Whistling Death - Good Old Reads

Boone T. Guyton - Whistling Death — Boone T. Guyton

For those who are avid about aircraft development during the second world war—specifically the F4U Corsair—this book is a required addition for your library. But if you’re not passionate about flying and World War II aircraft, you will want to bypass Whistling Death.

High Point: Guyton’s stories about testing the F4U Corsair during World War II are fast-paced and engaging.

Low Point: The writing is uneven. While the flying stories work well, the rest of the prose exhibits a lack of polish that detracts from the story.

Author: Boone T. Guyton

Publication Date: 1990

Genre: Aviation

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Whistling Death by Boone T. Guyton is the story of the development of the F4U Corsair—an American military aircraft of World War II. According to Guyton, Whistling Death is the name applied to the aircraft by Japanese pilots. And while the aircraft was an outstanding success, the book, unfortunately, is one most readers will want to miss.

Guyton was Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Company’s chief test pilot during the life of the Corsair. Emerging as a preeminent fighter-bomber for the United States Navy and Marines, the Corsair was the American military’s answer to the Japanese Zero. Guyton played a key role in the high-risk testing of the aircraft from its inception through its continual development and refinement. In fact, he experienced multiple accidents—one of which was nearly fatal.

Guyton’s writing, however, is uneven. When he discusses his flights in the Corsair and other aircraft, the accounts flow easily with a pace that will keep you engaged. Outside the flying, though, the prose becomes awkward—almost as if Guyton were trying a bit too hard. His use of adjectives is excessive and seems forced. His sentence structure is not effective. It exhibits a lack of polish that detracts from the overall effort.

Despite that, Guyton gives us some fascinating stories. He spent time working with Charles Lindbergh testing the Corsair, and discusses a dinner Guyton and his wife had with Charles and Anne Lindbergh one evening at the Lindbergh home. One chapter that particularly stands out describes Guyton’s testing of the Corsair’s flight characteristics as it neared the speed of sound.