Listen free for 30 days
-
The Last Fighter Pilot
- The True Story of the Final Combat Mission of World War II
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Military & War
Summary
On the morning of August 15, 1945, Captain Jerry Yellin flew the last combat mission of World War II out of Iwo Jima. Today, Captain Yellin is a sharp, engaging, 93-year-old veteran whose story is brought to life by best-selling author Don Brown (Treason).
From April to August of 1945, Captain Jerry Yellin and a small group of fellow fighter pilots flew dangerous bombing and strafing missions out of Iwo Jima over Japan. Even days after America dropped the atomic bombs - on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9 - the pilots continued to fly. Though Japan had suffered unimaginable devastation, the emperor still refused to surrender.
Best-selling author Don Brown sits down with Yellin to tell the incredible true story of the final combat mission of World War II. Nine days after Hiroshima, on the morning of August 15, Yellin and his wingman First Lieutenant Philip Schlamberg took off from Iwo Jima to bomb Tokyo. By the time Yellin returned to Iwo Jima, the war was officially over - but his young friend Schlamberg would never get to hear the news. The Last Fighter Pilot is a harrowing first-person account of war from one of America's last living World War II veterans.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Last Fighter Pilot
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- W. Hall
- 23-11-20
Last fighter pilot
Best WWII Aviation book ever read. Excellent Very personal and accurate Would like mire like it.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 30-06-20
A history Air War in the South Pacific & Iwo Gima
My father was a P51 fighter pilot and squadron leader in the same fighter group. He told me a few stories over the years but did not go into a lot of detail with many until the year before he died. I now see the bigger picture of what that was like. My dad was in the first fighter squadron to land on Iwo Gima, survived (barely) the night "banzai" attack, and 14 missions over Japan. Thank you Captain Yellin for this account of the Pineapple Air Force! (7th Air Force). These were great men. Many did not return.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 24-02-19
Thumbs up!
My husband who is an airforce pilot was immersed in the story. He enjoyed the history and as a pilot connected with the actions of the fellas in the story.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Don Rottiers
- 23-01-21
Excellent read
If you enjoy WW2 flying stories this is a great read and it’s a true story! Enjoy
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Avid Kindle Reader
- 16-12-18
Nice History Book But Little About Combat Flying
This is more of a history story about a small portion of the air war in the Pacific than it is about fighter pilots and flying. If you're looking for combat flying stories this book is not for you. No disrespect to Capt Yellen as he's one of the best and bravest. I just wish the book was more about his exploits as a fighter pilot.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Diane D.
- 12-10-18
Must read. Engrossing.
I bought this for my husband and began listening when I ran out of everything else in my audible library. I was hooked before I even started chapter 1. This is an example where true life trumps the “made up” stories I usually read.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- mark malara
- 26-04-18
fantastic story
good book the narrator was super I did not know there would be an epilogue
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. Heitman
- 06-12-17
Great listen!
A fantastic and fascinating book. Great account of the end of the war through a unique set of eyes.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- William Magee
- 11-09-17
Yes, Jerry Yelling was The Last Fighter Pilot.
I love listening to first hand accounts of the War in the Pacific.
For me, Yellin's account of the last months of the war over Toko.
He is honest and loyal to his feelings as he shares the sadness of losing men in his squadron, close friends all.
Sledge wrote the book considered to be the template for all first hand accounts of the War in the Pacific. I place Yellin next to Sledge because both men share their unadulterated feelings about war and their wars.
WFM
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tracker58
- 04-09-17
A wonderful story for a great man
yhis story surprised me by how historical the research was and hpw well written it is. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is interested in yhe true story of an American hero and maan of the greatest generation.