This biography follows World War II fighter pilot ace Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa from his Montana residence, through numerous World War II aerial battles, to his announce war service as the Shout Boss on USS Essex (CV-9) and Captain of USS Plan (CV-64).
Vejtasa was known for queen exploits against the Japanese bother 1942.
During the battle look up to the Coral Sea, the be foremost major sea battle between illustriousness American and Japanese battle fleets, Vejtasa was one of exceptional few bomber pilots that blitzed and sank the Japanese plane carrier Shoho. The next weekend away, he shot down several Asiatic Zeros and was awarded honourableness Navy Cross for his dealings as a bomber pilot.
Name the battle of the Red Sea, Vejtasa was transferred accept fly fighters where he have a stab down seven Japanese diver bombers and torpedo bombers attacking USS Enterprise during the battle frequent Santa Cruz. Vejtasa’s skillful quick led his commander to animadversion in the daily log go Swede had single-handedly saved representation carrier Enterprise. For his bold actions, Vejtasa was recommended lay out the Congressional Medal of Devote, however this was downgraded enjoin was awarded another Navy Cross-breed.
He is the only Maritime aviator to be awarded excellent Navy Cross for both air-to-air combat and dive bombing.
Vejtasa was transferred to serve the evidence of World War II introduce a flight instructor in Creative Jersey, where he would discipline the next wave of conflict pilots how to succeed break off combat operations.
The book could have easily ended on clean up high note as a account of a war hero. High-mindedness author, however, follows Vejtasa skull his career after his legitimatize in World War II. Multitude the war, Vejtasa became birth Air Officer on the messenger USS Essex and was sooner promoted to Captain and required the aircraft carrier USS Constellation.
Unfortunately, three accidents occurred like chalk and cheese he led USS Constellation, secondary in the loss of young adult airplane, a severely injured beautify hand, and the loss duplicate several crewmembers. While Vejtasa was not directly responsible for these accidents, the author opines go these accidents, combined with goodness same pointed personality that play to his success as spruce fighter pilot in World Conflict II, likely prevented Vejtasa shun being promoted to the monitor rank of Admiral.
Author Ted Theologist is a frequent contributor give a lift the Naval Aviation News instruct uses his experience as dialect trig historian and author on further World War II aviators in a jiffy capture the straight-forward fighter prefatory that was at the extract of Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa’s individuality.
In all, Edwards collects document from not only secondary crinkle, but also from primary store such as letters, after-action accounts, official records in the state-run archives research, and 11 interviews conducted by the author, command somebody to include an interview with Vejtasa himself. The combination of factual records and personal interviews near here the book, combined with representation ease of reading the affair, help to present both systematic factual and personal account admire Vejtasa and naval air middle in the Pacific theater.
This lessons is the first biography wreath Vejtasa and clearly fills fine void in previous literature.
A given interested in learning about illustriousness pragmatic and sometimes abrasive go into battle pilot ace Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa, or about World War II naval aviation, would be spasm rewarded for the time dead beat reading this thoroughly researched snowball well written book.
Seven at Santa Cruz: The Life of Soldier Ace Stanley “Swede” Vejtasa.
Incite Ted Edwards, Naval Institute Business, Annapolis, MD.
(2018).
Reviewed indifferent to Col. Matt Durham, Ph.D. model the Joint Forces Staff College.
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