Landmark Books in All Fields
ItemID: #114611
Cost: $150.00

Clash of the Carriers

Barrett Tillman

"CAME ABOARD WITH VF-31 SUNDAY NOV. 7, 1943. FLEW OFF CABOT UNTIL NOV. 1944": FIRST EDITION OF CLASH OF THE CARRIERS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT OF WORLD WAR II, INSCRIBED ON A CUSTOM BOOKPLATE BY VINCENT A. RIEGER

TILLMAN, Barrett. Clash of the Carriers. The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II. (New York, New York): NAL Caliber, (2005). Octavo, original black and gray paper boards, original dust jacket. $150.

First edition of this history of the Marianas Turkey Shoot, aka the Battle of the Philippine Sea, inscribed on a custom bookplate tipped onto the half title by a prominent World War II fighter ace who is mentioned on page 61: "Came aboard with VF-31 Sunday Nov. 7, 1943. Flew off Cabot until Nov. 1944. Vincent A. Rieger."

"The battle of the Philippine Sea was one of the last carrier battles of World War II and perhaps now with the inevitable advances of technology is one of the last in history… The battle helped break the inner Japanese defense lines, crippled the main Japanese carrier force and finally brought the war home to Japan as it was now truly in range of American land-based bombers, which was the B-29 Superfortress in this case… For those that want to get the most up to date details on the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Clash of the Carriers does its jobs exceptionally well and it does give the story of the battle a human face on both sides of the battle zone" (Andrew Nguyen, Combined Fleet). This copy bears the tipped-in custom bookplate of World War II fighter ace Vincent A. Rieger. The bookplate is printed with: "WWII U.S. Navy ace VF-31 USS CABOT 5 Victories" and is additionally inscribed and signed by Vincent Rieger. Rieger was a Lieutenant, Junior Grade during World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot in Fighting Squadron 31. Vincent is noted on page 61 of the text: "Lieutenant Junior Grade Vincent Rieger bagged three Zekes in a half hour's hunting. His only previous claim was a damaged on April 1."

Fine condition.

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