Fighting Fifteen by Stephen L. Moore

 Fighting Fifteen: The Navy's Top Ace and the Deadliest Hellcat Squadron of the Pacific War by Stephen L. Moore -421 pages

Fighting Fifteen was the fighter unit based on the carrier Essex in 1944 through the major air battles over the Marianas and the Philippines during a seven month war cruise. The deployment was supposed to be six months but was extended to seven. The unit shot down more enemy planes than any other in a single deployment (and sunk many ships) and produced 26 aces. David McCambell, commander of the Essex air group, shot down 34 enemy planes and had several more "probables" as the Navy's top ace. The unit also paid a high price. The air group lost 26 fighter pilots, and 57 bomber and torpedo pilots and crew. This is a good read for anyone interested in World War II carrier operations.