Leyte Gulf: The Death of the Princeton
New York, N.Y. Lancer Books, Inc., 1972. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Trade paperback. 158, [2] pages. Illustrations. Cover has some wear and soiling. Some page discoloration. Topics cover Life; Stout Ship; The Big Battle; The Sho Plan; PRINCETON and the Formosa Air Battle; The Bomb; "No Immediate Concern"; The Explosions; To Save a Ship; The Avengers; Progress Report; The World Explodes; The Death of the PRINCETON; and Epilogue. This is Lancer's Photobook History of Modern Combat #2. The true, awe-inspiring drama of a bomb-torn American aircraft carrier...ablaze, its crew decimated, and fighting the most courageous naval battle of WW II. Given the tactical situation that developed, the wisdom of scuttling Princeton was proved that very night, for Third Fleet did indeed move out to the north chasing Admiral Ozawa's northern Japanese force. Nothing else, but beaching, could have been done with the carrier, and at the moment, no one knew when they might return, or what might happen in these waters. Almost certainly, had she been beached, she would have been a prime target for the Japanese air force. Carriers always were. Edwin P. Hoyt is a well-known historian, author of more than seventy-five books, including the recent Lancer edition of Raider 16. During World War II, he served first with the Air Force in the Pacific, then with the Office of War Information. Upon separation from the service, he became a war correspondent for UPI, remaining with them after the war as a foreign correspondent. He has been a full-time freelance writer since 1958, and is preparing another book for the Lancer Photo-history of World War II, on U-Boats. The USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a 13,000-ton Independence-class aircraft carrier. On October 20, 1944 Princeton was part of Task Group 38.3, cruising off the island of Luzon. Taking part of the massive Allied invasion of Leyte Gulf, her planes flew against nearby Japanese airfields to prevent attacks on Allied ships. On the the morning of October 24th, the Japanese found the American carrier and shortly before 10:00 a.m. Princeton was attacked. The lone enemy dive bomber dropped a single 500 pound bomb, which struck the carriers’ flight deck. A fire instantly erupted and quickly caused further explosions. The cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-62) came alongside the doomed Princeton to assist. But when the carrier suffered another large internal explosion, 85 men aboard the Birmingham were killed. 108 men from the Princeton were lost in the attack, 10 officers and 98 enlisted men. Another 300 aboard Birmingham were wounded. Here is the entire tragic story of the loss of the USS Princeton. A very rare book, never published in a hardback edition. The fourth USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a United States Navy Independence-class light aircraft carrier active in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. She was launched in 1942 and lost at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. Captain John M. Hoskins, who had been prospective commanding officer of CVL-23, was rescued, but lost his right foot. He would later become the new commanding officer of the fifth Princeton, launched as a replacement in 1945. Condition: Fair.
Keywords: Battle of Leyte Gulf, USS Princeton, CVL-23, Aircraft Carrier, Sho Plan, Formosa Air Battle, Damage Control, USS Birmingham, Dive Bomber
[Book #82418]
Price: $45.00