The Last Fighter Pilot: The True Story of the Final Combat Mission of World War II
The New York Post calls The Last Fighter Pilot a "must-read" book.
From April to August of 1945, Captain Jerry Yellin and a small group of fellow fighter pilots flew dangerous bombing and strafe missions out of Iwo Jima over Japan. Even days after America dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, the pilots continued to fly. Though Japan had suffered unimaginable devastation, the emperor still refused to surrender.
Bestselling author Don Brown ( Treason) sits down with Yelllin, now ninety-three years old, to tell the incredible true story of the final combat mission of World War II. Nine days after Hiroshima, on the morning of August 14th, Yellin and his wingman 1st Lieutenant Phillip Schlamberg took off from Iwo Jima to bomb Tokyo. By the time Yellin returned to Iwo Jima, the war was officially over—but his young friend Schlamberg would never get to hear the news. The Last Fighter Pilot is a harrowing first-person account of war from one of America's last living World War II veterans.
Reviews (178)
Excellent tribute to probably the last or one of the ...
Excellent tribute to probably the last or one of the last surviving fighter pilots of WWII. That being said, why did they, the publishers(?) choose a photo of a P-5l B/C in European theater markings, when the book is about P-51 D's in natural metal that flew from Iwo Jima in l944-45. I'm sure there are numerous excellent photos of those fighters that could have been used for the cover dust jacket of this book and would have enhanced the focus of the story. There are numerous mistakes in the text; The fighters were not painted "battle grey" but left natural metal except for black bands for ID from enemy aircraft, specifically the Ki 61 Tony, that resembled the P-51 D, and they also were painted with unit markings. Typographical errors are too numerous to cite all, but one of the most glaring is the spelling of "ordinance" with an i, it is spelled ordnance. Also, the author fluctuates between the pilots using the yoke or stick to control the aircraft. The P-51 had a control stick, not a yoke like the British fighters, most notably, the Spitfire and Hurricane. And last, the over-use of historical references, apparently to set a tone about the Japanese. These might be of interest to new readers without any background in the history of the far east and the Japanese before and during the war, but they come across as somewhat boring and seem to be filler, to make the book a book.
All Americans should read this book
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. My father was in the Air Force and as I sat here with him while I was reading this book caring for him he explained and answered my questions about the war. This really enlightened me about the wars. Thank you very much for your service and to everyone that has fought for our freedom. I have purchased some copies of this book to give others in our family. G8d bless you all
He flew the last combat mission of WWII
This is a small book. I finished reading in one day. It covers the last six months of the war with Japan from the perspective of a young American fighter pilot. His final training was in Hawaii. Even here he lost friends who died while training. His squadron was shipped out to Iwo Jima. When he flew onto the airfield, which was in the shadow of Mt. Suribachi, it had not been conquered yet. They dug fox holes to protect themselves from Mortar and rifle fire. For the first few weeks their mission was to bomb and strafe enemy positions at either end of the Island. Their primary purpose was to escort B-29’s as they bombed Japan. Many of these missions are described in the book. The reason this book is important is that he and his wing man were sent out on a bombing and staffing mission August 14, five days after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The Japanese had not surrendered. There was a code word issued (UTAH) to recall the planes should a surrender be announced. In actual fact the message was sent out, but Jerry didn’t receive it so they carried on with their mission. As they were flying away from the airfield they had attacked, when Jerry came out of cloud cover, his wingman was not there. His name was Phil Schlamberg. He became the last casualty of the war. He had had a premonition that morning. Jerry tried to replace him but he insisted on going. I found this book to be a valuable addition to the many WWII books I possess. I recommend it for you to read. Jack B. Walters October 6, 2018
The brief video of the last interview gives you hope ...
The brief video of the last interview gives you hope for mankind. His son wants to marry a Japanese girl.her father hates Americans as does his father .T he girls father learns her proposed father in law flew missions over Japan . He then allows the wedding "this man must have been brave beyond belief,I want his blood to flow in my grandchildren. "This interview is not part on the book but is available on line.
Terrific story about Capt
Terrific story about Capt. Jerry Yellin and not only his heroics, but his hardships during and after WWII. A must read for any military aviation buff! Thank you Don and Jerry for sharing your story.
The story of an honorable man and those with whom he flew into history.
I was fortunate enough to get and read this book prior to meeting and speaking with Capt. Yellin at the National Stearman Fly-in at Galesburg, IL. Capt. Yellin also spoke at the Fly-in, explaining he didn't want a book written about him. He felt he had only done his job and nothing more. He did, however, want those who flew and served with him to be remembered for what they had accomplished and sacrificed. It was those men he wanted remembered. Their stories. Their loss. It is still these men he speaks of today, at his seminars, after all these years. He still tears up remembering them. He is somewhat puzzled by why he survived all these years while they have all passed on. If you read his book or hear him speak, you will understand why. Someone had to tell their story, and he does it with great respect and much passion.
Questionable accuracy
The authenticity of the tale as told by the author is doubtful. It is evident that he is not a pilot and made no attempt to learn the particularities of the subject he was writing about. These misgivings are readily apparent when he calls the finger-four formation “four finger”; he calls Tapp’s downing of three aircraft one of the most outstanding feats in military aviation; the B-29s did not drop their bomb load, they started firing; he calls several pilots “great aces” when in reality none are counted among those; he calls the P-51 the aircraft who downed more Japanese aircraft than any other, when the truth is that both the F-4U and P-38 claimed more victories. And to cap it off, Jerry Yellin is no more than a footnote whose personal achievements are scattered throughout the book. The frosting on the cake is when he says that Yellin “pushed down” on the throttle to accelerate and the P-51 has a “yoke”.
Here's a salute to you CPT Yellin
Jerry tells an incredible story. He embodies the greatest generation. I've had the honor of meeting him and having him personally tell me his story. This book is a must read for war bird fans.
How Can You Go Wrong With A Story About A P-51 Mustang?
I must admit to a life-long love affair with the P-51 Mustang. On a field trip to the Sioux City Air Base while in the third grade, we were fortunate to see several P-51 Mustangs land - an event I have never forgotten. Nothing like the roar of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine! As a consequence, I have been drawn to WWII, it "antecedents" and its aftermath. This is a very readable book that does not lose its ability to tell an important story; it avoids overly technical language and concentrates on Captain Yellin's day-to-day survival against great odds. It is a very human story with human losses, including the tragic loss of his wingman, 19 year-old Philip Schlamberg, in the final days of WW II. Don't be fooled. The author has made this an easy read; however, it is most riveting and informative. Don Brown has done his research.
Interesting. Helped to tie together historical events of the ...
Interesting. Helped to tie together historical events of the Pacific Theatre of WWII. I guess I did not fully realize the extent to which fighter planes attacked mainland Japan and the number of losses of our pilots and planes in that effort. I had always assumed that the fighter jockeys were there to protect the bombers from enemy fighters, as of course they did. But, was not aware of the attacks by fighters on the Japan mainland. Every book helps to fill the incomplete details associated with WWII. At the time, I was a child and was aware of the personal losses by neighboring families of their lost sons. I was aware of the shortages of consumer goods. I too gathered tin foil and cans for the effort, and worked in the liberty garden at home. The toils and sufferings of war on the personal front of our fighting forces was not so evident, except for the sorrow next door.
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