David McCampbell was the leader of the most successful naval air group in combat in World War II. An unequalled naval aviator, McCampbell shot down a total of 34 Japanese aircraft across numerous battles. Eventually awarded the Medal of Honor, he first served in the Atlantic as a carrier Landing Safety Officer, then as an air group leader in the Pacific theater. McCampbell's 31-year career reveals an astounding diversity of leadership roles and service assignments. McCampbell commanded ships, training centers and aircraft squadrons and held a variety of Navy and Defense Department senior staff positions.

He was selected from the cream of American youth, with admission standards much more restrictive than any other branch of the military. Well-trained pilots flying superior new fighter aircraft against an enemy, losing its best pilots and unable to afford the luxury of extended training, brought about the inevitable defeat of the Axis air forces. This is their story.

US Navy Fighter Squadrons In World War IITillmanSubtitled: Chronologies, Deployments, Combat Records. This first-ever chronology of VF squadrons describes their history, deployments, battle highlights, commanders, aces, losses and aircraft. Appendices supply information on shoot down claims, biographies of 12 famous aces, a list of 371 naval fighter aces, aces in a day, top scoring squadrons, and more. Hdbd., 7 1/4x 1 1/2, 16 pgs., 65 bandw ill.

Related families were Allison, Lamie, McCampbell, Kennemur, Rankin, Barnes, Sexton, Wyatt, and many others. Descendants lived in Virginia, Nebraska, Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and elsewhere.