The Last Fighter Pilot: The True Story of the Final Combat Mission of World War II

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 And last, the over-use of historical references, apparently to set a tone about the Japanese.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.

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

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 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. 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.

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.

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”.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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 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. 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.

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.

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”.

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.

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 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.

I purchased this for my cousin, who is very interested in World War II. This was what he wrote to me after reading it: "It was an amazing story and well written and I enjoyed it very much. It was of special interest also because our next door neighbor when we lived in Darien, CT was a a P-51 fighter pilot who operated in the same area during the war. So although I did not read this book, based on his thoughts, I would recommend highly!

Got this for my father's (a WW2 vet himself) 91st birthday last month, and he just told me he cannot put the book down and plans to read it again after he finishes the first time around. He retold me a portion of the story where the pilot made a pass over Japan with his wing-man and what he observed after coming out of a cloud. I won't spoil the story for you, but suffice it to say the documentary appears to have a lot of interesting twists and turns worthy of flight-following by anyone interested in learning more about that important period of US and World History.

I have a great deal of respect for Capt Yellin. This book is his story of flying from Iwo Jima on several missions towards the end of the war. The story is awesome. The downside is all the fluff added by the author to make it long enough for a book. You can feel Yellin's emotion, which makes this book worth reading.

Captain Yellin is a true hero, no doubt about it, and sadly one of the few left from the Greatest Generation. I had seen several You Tube videos featuring this guy and he was so compelling I just knew his book would have to be awesome. It's good, but pales in comparison to his videos. His videos were so good I probably expected way too much, so maybe I've underrated his book. Also, it's a bit skimpy, barely 200 pages.

Few of us have ever read or even heard of the events described in this book. It provides an educational view of an era between the advent of the atomic bomb and the actual end to the Pacific WWII. An excellent read by those who lived through it. For additional info on the effects of religion on the world at conflict, read "Living to Die" by Carl Nurick. Also, to understand that which was occurring on the homefront, read "Green Street Boy" byCarl Nurick. Bot are available via Amazon Kindle.

This personal story of one pilots' experience in the closing months of WW2 illustrates the perils of combat; especially when facing a determined and brutal enemy. Jerry Yellin, the 21 year old survivor who was one of the last pilots attacking Japan as the emperor surrendered was especially devastated when another close friend did not survive.. This is another reason that today's generation should read this book and learn one more chapter of the cost of the freedom we enjoy today.

Really enjoyed this story. It was very well told, with a great deal of emotion and honor. This is clearly, one of them as stories that for years, has "flown under the radar". The dedication and sacrifice the men displayed in the worst of times, is a lesson for all of us. I am always on awe of these men who without any regard for their own personal safety or aspirations, have willingly, and in many, many, occasions, paid the ultimate price. Thank You Dr your service

After spending a great many years in notable author's stories of the Civil War I stumbled on a review of this book in a very recent magazine. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. I would have probably passed this by, looking for another Civil War history book to consume. Fortunately I did not. Jerry Yellen's story by Don Brown was a lucky find. It is one I shall recommend and pass on to my history loving friends.

Well written - short compelling chapters - the book made me re-imagine afresh a war whose horrors I thought I already understood; to despair of a present generation which - though we hope they never need it - might not be able to deal with the situation should it repeat; despair of a generation that does not know what a P-51 is; and to marvel at how at odds the Japan in this book is from the one I know of wonderful people and culture &c.

This book is more about Mr. Yellin than by him. Like most of the books written by those who saw combat, this one focuses on friends killed or missing in action presumed dead. The loss in this account that bothered him the most was carrying out a raid on Japan after the Japanese surrendered and his 19 year old wing man was lost probably shot down by antiaircraft fire while they were trying to evade by flying in the clouds. Yellin spoke that he had all the symptoms of PTSD after the war but no one knew how to help him recover. None of that was included in the text. I was hoping for more information on that.

I met Captain Jerry Yellin in 2015, on Guam, during the 70th Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor Tour, sponsored by Military Historical Tours. On 29 August 2017, I will again meet with him in South Florida. The book is accurate, excellent, and very well written. To know this true hero is an honor that I will long remember.

This is not a long book and a quick read because you can't put it down. Jerry Yellin was a heck of a pilot and lost lots of friends. Imagine flying the last mission over Japan. I won't give any more info so I don't spoil the book for anybody. The was created a lot of demons for him as it did for millions of guys that returned. Nobody knew anything about PTS syndrome back then.

Here's another WWII story that needs to educate us on how the war was fought against Japan at the end. I had no idea fighters were conducting missions to bomb Japan from Iwo Jima. I always thought it was only bombers.

I thought the book was very interesting and a easy read. I have always been interested in the history of WWII, but I never understood why Iwo Jima was so important. I remember when I was boy going to see the war movies on a Saturday afternoon including "Iwo Jima". I guess I was interested in the action not the history. The book is another example of the brave men of the "Greatest Generation". I thank and salute them all. Good Job!

Worth reading by all. Very few people have ever heard of this pilot, Jerry Yellen, who flew P51 Mustang fighter planes during the siege of Iwo Jima at the same time as George Bush. Jerry flew the last flight of the war and lost his wingman after the war was over. All of America's young men and women should read this book to understand the great difficulty and sacrifices made for freedom by our very young -17-18 years old men. Jerry's descriptions of his firsr nights on Iwo Jima are unbelievable, requiring great courage

We loved this book! My dad was a fighter pilot for the Army Air Force in the Philippines at the same time, so this story really gave me a good idea of what his experience was like. My only regret is that he died a few weeks ago at the age of 96 and I couldn’t share the book with him or ask him questions.

I thought I was well versed in our history until I read this book. It is chuck full of information we never heard in school, anyone that wants to know how the war was fought AND learn about heroes we didn't even know by name, READ THIS BOOK. You'll never look at the war in the same way.

Great story. The author did a super job of recording this part of the war. No elaborations - - - mostly just facts about some of the aviators in squadrons in WWII. They were all certainly part of what is now called "the greatest generation", although I think that all men and women who fight for their country should also be considered in that term. John Offield, Hemet, CA

We were tipped off to this book after seeing an interview with the author. Ordered it as a gift for my husband and he enjoyed reading it enough to share with his dad. Easy order, from the author (I believe) and it ships/arrives quickly. Makes a great gift if you have or know someone that is into WWII.

Didn’t realize how poorly Jewish people were treated by there fellow citizens here in the US before and during WW 2. Reading what happen back then sounded a lot like what’s going on now with our current executive using others as his “escape goat”

I was a B-29 Navigator so I knew pretty well about the flights from The Marianas to Japan and back but never knew what the fighter pilots flights were in their P-51s. I also never knew problems and dangers that they experienced living on Iwo Jima. That was a revelation.

As the title indicates this is the history of a group of American airmen who participated in the last combat mission of WW2. The book details the life history of many of the men, including before entering the military, their training years and finally their combat experience. The primary focus was what took place when they were ordered to the Pacific island Iwo Jima. A good book with a great ending.

For a couple of kids from New Jersey to windup unit and make history is amazing. My father in law Don Ladd was a top gunner on a B29 a broad and eleven tanks 499th bombs group. out of Saipan at the same. They could have been his escort at one time. Don had a similiar incident as Jerry. He and a buddy had a favorite pilot they both wanted to fly so they flipped a coin,Don lost and didn't fly that day . The plane didn't return. Don lived to be 82. Strange but true. Great story

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the different alliances that were formed between various countries. Friends became enemies, and eventually enemies became friends. In addition, it provided a great snapshot of the cruelties of war. You never know when you will lose a close friend or become a victim yourself. Character building and heroism was an everyday occurrence. The ages of our pilots was remarkably quite young. I buzzed right through this book and have a greater appreciation of the events that took place during the war.

If you do not have a history of WW II , this is a short way to learn. Students should read and understand the difficulty we had and how evil the Japanese were at that time in history. They killed over 20 million humans in one year. Ate our soldiers, really sick. Students required

Very accurate account of the events.leading up to the last mission. Years ago I had heard most of it from a pilot that was in the other squadron in Jerry's fighter group on Iwo Jima. My friend gave me his strip map carried in the his cockpit on that historic last mission. What struck me was the very short period of time from first landing on the IWO airfield to the last mission of the war. I wish the book had contained more pictures.

Fascinating read without a lot of fluff. As other have said, there isn't much character development, but that's ok in a historical narrative like this (in my opinion). The book does dive into the main character and his experiences during the war. This book brought some insight into an aspect of the war I had not previously known.

reat story, and remembrance, in every way. My only suggestion is to better vet the avation lexicon with more pilots. Some of the "pilot s***" is a little rough. Best, Marine Pilot active and reserve 32 years Harrier, Skyhawk, plus Major airline 28

The final days of WWII from Iwo Jima to the dropping of the Atomic Bombs is told in great detail. Capt. Jerry Yellin tells his exciting and sad tale of flying with and losing comrades in battle. You feel like you are in the cockpit with him as our pilots battle over Iwo Jima and then take the fight to the Japanese mainland.

I love history books and this is a good one. Fact filled without the tedium. Kind of like having a conversation with the author. He answered the questions that I would have asked and brought the action into view.

Interesting story. But,for example, the title wouldn't lead you to believe that the story of the last mission is maybe 3 pages long.

A lot of death, a lot of tragedy and everything in this book was written with a certain poise that you understand the events through men like Jerry have stamped on them for their lives. Grateful for their service, grateful for the men who died for our freedoms.

Awesome book. I think it would’ve a good book for all to read. We have so many great ordinary people that have been hero’s that we don’t even know about. I’m sending it to my grandson in the marines.

What a great telling of an amazing and gritty war story of the Pacific in the waning and pivotal moments of WW II. Puts it in a humanity perspective. Well worth the read.

An interesting story, but very little of it is actually about “the last mission.” It’s really the story of Yellin’s entire involvement in WWII.

Not enough personal detail for my taste, appeared to me to be more of a written documentary. Still had some interesting info on the pilot and his activities while flying P-51's.

The author has limited aviation knowledge and the book is written overly dramatically. It is saved by the actual historical content.

Great story of P-51 fighter pilots during the closing days of the Pacific War. It's gut-wrenching, in that, so many of our fine young pilots were lost in the waning days of the war, one, age 19, was lost on his way back to Iwo Jima after Japan surrendered. Great story of fine, young Americans men of WWII.

Liked the buildup to the final mission. Some good parts that demonstrate the depth of the author's despondency over losing so many of his colleagues. A bit slow in so.e parts of the development, but a nice finish with his return many years later. A good WWII flyer novel.

My husband is a history of World War II buff. HE knows everything about it,. This book had information he did not know. It is an excellent book.

What more can you say about a story which reads more like a movie than history? Not much except to say, “Thank you.”

Lest we forget w are doomed to repeat it. Never forget the price of freedom excellent story of our history press On!

This book is an amazing account of a time in world history too seldom talked about. The perils of our airmen are made clear as are their bravery and tenacity. Well with the time to read. Enjoy!

There's are so many books on WWII in Europe that the war in the Pacific often seems overshadowed - the other war. Good to read a book about the Pacific theatre and Dan Brown does a great job of bringing the Yellin story to life.

A Time Capsule and clear record of a moment in history detailed by a Warrior. A very American story of adventure. Every White Supremacist should read this and learn something about the warrior spirit and facing an enemy as good or better than you.

This is a spell binding rendition of what it was like for our “greatest generation” during the Pacific side of WWII. Every American student should be required to read this book to give them a sense of our “greatest generation” and why they are referred to in those terms.

As a more recent fighter pilot, 1979 - 1988, it's always good to read an excellent historical book on the life of pilots in previous eras. This book weaves a great tale of flying at the end of WW2 in the Pacific. Specific mission details are told giving the story a richness not seen in many books.

Squadrons of P-51’s are deployed to Iwo Jima in the last days of WW II to secure the bloody island and escort B-29’s on raids of the Japanese homeland. Two young pilots fly the last combat mission of the war; one lives a long life of honor, the other dies at age 19.

Loved this book. It's not only about Mr. Yellin, but also other pilots and what was going on with the war. It's well written and I enjoyed it very much.

I enjoyed this book very much. My Dad was in the 28th Regt, 5 Marine Div. Saipan, Tainan,Quajaline(sic), and Iwo, as well as occupation forces. This book helped me see it parts of the battle through my Dad's eyes.

This was a very interesting story about a US Navy pilot who flew the last combat mission over Japan in WWII. Unfortunately his friend and wingman were killed on this last mission even though the Japanese had already surrendered to the Americans. Word just didn't travel fast enough back then.

There is no way we can sufficiently thank those heroes who gave their all for their love of this nation. May they rest in an honorable peace.

We are losing these people and it is vital to learn their stories before they are all gone. This book furthers that goal admirably.

The last fighter pilot gives the reader some very real insights to what it took to become a WWI fighter pilot. The gripping story of Don Brown makes this book hard to put down.

I could not put this book down. It’s an excellent review of the last months of World War II in the Pacific.

Very timely delivery. Excellent packaging to prevent any damage during shipment. Excellent product. Met expectations as advertised.

Good read, enjoyed the book, recommended for any one who likes aviation or history

Incedible man dedicated to our country! Incredible story of Capt. Jerry Yellin , thank you for your service and honor. Thank you Don Brown for such a well written, amazing story that needed to be told. I give this book 5 stars as I think it's important for others to learn about dedication, honor, and important history of our country!

Great easy read with lots of action and captivating stories within the story! I would read this again! Loved the people in the story! These guys are inspirational!

A great read. Our young people who fought in WW2 were the bravest imaginable. They did not need safe spaces on over-privileged college campuses. Not a snowflake in sight.

I thought this was a well written episode of Captain Jerry Yellin's combat mission of August 15,1945. I can relate to this mission because I shot down a Japanese "Betty" on July 14, 1945 off the southern coast of Hokkaido while flying a F4U Corsair. I'll be interested in reading more of Author Don Brown's military books.

A P-51 Mustang pilot with Iwo Jima as it's home base escorts B-29s over Japan. Shows how the war in the Pacific was bitter and bloody right up to the very end. Excellent read.

This book was part of a retirement gift for gentleman who was a pilot, after World War II, as well as a history buff. He really enjoyed this book, The Last Fighter Pilot... True Story.

For those that are interested in WWII, This personal account puts you in the cockpit along side the men that lived that time, in that place.

the pilot central to the story is still alive and that makes the book even more appealing. Worth reading to understand what these heroes faced during the war

Not very informative but a nice ego trip for the author.

He makes clear that fighting a war, even in a P51 is NOT fun & games. He brings to life the every day issues facing our fighter pilots in the spring and summer of 1945. He makes clear the fears of an invasion of Japan and the millions of casualties on both sides that would have ensued. As a WWII vet I Laud this account of much of what we were fighting both for and against.

As the son of a WWII bomber pilot, I have a great respect for the men who tried to keep my dad alive. The Army Air Corps team sacrificed a lot to win the war and this book documents another facet of the story.

This is one of the finest true stories about WW II I've read. A must to read.

Very interesting and informative. Learned more about Iwo Jim's & the P-51 Mustang fighter plane. Also the personal aspect from a American fighter pilot who was stationed there.

very real and factual. I did not know to could count ground kill as part of the ace rating. Interesting

Excellent.....Many first person recountings of WWII touch on the loss of friends and compatriots but this one really brings it home....The Greatest Generation was truly just that.....We'll never see it again....Five Stars for sure....

An insight into a part of the great war I knew very little about. A memoir style of writing. Another story that proves they were the greatest American generation.

Being a retired Air Force officer, I certainly enjoyed this book. Obviously World War II was before my time, but I could relate to the story, having served in a war zone in Vietnam.

great line to work with. I keep extra just in case I need it.

another one thats hard to put down

A good read !

I bought this twice and both times I couldn't read it because it says it's already read. tried everything to bring it back to the beginning with no luck. Why isn;t there a phone # to call with a live person to help your members. Very bad customer service.

Liked inside story of the last months of WWII

My Farther flew in the Korean War and don’t know if it had been much written about. You were more on top and found Jerry still alive and willing to share good on you!! Great job!!

Great book highlighting the greatest generation. Must read. Hope we never have to go through what those brave men and women did, but eternally greatful for their unmeasurable sacrifices.

Historic novel...great read

This is a wonderful story about a brave American from our Greatest Generation. I bought the audio book for my mother and when I started to play it for her, I was just as captivated by this story as she was. We loved it! Thank you for your service Captain Yellin.

Not many can review WWII from his perspective. Realistic view of his peers, command decisions & the enemy he faced. I wish it was longer as I found it fascinating! I recommend for anyone interested in this period of our history.

I thought this account was informative and revealing of what it was like for our airman, many of whom were 19,20 years of age to be away from home, risking their lives and experiencing the deaths of their comrades.

Great tribute to our very young fighter pilots for their skill and bravery

This book is great. Its give the ready an insite to what members of our greatest generation went through for all of us. The sacrifices they made were incredible. God bless all that served.

Very interesting story about actual events occurring during the last months of the war.

If you have an interest in how the P-51 was used in the Pacific this is an excellent book. Very well documented and researched and well written. Would recommend for any WW11 buff.

Good reading for a WW-2 vet. Lots I never knew about Pacific campaign

Very interesting to learn about the end of WWII in the Pacific.

Good story, great details of the waning days of combat in the Pacific, hellish all the way to the end.

A fine tribute to American fighter pilots. Cryptic, yet carefully executed. An amazing accolade to the final actions of WWII.

Great read! Makes you feel what they endured.

Good, quick read that gives a great perspective on the Pacific theatre.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It should be a must-read for anyone interested in WW11

Interesting and exciting true story. Highly recommended.

These stories are so important; they teach us what we need to know to go into the future. The book gave just enough information& it kept my attention completely.

An entertaining and fast moving story. .

I feel that this book should be a recommend read in high school so what one segment of what world war two was like.. This book brought back many memoris.

Very good book.

Interesting view of last few months of Japanese air campaign in WWII

Great account of little mentioned event of WW2

A look at what the Pacific war was like, much different from Europe.

This true account of WW II pilots was hard to put down. It showed the bravery of our pilots and the price they paid for our freedom.

Bought it as a gift for someone but looked through it and I am pleased with my choice.

Everyone with the slightest interest in the Pacific battles of WWII should read this book. Anyone who wants to support our WWII veterans should read this book. The Last Fighter Pilot is already a National Bestseller and the NY Post is declaring it a must-read book. I'm totally with them on that call. The Last Fighter Pilot is the thrilling story covering a part of Captain Jerry Yellin's time in the war from March - August 1945--V-J Day. Having already felt the depth of Captain Yellin's experiences by reading Of War & Weddings, I expected that emotional connection to play a large role in his collaboration with author Don Brown. It did. I read this book on a road trip to Washington, DC to witness a Veteran V-J day tribute. It was hard not to read the entire book out loud to my husband. It’s an adventure story that the reader has to continue to remember is a TRUE story, not fiction. There are many historical facts that I didn’t know—some wickedly awful like that there were Japanese who killed POWs and ate them—sharing that cannibalism with other units like others might share steaks. That was horrifying. Another fact was the sheer number of B-29s (300) and Mustangs (over 100) that attacked Japan on April 7, 1945. I can’t imagine what the onslaught of that sort of power looked like to those below. Page after page reveals heroic acts and brave deaths. I was elated with the wins and found myself close to tears at the losses. Don’t hesitate—pick up this book and delve in. You won’t be disappointed.

A great first hand recollections of the Pacific air war from an RAF airman. Most of what I had read about the RAF in WWII was in Europe. I didn't realize the extent the RAF played in the Pacific .

A good read and the author named names.

Short but a well written book

Great story combined with well researched facts. The writing could stand to be at a higher level and the story a bit more developed.

Very pleased with the story, and the fact that he is still living. The details make his story interesting reading.

Appears to have been thoroughly researched but the beginning text is cumbersome. I enjoyed the actual story, but felt there was a lot of "filler" at the beginning.

As exciting as fiction, but more so because it actually happened. I highly recommend it.

Loved this book! I haven’t read about Mustangs in the Pacific. I’m a Thunderbolt guy! The book is well written and moves at a good pace. I think this story needed to be told.

Great story about World War 2, near the end of the war.

Illustrates the sacrifice and determination necessary to bring WWII to a close.

Excellent book with a story that was well told.

Bought this for my husband and he really enjoyed it.

Interesting insight into what, from my previous readings, was a pretty accurate narration of a small segment of WW2 in the Pacific.

Gives an excellent background into why atomic bombs were used to end WW2. Personnel and poinent and explains mind set of combatants

Great book, read it page one to the end. I could not put my kindle away. Very informative as to what went down and why.

Doug Moore landed the first p 51 . And was wingman for the flitght leader on the flight over JApan. Not general Moore. The book is very good. WW 2vet Bernard Moore

Very well written. Includes information that most don't know of what occurred during WW2.

And excellent ,eye opening experience to ride with these driven young pilots as they put their lives on the every day to keep us free.

Terrific story of an American hero. If you like the history of WWII told by the people who lived it you will love this book. Well written,fast and educational.

If you love WWII history from a personal perspective...you will enjoy this read.

The story really takes you back to the horrors of the war in the pacific. War is really hell! The story of a couple young men who are our hero’s.

Well written interesting and fun to read

The way this book was written is very easy to read and I didn’t want to put It down Thanks for printing such a great story and the young pilots had a ton of pride and guts.

As 1 who lived thru W.W.2, I enjoyed the book very much. It reminded me of the Nationalism felt in this country at that time. Everyone had the same goal (win the dam war). Inever heard democrat or republican --it didn`t matter--"win the war".Cap1t Jerry Yellin typified the kind of people that won the war for us. I don`t want to see another war but I would like to see that feeling of Nationalism come back.

Interesting account of this pilots tour of duty in the P-51 in the south Pacific.

Thanks for being so understanding and I have a lot going on right now and I will be at work tomorrow to see how you were

This was a very good book. Could not put it down. Would recommend it to anyone interested a young fighter pilots life in war time combat.

This is such a great book. The details are so specific that you almost feel like you are fighting among them! I have such immense pride knowing that these men fought and sacrificed for our freedom !!

Very interesting book. Provided great insight into the minds of fighter pilots as WWII was nearing the end.

I liked this so much that I bought a copy for my wife's father who is 96 years old and served in the Army Air Corp during WWII. He also enjoyed it very much.

I enjoyed the book . My father flew in B24's in the Pacific. The scale of the operations is always mind boggling.

Wonderfully written. Once started I could not put down.

I literally couldn't put this book down until I finished it! ...It's that good. Not only does it chronicle the events of Jerry Yellin's remarkable journey but Don Brown provides the reader with a fabulous synopsis of the events leading up to and through the War in Japan. It includes many eye-opening unsanitized truths about the brutality of war and in many cases the teenagers that fought in it. Winston Churchill said it best, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." ...So get comfortable, fasten your seat belt and hold on!

I got this for my boyfriend who is a huge WWII buff, and he thought it was a great read.

Great story well written many interesting factsb

I had a Great Uncle that was stations in the same area during WW2. He never talked about what happened, know I understand why.

Top notch!

A nice read about the young kids that flew fighters in WW II.

good books recommend it

This book is a very easy read. I tells the story of how difficult our pilots had fighting the Japanese in WWll. They are all true heroes.

A great WWII novel. Betty

I liked this book because it was told by the person who was there.

Amazing story of an American Hero and the heroes he trained and fought with!

This book gives you a vision of the final days of WWII.

great read full of not previous know facts about air operations at the end of the war.

Decent book and a fair read.

Superbly written and insiteful. It filled in personal histories that other WW2 larger picture stories could never cover.

The story is a tough description of what is expected during the war campaign. The constant attention to detail it takes to stay alive.

Good book, learned a few more things about IWO JIMA.

enjoyment not commensurate with price of novel.

Great story about an American hero.