book: Paddles!: The Foibles and Finesse of One World War II Landing Signal Officer

book: Paddles!: The Foibles and Finesse of One World War II Landing Signal Officer | John A. Harper

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	• Paddles!: The Foibles and Finesse of One World War II Landing Signal Officer John A. Harper Schiffer Publishing, 2000 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 1 review view larger image
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I met the author at the Oshkosh airshow this past summer and learned of the book. The Title is too subtle for all but the most knowledgable naval aviation nut. I found the content to be an interesting vantage point of carrier aviation during WWII. While his stories are interesting it is obvious that, unless Mr Harper made extensive diary notes during the war, or has a fantastic memory, the dialogue is contrived. Added to that is his liberal use of obscenties and blasphemies that make the book a real turn-off. I would hope that Mr. Harper might consider reworking the second edition so that I will be proud to have it in my collection.

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This autographical account of one young naval officer's brief World War II career as a carrier Landing Signal Officer details incidents and anecdotes, from the hilarious to the harrowing, drawn from the author's extemporaneous log, maintained during the advance of the Central Pacific fast carrier force toward the Empire of Japan, 1943-1945. Aircraft numbers are actually drawn from the author's Flight Log Book. Paddles! is an authorative look at aircraft recovery operations aboard the light, fast carrier Belleau Wood, punctuated by excursions into flying exploits outside the nominal scope of LSO duties, and seasoned with mischief and romance ashore. Set in the period of the massive build-up of the carrier, Navy that would destroy the Japanese fleet. Paddles! begins with conversion of a twenty-one year old wet-behind-the-ears ensign from fighter gunnery instructor to senior Landing Signal Officer in just four months, and follows him through twenty-seven months of fast paced air operations in the naval air combat enviornment. Crackling dialogue in the jargon of the time and vivid scene setting combine to submerge the reader in gripping battle action and sensuous romantic encounters-to the heights and depths of a checkered career.

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