Carrier Pilot

By: Norman Hanson

Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell

In 1942, Norman Hanson learned to fly the Royal Navy's newest fighter: the US-built Chance Vought Corsair. Fast, rugged, and demanding to fly, it was an intimidating machine. But in the hands of its young Fleet Air Arm pilots, it also proved to be a lethal weapon.

Posted to the South Pacific aboard HMS Illustrious, Hanson and his squadron took the fight to the Japanese. Facing a desperate and determined enemy, Kamikaze attacks, and the ever-present dangers of flying off a pitching carrier deck, death was never far away.

Brought to life in vivid, visceral detail, Carrier Pilot is one of the finest aviators' memoirs of the war; an awe-inspiring, thrilling, sometimes terrifying, account of war in the air.

©2016 Norman Hanson (P)2017 Tantor

Good Pilot Memoir

This is a very good pilot memoir by a British carrier pilot, Norman Hanson, who flew F4U Corsairs manufactured in the U.S. He also had extensive training in the U.S., including in the segregated southern states. Some of the stories from Hanson's training days a quite entertaining.

Hanson's story is interesting because he enlisted at an older age (26) than most. He was already married. Despite this, he undertook one of the riskiest jobs in the service. Being a carrier pilot is risky business in peacetime, and even more so during war. Hanson lost many friends during his service.

One thing that surprised me about the book is that it just ended. After the Japanese surrendered--more quickly than anyone thought because of the atom bomb--Hanson's ship returned to England. And the story just ends there. No loose ends are tied, and there is nothing about what happened after the war. This is a little disappointing.

But overall, it is a really good book. You can tell that Hanson was liked and respected by his shipmates.

Be aware that the story is very British and the British military slang is a little difficult at some points. This is especially true with the very British narration.

The humor I was not expecting it

This book is very humorous in parts and made me smile and laugh out loud on a number of occasions even though the subject of the book was serious....A great read for anyone who has an interest in Naval history or Naval Aviation.......

An excellent story

I’m usually a fan of US Naval aviation. This was an excellent look into British Naval Aviation during World War II. I would love to hear or read more accounts.

A Pleasant Surprise

I found this book to be very interesting and particularly enjoyed the understated British humor that was woven throughout the story. Well narrated and it holds one’s interest throughout.

Carrier Pilot

I'm a former Navy pilot and loved the book. it brought back a lot of wonderful memories, especially times in the El Cortez bar!!