An older book that has a had a few events disproven by newer research, this volume is important as it covers a wide range of now obscure dive bomber operation.
However, one of the first places the author takes you is to the Banana Wars in Central America where he writes about the Marines leveraging their immediate post WWI knowledge into effective dive-bombing tactics in the mid to late '20's.
Other areas include the CBI with the RAF/RAAF experiences with the Vultee Vengeance, the Chinese American Composite Wing and the effective use of the A-36 in theater.
Moving on to the Solomons, coverage includes the short-lived New Zealand SBD squadron and an exceptionally even-handed and pragmatic look at the Japanese use of dive bombers out of Rabaul. Also included is a brief chapter of the shipboard dive bombers aboard the Essex class in the last half of the pacific war.
The book basically finishes up with the rediscovery of the dive bombing and the birth of modern Close Air Support by the Marines in the Philippines.
The "epilogue" was a nice surprise as it included a history of the French experience in Vietnam and the use of the A-1 Skyraider by the USAF as well.
There are of course a few nits to pick at as there are a few errors that should have been caught by alert editors such as VO-7M is written as VO-7-M and the S2BC-5 as the SB-2C-5. Overall there are not enough errors to deduct stars.
Recommended for Aviation buffs and anyone interested in WWII combat aviation. Modelers should avoid this book.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the more overlooked or obscure theaters of WWII. ( )