Kirjahaku

TAILHOOK PILOT-II is a sequel to TAILHOOK PILOT. It continues from where TAILHOOK PILOT left off. This is the story of a Navy pilot who returns to active duty after recovering from wounds he received in combat. Fly with Bob Wilson and experience the thrill of being in aerial combat in a new fighter plane beyond anything that has ever been seen before. It is also the story of two people in love, trying to survive with an uncertain future that war controls. The hopes and fears that only love can conquer.

This story takes place during WW-II in the Pacific theater. It is the story of a Navy pilot as he faces the day to day challenges of a fighter pilot. The missions he may not return from, the friends he may lose, or even if he will be able to make it back to his ship with a damaged plane and be able to land on the carrier. I am 87 years old and did fly the F6F Hellcat fighter in the early 1950s that my pilots fly in this story. I have landed an F6F Hellcat on a WWII type aircraft carrier. I have flown jet fighters off the USS Hornet CVA-12, that is the same ship featured in this book. That has given me the knowledge to write a more factual book. I have endeavored to present an accurate representation of what it was like to fly this plane in that period of time.

A long time ago, when I was serving as a Navy Pilot, four of us, all pilots, said that someday we would write a book about our adventures, or misadventures while we were together in the Navy. Since then, one member has passed away. Three of us remain; however, we are now in our late eighties. I have attempted to step up to the plate and try to write as much as I can. What I have written is not the actual events, but rather a story of men who had fun together just as we did. We always lived with the knowledge that what we were doing was very dangerous. Perhaps that is why we approached life with a fun-loving attitude. I am proud to say that we possessed high morals and had respect for the opposite sex. All married and remained married unless death parted them. We were together in the Naval Aviation training command, and some other places as well. The TT-1 Pinto did exist with only about a dozen manufactured. I did fly the Pinto, and I did crash in it. It was very nearly fatal for me. I welcome you to come aboard and join us. I can promise you a great adventure.