Review by Felix Bustelo

This book was first published in 1985 and has had several subsequent re-printings. This latest edition, published in 2000, has been updated to include a short chapter covering Dr. Robert Ballard's discovery of the Yorktown's wreck in 1998.

This book can arguably be considered the definitive history of the U.S.S. Yorktown (CV- 5). The 13 chapters of this 196 page softbound book covers the life of this important ship: from her design as the first United States Navy ship to be an aircraft carrier from inception to her sinking by the Japanese submarine I-168 on June 6, 1942. The author provides a very detailed account of the Yorktown's operations as a peacetime training vessel and her involvement in fleet exercises that were pre-cursors to the Navy's strategies in the Pacific Theater. While much of Yorktown's fame is associated with her participation in the key carrier engagements at the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway, I learned that her initial deployment was as part of a convoy escort force in the Battle of the Atlantic.

There are almost 250 photos and various maps that illustrate this book. While the majority of these are of the actual ship, there is a good collection showing life on board the ship and the sailors and aviators that served on her. While some ship histories focus on the actual vessel, the inclusion of these photos made this book more personal to me as I was able to associate faces to some of the names mentioned.

For a modeler, there are many good pictures of this grand ship throughout her career. These photos help point out details and will assist people who are building the models of this ship, like the Revell 1/480 scale kit.

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in modeling the "Gallant Lady" and/or is interested in learning more about this ship and her contribution to the United States victory over Japan in World War II. My thanks to Warship Books for providing this review copy.