am really scratching my head over it. It is odd that I can't cough-up more detail. Especially, with that very uncommon word in the title..its surprising that an internet search doesn't bring it right up.

This book was on my childhood bookshelf for years, I never read it but just the cover art kept it there.

The cover was reddish-hued and tinted, as if by proverbial rocket's-red-glare. Huge battleships plowing through angry wave-crests. Night-time sea battle. Swirling smoke, explosions, and mayhem.

Black back-cover with light text. Publisher: something like Fawcett or Grosset Dunlap, Pinnacle, etc. Definitely 'WWII grindhouse' rather than a scholarly piece of writing.

Possible titles:
Enemy Salvo?
Under Salvo?
Devil's Salvo?
Deadly Salvo?

Grrr!

Is it possible that Bernard Edwards book on classic naval gun actions is a reprint from a much earlier publication-run? I mean, I would totally figure that to be the work, except for the incongruity of the date. The book seems to have been published by a series of different publishers: 'Naval Institute Press'; 'Cassell'; 'Caxton'; 'ZBS'; 'Weidenfield'; 'Arms and Armour Press'...

I looked up USS Washington because there is a lot on the internet about her to see what books were in the footnotes, but I didn't see anything like what you describe.

That's a mighty clever maneuver. Thanks!

Looked at Abe, Amazon and Fantastic Fiction (just in case it was), also looked up USS Maury, which was at Savo Island. Drawn a blank Feliks.

Worldcat.org had some interesting suggestions too, but I stopped at page 4 of choices...

Oh well. I guess this thread should be archived. Written off as a dud. I'm satisfied the book can't be found. Thx everyone...