| Queen of the Flat-Tops
(1979)
|
| Front Cover |
Book Details |
|
| Genre |
Non-Fiction |
| Subject |
Lexington (Aircraft Carrier : 1927-1942); Coral Sea, Battle of the, 1942; World War, 1939-1945 - Personal narratives, American |
| Publication Date |
1979 |
| Format |
Hardcover |
| Publisher |
Nelson Doubleday |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
|
| Personal Details |
| Store |
AbeBooks |
| Purchase Price |
$13.49 |
| Acquire Date |
11/24/2018 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
|
|
| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
D774.L4 J6 1942 |
| Dewey |
940.545 |
| Edition |
Book Club Edition |
| No. of Pages |
233 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
This is the story of the USS Lexington's action during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Because it was published in the immediate aftermath of the battle, there were certain restrictions placed on its content. For example, almost no other US ships in the engagement are mentioned by name. The other aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, is only ever referred to as "Carrier II".
Other subsequent descriptions of the battle are undoubtedly more accurate as to the details of the battle. For example, as is typical in combat, claimed victories tend to be overstated. Two pilots may each claim the same kill, for instance. Near the end of the book, the author states that US forces inflicted twice the damage that they received. Although considered a strategic victory for the US, tactically the Battle of the Coral Sea was a minor victory for Japanese forces.
There are also a few other errors, none of which I found particularly bothersome. Planes from the Lex sank the Japanese carrier Shoho, which is identified here as the Ryukaku (likely a mis-translation).
The author was an Australian-American war correspondent. Although he had no formal training as a journalist, I found this book exceptional. He was the only journalist on board the Lexington. He was able to make significant notes of his time on board and managed to save most of them. He interviewed quite a few of the pilots and crew and uses their own words to tell many of the tales. These stories span the weeks before Coral Sea and are quite varied.
Highly recommended. |
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