THE MOSQUITO FLEET

by Bern Keating ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 18, 1962

The story of the fast, brave little PT craft known as ""torpedo boats"" ranges from MacArthur's escape from the Philippines in early 1942 to the final fight for the Pacific against Japan in 1945, focussing at length first on Guadalcanal in 1942 and the desperate fight to hold the island against constant Japanese naval hammering. ""The Slot""---""Iron Bottom Bay""---Henderson Field -- these become the scenes of daring night operations by torpedo boat squadrons: operations in which Japanese ships were sunk or scared off, American sailors were rescued in the water, and Japanese supply lines were constantly disrupted. New Guinea comes next, with the dauntless little boats blasting Japanese troop barges. John F. Kennedy's now famed PT 109 exploit is touched on, as are hundreds of other stories. How the boats continued their attacks and point blank gun duels in the Mediterranean, the English Channel and Leyte Gulf off the Philippines in 1944, carries this saga through until victory in 1945. While debunking myths about PT boats, the author packs his exciting history full of authentic adventures -- some of them be best to be recorded in World War II naval history. Very readable.

Pub Date: Feb. 18, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1962

Categories: NONFICTION