The Vought F4U Corsair was the greatest fighter plane in the WWII Pacific theater. For its pilots, survival was not guaranteed. Enemy planes and antiaircraft fire were dangerous, but aerial mishaps, poor flying, mechanical gremlins, weather, and bad luck took their toll too. American, British, and New Zealander Corsair pilots often found themselves with just seconds to escape. Some disappeared as POWs. A few, such as Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, emerged alive at the end of the war. Others had to rely on their training and the means at hand to escape do-or-die situations. Coast watchers, submarines, blimps, and air-sea rescues saved many. Even the French Foreign Legion smuggled a pilot to safety in the most daring Corsair pilot rescue of WWII. Others escaped death initially only to have to fight alongside their rescuers. Included are firsthand accounts from surviving pilots and tales of many of the great WWII Corsair aces. AUTHOR: The son of an Army officer and a military librarian, Martin Irons was raised in an environment that fueled his interest in history and World War II. Using his background as both a former soldier and as a scientist, Irons brings World War II stories to light. He resides in Vermont. SELLING POINTS: . Along with his extensive archival research, author Martin Irons conducted interviews with 15 surviving WWII Corsair pilots . The method of rescue was often unexpected; pilots were extracted via blimp, submarine, and even by the French Foreign Legion . Includes maps, diagrams, and over 100 vintage photos 100 b/w illustrations