U.S. Marine Corps Aviation

In the 1980's, the Marines are still as air-minded as ever, earning a unique place for themselves in aviation history. They have always excelled in the close support of infantry. In fact, every Marine aviator has been trained to be a rifleman first. This attitude has permeated the history of Marine Corps aviation and have led to the creation of the well-trained, purpose-built combat arm that goes to sea today. Additionally, more than any other service, the U.S. Marines have been quick to adapt and exploit helicopters to assist their infantry in battle. In this, the first history of Marine Corps aviation, Peter Mersky tells about the pilots who carried on the Marine Corps tradition of "first to fight" from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, and the metal airstrip at Khe Sanh in Vietnam. Aircraft of the Marine Corps are illustrated in this story, from the very earliest days to the present, with more than 200 rarely seen photographs and the author's own drawings.