A fast paced, well written account of the career of Tom Blackburn. The main part of the book deals with the air war over the Northern Solomon Islands in 1943. Blackburn, in command of a Corsair squadron, was operating out of land bases rather than aboard a carrier. The book gives an exciting account of the squadron in action without going overboard on details. It is of interest to World War II fans as well as those interested in aviation. Well done all the way around!

It is simple: this is one of the greatest WW II fighter combat books ever written ! THe narrative, even when is not dealing with air combat, is compreensive and important to the history. The technical details about the Corsair are commented without being boring or difficult to understand. THe pilots are ever present and their subsequent fate after the War ere mentioned briefly. Great. It's a shame Blackburn died soon after the book was published.

As an avid student of WWII combat aviation, I don't think a book has ever thrilled me as much as THE JOLLY ROGERS. Tom Blackburn's writing style is easy and effective, especially in conveying the emotions and excitement of close engagement with enemy fighters. The books traces Blackburn's inauspicious debut in Operation TORCH to his glory days as CO of Fighting 17, with stories that are often as moving and tragic as they are exhilarating. Two sections of the book feature numerous photographs of the men and machines of the squadron, as well as detailed maps of the Solomons combat arena. I think I've read this book 3 times in its entirety and I still frequently read select passages just as refresher. I couldn't recommend it more highly. Tom Blackburn remains, even after his passing a few years ago, a true American hero; often frightened, sometimes arrogant, far from perfect, but always devoted to duty and able to stare death in the face and come away better for it.