Bartsch, William H. Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941-1942. College Station, TX: Texas A & M Press, 1992.

503 pages
ISBN 0-89096-679-6

Foreword; preface; acknowledgments; photos; maps; notes; sources; index.

Appendix: Aircraft Assigned; Roster of Flying Officers of the 24th Pursuit Group.

American contingency planning initially dictated that the Philippines should not be reinforced, but must withstand any invasion with local resources until the Pacific Fleet could battle its way westward to relieve the islands. In the months before Pearl Harbor this policy was reversed, and reinforcements began to pour into the Philippines. It proved to be a classic case of too little, too late.

When the Japanese began their air strikes and then invaded, the pilots of the pursuit squadrons of 24th Group put up a valiant struggle, but their efforts were, as the title says, doomed from the start. Hobbled by shortages of planes, parts, and training, the American air units melted away and the flyers suffered heavy casualties. Few were evacuated before the fall of Bataan and then Corregidor.

Bartsch's book chronicles the story of 24th Pursuit Group on an almost sortie-by-sortie basis from the start of hostilities through the final campaign on Mindanao. This is very much a book of personal tales, individual heroism, and the sudden death of comrades.

In print and available wherever military books are sold, or directly from Texas A & M for $16.95.

Thanks to Texas A & M for providing this copy.