Fateful Rendezvous: The Life of Butch O'Hare

Fateful Rendezvous: The Life of Butch O'Hare by Ewing, Steve. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781557502476.

Perhaps the most famous aviator of World War II, Butch OHare captured Americas hearts and headlines in 1942 after saving the carrier Lexington in what has been called the most daring single action in the history of combat aviation - the downing of five attacking Japanese bombers. Yet the untimely and still controversial death of this Medal of Honor recipient the next year cast a shadow over OHares legacy. This first full biography, written with the OHare familys cooperation and utilizing recently released Japanese war records, chronicles the short but eventful life of the American hero and sheds new light on his mysterious death. Seasoned naval aviation historians, the authors describe in fascinating detail OHares awe-inspiring feats of aerial combat and his key role in developing tactics such as the Thach Weave and the night-fighting techniques that helped defeat the Japanese.