Books

The below listed books are available on CD and require Mircosoft Office 97 or higher. The proceeds from these publications fund our MIA recovery efforts.

F6F Grumman Hellcat
The format I have chosen to use is quite different. It is my decision to allow the aircraft to tell its own story. This is achieved by concentrating on each of the 12,275 examples of the F6F. Compiling data on an individual basis, plus arranging and cataloging the information also allows for easy reference. As such, this not only tells the story of the Hellcat aircraft, but also provides historical insight regarding the naval ships upon which each aircraft served. It is my hope that the information provided would aid in the recovery of other F6F’s, which still litter the countryside, so they may be properly preserved. This book is further intended to serve as a memorial to all those Hellcat pilots who lost their lives while serving their country. $69.95.

TBD Douglas Devastator
This is the story of the 130 Douglas torpedo bombers and their crews through the 1930s and the early battles of WWII. When the war began the Devastator was the Navy's front line torpedo bomber. It would take part in both the battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) and the battle of Midway (June 1942) with less than notable results. $24.95.

Army Aviation in Hawaii 1913-1941
Follows the history of those early days of aviation in Hawaii up to the beginning of the Second World War. From the days when aircraft were referred to as "tractors" and "pushers" until the dark days following the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941. Detailed rosters of the early squadron personnel that served in the islands.  The only book of its type to cover the time period. $24.95.

Missing Aircrew Reports Vol. 1 (#1-500)
During October 1942, Headquarters, Army Air Forces (AAF) undertook a seven month study to review the methods used during World War I to account for airmen reported missing in action. It was determined that those methods were not adequate for the World War II air war activities and in May 1943 AAF recommended the use of a special form, Missing Air Crew Report (MACR), to record the facts of the last known circumstances regarding missing air crews.
The War Department approved the AAF recommendation and on 23 May 1943, The Adjutant General directed that within 48 hours of an official finding that an aircraft or any member of it's crew was missing either in combat or over enemy held territory, an MACR be prepared by the station from which the aircraft had departed. The reports contain a great deal of information about both the aircraft and the members of the crew.
Following the war the reports were used to identify missing American military personnel. Some remained missing, others were determined to have been killed and many had become POWs.
The volume contains the first 511 MACRs $79.95

Lake Michigan Aircraft Wrecks
During World War II the US Navy operated two paddle wheeled steamers, USS Sable and the USS Woolverine as training carriers in the protected waters of Lake Michigan. Aboard these two ships thousands of new Navy pilots were qualified in carrier operations before transfer to the fleet. Unfortunately nearly 150 aircraft were lost during their years of operation. Many still litter the bottom of the lake while other were recovered and restored. This report covers all of the loses. $24.95.

 

Reports


Missing Aircrew Reports
The Group maintains a large number of the original 16,708 reports. These may be purchased individually. Please email us for addition information.