Intrepid Aviators

The True Story of U.S.S. Intrepid's Torpedo Squadron 18 and Its Epic Clash with the Superbattleship Musashi

By: Gregory G. Fletcher

Narrated by: Don Hagen

On the morning of October 24, 1944, in the Sibuyan Sea amidst the Philippine Islands, VT-18, a close-knit squadron of six young American torpedo bomber pilots, departed the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid on a search and destroy mission. Their target: the super-battleship Musashi, the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The pilots were tasked with preventing the immense enemy warship and the huge naval armada of which she was a part from inflicting unspeakable damage on the transports and supply ships that were supporting the American amphibious landings within nearby Leyte Gulf. Little did these young men know that they had embarked on the opening rounds of history’s greatest - and last - epic naval battle.

Two bomber crews launched in the first wave of attackers were shot out of the sky. Only pilot Will Fletcher survived the crash landing. Adrift at sea, Will made his way to land and escaped into the jungles of the Philippines, where he eluded capture by the Japanese with the help of Filipino guerrillas and joined their ranks against their common enemy.

Intrepid Aviators is the thrilling true story of the brave bomber pilots, their daring duel with the Musashi, and Will Fletcher’s struggle to survive as a guerrilla soldier. The sinking of Musashi inflicted a crucial blow in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and would mark the first time in history that aviators had sunk a Japanese battleship on the high seas.

©2012 Gregory G. Fletcher (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

“Gregory Fletcher's enthralling Intrepid Aviators beautifully recreates the epic clash between the USS Intrepid's Torpedo Squadron 18 and the Japanese battleship Musashi, one of the most important engagements of World War II. A thrilling, deeply moving literary memorial to the American flyboys whose immense sacrifice and courage really did change the world.” (Alex Kershaw, New York Times best-selling author of The Longest Winter)

Well Done!

I enjoyed this very detailed story, and the narration, of these brave young men. The accuracy and descriptions of the military positions and stratagies are obviously well researched, and almost a bit too much sometimes, but overall they lay down and unbelievable background for many amazing personal stories and achievements under some very harsh and stressful conditions.

Phenomenal Does a true justice to the men of WWII.

Well written. Suspenseful. Both author and narrator were excellent sometimes a tough combination to find.

Very factual, but boring

Any additional comments?

I read reviews that were rated high and the information was very factual. I just could not get into this. I kept waiting for it to grip me, but it was boring. If you want a history lesson then you will enjoy this, and the narration was fine. It just could not do for me what other audiobooks like "Tommy LaMoore", "Hero Found", "The liberator", or "Fighter Pilot - Robin Olds" did for me.

A good story that got buried in detail

While I don't generally like abridged books, this book could have been successfully shortened, keeping the great story line, but skipping the very detailed explanations of aircraft and ship performance specifications and dimensions as well as minute detail about ships courses and the like. In summary, the details sometimes got in the way of a good story.

This is generally easier to filter out in a print book, but doesn't transfer easily to an audiobook,

Great read, very well narrated.

What did you love best about Intrepid Aviators?

The book was written and documented with a good deal of accuracy. Don Hagen did a great job of narration. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in WW II aviation.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Have you listened to any of Don Hagen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first of Mr. Hagen's books that I have heard, I will definitely look for more of his accomplishments in the future.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was indeed hard to put down, it made looking forward to the next chapter something to look forward to.

Outstanding

Well written and narrated. Compelling! Keeps one engaged from start to finish. A must for anyone thrilled by naval aviation.

Fantastic view into the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944

Heart rending. What these guys went through for us. We can never thank them enough for their contribution to our safety. Thank you Gregory Fletcher for providing a fantastic view into the lives of our heroes. Great book!!

Joan Skelly Lake

Detailed account of a lesser known part of the war

What did you like best about Intrepid Aviators? What did you like least?

very very detailed account of a part of the war that we don't hear a lot about. I enjoyed listening even though the account was almost documentary monotone. I stuck with it through the end and was glad that I did.

Loved this book!

What made the experience of listening to Intrepid Aviators the most enjoyable?

Info I never knew about the sinking of the Musashi

Who was your favorite character and why?

The pilot who survived & swam miles to be eventually rescued

What does Don Hagen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I always prefer audio books, although I forget more.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The actual attack, the unbelievable effort involved to sink the Musashi.

Any additional comments?

I always wondered how this fight went down.....
Hair raising...this was no cake walk!
19 torpedo's & many brave airmen to sink this magnificent ship!

Does anyone know of an account of the sinking of the sister ship Yamato?

TRUE PICTURE

What made the experience of listening to Intrepid Aviators the most enjoyable?

GREAT PORTRAYAL OF NAVY PILOTS IN WAR. EASY WRITING STYLE.

Any additional comments?

AS A NAVY PILOT FLYING OFF HORNET IN VIET NAM, I WAS AMAZED BY SIMILARITY OF EXPERIENCES. PLOTTING BOARDS & "FLAMING HOOKERS" LIVED FOR 20 YEARS.