War Fish / George Grider - Lydel Sims / Hawkbill - Flasher

A 1936 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy George Grider had a colorful career in American submarines during World War II. He was aboard USS Wahoo (SS-238) for her first three exciting Pacific patrols. As a lieutenant the young officer served under famed skipper, Commander Dudley "Mush" Morton. Departing Wahoo, Grider was transferred to Pollack (SS-180). Then advanced to executive officer on the newly commissioned Hawkbill (SS-366). Now a veteran of the "silent service" the skilled submariner was appointed skipper of the high-scoring USS Flasher (SS-249). In just two patrols, Commander Grider sank 6 enemy ships, totaling over 40,000 tons. He remained with Flasher until she was decommissioned at the end of the war. This is the true story of World War II submarine action in the Pacific, as told by one of the finest skippers of the war. The author tells a brutally honest and hard-hitting story of his time in the submarine service, the men he served with, including his R & R. Very popular and difficult to find, long out of print!

This is a rare 1958 Hardback with dust jacket—now covered in new protective plastic. 282 pages, no photos, maps or index. Former library book with the usual related markings etc.

Sorry, sold out

BOOK REVIEWS

"Up from the impassive depths of the sea has come a book that, more than any other, tells the definitive story of the submarine's war beneath the surface." New York Times

"The most silent, secret and desperate drama of World War II was probably in the war patrols of U.S. submarines... War Fish succeeds not only in recreating vividly the trigger-tense atmosphere of the conning tower as the torpedoes speed to their mark, but in some subtle way we live out the war-time life of a career naval officer as he works his way up finally to his own command, the redoubtable Flasher, top-scoring submarine of the entire Pacific... It is good to have this record of one of the great undersea captains to remember." New York Herald Tribune

"One of the best war books of the decade." Indianapolis Times

"George Grider (left) and Commander Reuben Whitaker, after the change-of-command ceremony in which Grider relieved Whitaker as commanding officer of the Flasher. Grider and Whitaker were the only commanding officers that the Flasher ever had. She ran up the record for the greatest enemy tonnage sunk of any submarine in World War II."

NOTE: Photo and text appear on the back cover of this book.