Clear the Deck!; Aircraft Carrier Accidents of World War II

Author: Cory Graff

Publisher:  Specialty Press

Non-Fiction/World War II

Reviewer: Rob Ballister--MWSA Board Member

The good, the bad, and the REALLY unlucky...

On a good day, the deck of an aircraft carrier is a dangerous place.   On a bad day. it is  the most dangerous place on earth.  Author Cory Graff puts together a photo-history of aircraft carrier accidents during WWII that portrays in vivid fashion just how dangerous carrier aviation is. 

The book starts with a good synopsis of the beginning of the US Navy carrier aviation.  The author then uses the war as a backdrop for his book, tying specific aircraft to each phase of the war, and recounting the situation in the Pacific as the book progresses.  Graff's exhaustive research into Navy archives produced a range of carrier mishap photos spanning the gamut of comical to tragic.  In addition, wherever possible, he also added a human element by detailing the fate of the pilot. 

The best part of this book is most certainly the pictures and accompanying captions.  While the history of the Pacific War can be read in numerous sources, a photo collection of this many aircraft mishap pictures is much harder to come by, and Graff should be commended for his efforts to bring them together.  A most enjoyable book for aviation and especially military aviation enthusiasts.