Fighting Squadron 11 was established at San Diego in August 1943, beginning a half-century record that spanned aerial combat in three wars from the piston to the jet age. The squadron produced seven aces while fighting in World War 2, Korea and Vietnam. From World War 2 until after the Cold War, the 'Sundowners' established an unexcelled record 'at the tip of the spear' in naval aviation history. The author, Barrett Tillman, is the world's most prolific US naval aviation author and he has published over two-dozen titles on the World War 2 period alone.
Author Biography
Barrett Tillman is a professional author and speaker (History Channel's Dogfights) and has received five awards for history and literature. He learned to fly at age 16 in 1965, and has logged more than 500 hours in historic and current naval aircraft. His longtime affiliation with VF-11/111 pilots led to his being designated an honorary 'Sundowner' - a status he enjoys with two other Navy squadrons. Among more than 40 books, Tillman has written 6 other titles for Osprey. The author lives in Mesa, Arizona.
