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Tom Cleaver
912 articles

A really nice New Year’s present

December 30, 2013 · in Aviation · 12 · 1.2K

Pardon the unpaid self-promotion ( 😉 ):

I've just learned that Casemate Publishers, the best military history publication house in the country, has picked up my book, "Fabled Fifteen: Air Group 15 in the Pacific War," the story of the Navy's top-scoring air group of World War II, for publication in 2014. Further details will follow over the next few months.

Here's a look at the cover art - the moment Dave McCampbell and Roy Rushing dove on the "40+ bogeys" at Leyte Gulf on October 24, 1944.

Reader reactions:
1  Awesome

12 responses

  1. If the cover art is anything like the book, it sounds (and looks) to be "right up my alley". Congrats on the deal...hope it turns out to be lucrative. Be sure to let us know when/where we can read it (maybe an iModeler discount)? 😉

  2. Tom,
    Look forward to reading this book. David McCampbell assumed command of Bon Homme Richard CVA-31 From Burdette Close. I was one of Capt Close's orderlies but I had left the ship prior to the change of command. I know you probably have it in your book but Wayne Morris, the actor (and Ace) was in VF-15 also. He was McCampbell nephew by marriage. In 1959 he was visiting McCampbell on board BHR and died of a heart attack.

    • Yeah, the story of Wayne Morris, the only real "Hollywood Ace" is ironic. He came back from the war and his moment had passed to step up to the "A-list." He became "King of the B Westerns," then did his best role, the cowardly Lieutenant Roget, in "Paths of Glory," and a month before it came out he died on the BHR. Wayne gets his due in "Fabled Fifteen."

  3. Hearty congrtulations Tom, with your knowledge and greta historical archives it looks like a superb read.
    Look forward to seeing it in the shops.

  4. i liked "i wanted wings"...congratulations...lovely art

  5. Looking forward to reading your book Tom. Who is the artist who did the cover?

  6. Congratulations Tom! That is great news. I will certainly do a search for the book as the year goes by. I see the link to your e-book on your profile page, so I will download that to read as well.

  7. Tom, congrats on the book, I look forward to reading it. As for the artwork...nothing like a couple of Hellcats looking to stir up a hornets nest! -Great Art work

  8. Congratulations Tom! I would love to read that book. Although it can't be judged by the cover, that is an excellent start! I envy your "job" sir.:)
    Gary

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