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William T. Y'Blood

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The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan (Bluejacket Books) Paperback – April 15, 2012

by William T. Y'Blood (Author)

4.8 62 ratings

Part of: Bluejacket Books (51 books)

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The substantial accomplishments of the U.S. Navy?s mini-carriers in such battles as Leyte Gulf, Guadalcanal, the Marianas, and Okinawa never gained the attention given the fast carriers, but there is little question that their vital operations played an important role in the Pacific campaign. These remarkably versatile vessels--called CVEs, baby flattops, and even jeeps--hunted submarines, escorted convoys, provided air support, and performed dozens of other tasks that are vividly described in this book. Based on interviews with the CVE crewmen and on war diaries, ship histories, and other documents, it tells a moving story of escort carrier operations, from the work of the first CVEs to their final assignment transporting GIs home after the war. Seldom-seen photographs add to this fascinating portrait of the little giants.

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About the Author

William T. Y'Blood, a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and later in commercial aviation, served as a historian for the Air Force. The author of eight books on World War II aviation topics, he died in 2006.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1557509808
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; 1st Edition, thus (April 15, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781557509802
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1557509802
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.47 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,347,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,395 in Naval Military History
- #21,494 in World War II History (Books)

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David W. DeZwaan

WWII Veterans

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

I purchased this book for my neighbor who is a veteran of World War II and served on the mini carrier The USS Kula Gulf. So whatever I might say about the book wouldn't count for much, but I thought I would share the thank you note his wife sent me after they received it.

...We want to 'Thank You' for "The Little Giants," It's all about where Milt was in World WarII.

It takes time to read and its heavy so we don't read it in bed! Milt was on The USS Kula Gulf, CVE for over a year. We told a friend in North Carolina about the book, who was on another Little Giant Carrier.

I also talk on the phone to a friend in Fla. and her husband reads all The Pacific War happenings! The following quotation was from our church newspaper.

Go with God,

For God goes with you
Above you to watch over you
Underneath you to support you
Behind you to protect you
Along side of you to be your friend
Within you to give you peace
And God goes before you to show you the way

Go with God, for God goes with you.

Amen

We are 87 years old this year and in July 31 will be married 65 years.

Back to me...nothing I can add to that except God Bless our veterans.

7 people found this helpful

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Jethro

Quick Service, Book in excellent condition!

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2021

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Thanks very much for the quick reliable service. Book was as described condition. Couldn't ask for better service.

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Stone Dog

Little giants indeed!

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2014

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William Y'Blood has given us a much needed account of the CVE's or escort carriers of the US Navy in the Pacific during WWII. The class of small carriers was desperately needed not just in the war in the Pacific against Japan, but also played a major role in the Allies' victory in the Battle of the Atlantic versus German U-Boats.

This book focuses solely on the war in the Pacific where naval airpower was the decisive weapon in naval combat. In the early part of the Pacific war, the need for carriers was desperate and the decision was made to convert merchant hulls into small carriers. Later, Henry Kaiser, maker of the prolific "Liberty" ships, began building small carriers on those hulls.

I think the author covered the career of these small ships well, stressing the difference between the CVE carriers and the "big boys" - the fast, glamorous fleet carriers as well as the types of jobs the escort carriers found themselves in - everything from anti-submarine warfare to transporting replacement aircraft and pilots for the main, fleet carriers to support for invasion fleets specializing in ground attack and even artillery spotting.

The author did an excellent job of covering the routine air operations as well as the desperate combat against Japanese air and surface forces. There is a lot of the kind of "action" here that any WWII reader wants: the fighter pilots desperately trying to shoot down there Japanese opponents, the TBM crews bombing enemy positions on land as well as enemy vessels at sea including submarines. Of course, the author shines light on the "jeep" carriers' finest hour in the Battle off Samar when the small escort carriers took on the big guns of Japanese battleships and cruisers.

The tales of combat are wonderful to read. Also, I would point out the excellent pictures (sadly, all black & white) of the CVE carriers and their aircraft in combat operations. This is a bonus.

My criticisms are two-fold: firstly, I would have liked more specifications to know the difference between the various classes of CVE's. Secondly, why were some CVE's armed differently than others even though they were performing the same tasks? It seemed to me that the Chenango and Suwannee type carriers were armed with F6F Hellcat fighters while the Kaiser/Casablanca-class ships had to make do with FM2 Wildcat fighters which were clearly obsolete and seemed to me to be less effective at combat air patrols.

In spite of my relatively mild criticisms, I think this is an excellent work on a topic that clearly doesn't get enough "press" - the small, escort carriers of WWII. In an age of budget cuts, could there be a role for the small carrier in the future US Navy? This is an excellent work that is also an enjoyable read. I recommend this book with four stars.

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MARCHAEL2

Another addition to my library

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2019

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Another addition to my library of the CVE carriers of WW2. Provides additional information.

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017

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Outstanding history of the escort carriers. I've read extensively on WWII history and there were numerous facts and insights I had seen no where else. Great book!

2 people found this helpful

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T. Kennedy

My father in law served on the CVEs. It ...

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2014

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My father in law served on the CVEs. It brought back memories for him and enabled the rest of us to finally hear some of the history first hand.

2 people found this helpful

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Ron S.