THE JOLLY ROGERS

The Jolly Rogers was written by Tom Blackburn and published in 1989, serving as a definitive account of VF-17, the United States Navy's first squadron to operate the F4U Corsair during World War II. Blackburn, who served as the squadron's commander, wrote the book to preserve the legacy of his pilots, who became famous for their aggressive combat record in the Solomon Islands campaign. It is considered an essential primary source for historians interested in naval aviation tactics and the early challenges of integrating the Corsair into carrier-based operations.

The design and narrative structure of the book reflect a transition from wartime mission logs to a cohesive historical memoir. Blackburn focused on the human element of squadron life, detailing the camaraderie and the tactical innovation required to overcome the Corsair's initial technical difficulties. Upon its release, the book was well-received by military history enthusiasts and aviation scholars for its technical precision and the authentic voice of a frontline commander providing a rare, first-person perspective on air superiority in the Pacific Theater.