Whirlwind - Barrett Tillman [133]
Jack Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Thunderbolt). Navy single-engine, single-seat fighter. 1942.
Nick Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (Dragon). Army twin-engine, two-seat interceptor and reconnaissance plane. 1941.
Oscar Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon). Army single-engine, single-seat fighter. 1939.
Tojo Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Devil Queller). Army single-engine, single-seat fighter. 1940.
Tony Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Swallow). Army single-engine, single-seat fighter. 1941.
Zeke Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero Fighter). Navy single-engine, single-seat fighter. 1939.
Acknowledgments
VETERANS (RANKS AS OF 1945)
First Lieutenant Sandy Arnell
29th Bomb Group, Guam
Lieutenant Malcolm W. Cagle
VF-88, USS Yorktown (d. 2003)
Sergeant Howard Chamberlain
504th Bomb Group, Tinian
Lieutenant (jg) John H. Christiansen
VBF-16, USS Randolph (d. 2008)
First Lieutenant Charles M. Crawford
38th Bomb Group, Okinawa
Major Harry C. Crim
21st Fighter Group, Iwo Jima (d. 1994)
Captain Jack DeTour
38th Bomb Group, Okinawa
Sergeant Henry E. Erwin
29th Bomb Group, Guam (d. 2002)
Second Lieutenant Donald A. Gerth
39th Bomb Group, Tinian
First Lieutenant R. F. “Hap” Halloran
499th Bomb Group, Saipan
Lieutenant (jg) Willis E. Hardy
VF-17, USS Hornet
Lieutenant Commander Roger Hedrick
VF-84, USS Bunker Hill (d. 2006)
First Lieutenant Bedford M. Hertel
27th Troop Carrier Squadron, China (d. 1997)
Lieutenant Commander W. N. Leonard
Task Force 38 staff (d. 2005)
Lieutenant Hamilton McWhorter, Jr.
VF-12, USS Randolph (d. 2006)
Brigadier General Ernest M. Moore
VII Fighter Command, Iwo Jima (d. 1981)
Sergeant Virgil Morgan
6th Bomb Group, Tinian
First Lieutenant Harvey Phipps
21st Fighter Group, Iwo Jima
Lieutenant (jg) Robert S. Rice
VBF-3, USS Yorktown (d. 2007)
Lieutenant Armistead B. Smith III
VBF-12, USS Randolph (d. 2000)
First Lieutenant Neil Smith, Jr.
506th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima
First Lieutenant Robert Stevens
348th Fighter Group, le Shima (d. 1994)
Colonel Clay Tice, Jr.
49th Fighter Group, Okinawa (d. 1998)
CONTRIBUTORS
All the regulars at J-Aircraft.com; Tom Behrens, 38th Bomb Group Association; Colonel Walter J. Boyne, USAF (Ret); Alan Concepcion; W. David Dickson; Robert F. Dorr; Richard L. Dunn; Edward Fahey, FDNY; Andrew Farmer; Richard B. Frank; Orland F. Gage, 38th Bomb Group Association; Phil Gentry, USS Franklin Association; Dennis Giangreco; C. V. Glines; Frank Grube; Dr. Richard P. Hallion; Bob Kattenheim, USS Shangri-La Association; Don Kehn, Jr.; Dr. Arnold Krammer; Dr. John T. Kuehn; Rich Leonard; Jim Long; Kirk Lowry, Theaerodrome.com; Chuck Lynch; Nancy Macaulay; Helen McDonald and Reagan Grau, National Museum of the Pacific War (special thanks); Roger Mansell; Donald Nijboer; Don Norton (special thanks); Seth Paridon, National WWII Museum (special thanks); Lucy Price, London Fire Brigade; Ronald W. Russell (special thanks); Henry Sakaida (special thanks); Taeko Sasamoto; Dale Sauter, East Carolina University; Dr. M. G. Sheftall; Commander Doug Siegfried, USN (Ret), Tailhook Association; Jody Smith; Joseph A. Springer; Doug Sterner, Home of Heroes; Iain Stewart; John C. Sullivan, Office of Air Force History; Osamu “Sam” Tagaya; John L. Tillman; Anthony P. Tully, Robert von Maier, World War II Quarterly; Sallyann Wagoner, B-29.org; and Pete Wyler, 39th Bomb Group Association.
Also, a dip of the wing to my literary agent, Jim Hornfischer, who suggested the subject, and a tip of the helmet to my patient editor, Roger Labrie.
Notes
PROLOGUE
Page
1 something that had never been done: In May 1938 the Chinese air force dispatched two American-built Martin bombers to drop leaflets over southern Japan, including Nagasaki. Both returned safely but no further missions were flown. Information from Richard L. Dunn, http://www.warbirdforum.com/elusive.htm.
2 “out of the country”: http://www.njipms.org/Articles/doolittle-lawson.htm.
2 A sub kill was claimed: “U-boat Losses by Year,” http://uboat.net/fates/index.html.
2 Doolittle’s crew: