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Pacific World War II Book Review  
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by John R. Galvin with Frank Allnutt
Allnutt Publishing  1983
Hardcover
272 pages
Notes, photos
ISBN: 0811703142
Cover Price: $34.95
Language: English

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Salvation For A Doomed Zoomie
A True Story

This book is the story of US Navy F6F Hellcat pilot, John R. Galvin, who was a seven victory ace. The introduction was written by U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) ace pilot Joe Foss. Assigned to VF-8 aboard the USS Bunker Hill CV-17. The highlight of the book is Galvin's retelling about the mission he flew F6F Hellcat 40695 against Woleai Airfield on April 1, 1944. Shot down near the island, he was rescued by the daring efforts of USS Harder SS-257 serving on lifeguard duty, the sub was notified at 8:40am and departed at full speed to the pilot, spotting him at 11:45am and took up a position only 1500 yards from shore In a poor position, the sub moved attempted to move to an alternate location, but then decided to remain at the original spot. The Task Force remained in the area and continued to hit the island, while the rescued was attempted.

Three members of the submarine's crew volunteered to take a rubber raft attached to a tow line ashore and departed at noon: Lt Samuel M. Logan from Kentucky, J. W. Thomason, the ship's cook from Danielsville, GA and MMM1C Francis X. Ryan from Shenandoah, PA. Meanwhile, the submarine kept the engines turning and the bow on the reef to prevent it from being beached on the reef. Another plane dropped a one man raft to Galvin, who inflated it, but was too weak to swim.

It took the rescuers roughly 30 minutes to swim to shore, and when they reached Galvin, they observed sniper fire splashing in the sea around them, and the sub returned fire at the tree line, and escorting fighters also strafed the area. As the group was being towed back in their raft toward the submarine, an SOC Seagull seaplane landed, and attempted to reach them, mistaking them for another downed aviator it was tasked with rescuing, and accidentally severed the tow line. Thomason swam back to the sub with the tow line, while the rest of the group waited on the reef. Another crew member, Gunner's Mate Freeman Paquet, Jr. volunteered to swim out a new line, made from light weight rope salvaged off rafts by the crew and quickly tied together. Reaching the raft, they were towed back to the sub by all available crew members. Within an hour, the sub reversed off the reef and was safely away. Galvin was treated for his wounds aboard the sub.

Overhead, the entire rescue was photographed by a photo F6F Hellcat piloted by Air Group commander Andrew Jackson with observer Jerry Rian. Afterwards, the rescue was commended by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Review by  Justin Taylan  

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Last Updated
September 21, 2023


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