The Guadalcanal Air War: Col. Jefferson Deblanc's Story

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Author: Jefferson J. Deblanc
Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$24.95~~
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Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

2 reviews
Sales Rank: 307656

Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.2

ISBN: 1589805879
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.54265933
EAN: 9781589805873
ASIN: 1589805879

Publication Date: April 15, 2008
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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
DeBlanc first saw action in World War II at the island of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. From his very first day there, he proved himself as a talented fighter pilot. He shot down two Betty bombers on his first day and soon began to lead his own squadron in the air. Within weeks, he was considered to be part of the flying elite, the Marine Fighter Aces.

"The Guadalcanal Air War" is DeBlanc's firsthand account of his training and the events on Guadalcanal. It is DeBlanc's journey as a man as he discovers the value of life, including his own. Because of the efforts of men like DeBlanc, the battles fought on and above Guadalcanal marked a turning point in the war and ended Japanese expansion.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars

A worthwhile addition to any World War II library July 12, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Probably the last Medal of Honor winner of World War II to write his biography, Marine pilot Colonel Jefferson J DeBlanc died in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2007.

This is a fine personal narrative from one of the last of the great generation. DeBlanc was born in 1921 in Lockport, Louisiana, and died in his native Louisiana in 2007. In between he packed several lifetimes. He learned to fly at age 19 at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He never looked back after the war began, joined the Marines, became a fighter pilot, and was assigned to the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal in November 1942 with VMF-112.

On his first combat in his Grumman Wildcat, he and a buddy shot down two Japanese bombers. On his second mission he shot down two fighter planes. He was soon leading the squadron. He soon became an ace with five kills. Later he shot down five Japanese planes the same day he bailed out of his faithful Wildcat, was rescued by Coast Watchers and after adventures, he returned to duty.

Some of the best moments in the book occur long after the war when DeBlanc and friends returned to Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands to help maintain the battle sights as memorials to those who fought there.

"The Guadalcanal Air War" is a worthwhile addition to any World War II library and a good read to boot.

Richard N. Larsen
Reviewer

5 out of 5 stars

The Life of Col. Jefferson Deblanc May 12, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I knew the man for 20 years yet didn't know the full story until I read this book. I couln't put it down. I would advise anyone interested in history to read this.

It is great I only wish it had been published while he lived.