BOYS OF THE BURNING SKY: MARINE CORSAIR PILOTS OPERATION ICEBERG VMF 322 CLOSE AIR SUPPORT ON OKINAWA

Spring 1945.As American forces stormed ashore on Okinawa during Operation Iceberg, thousands of Marines and soldiers faced entrenched Japanese defenses in brutal combat. Above them flew the Marine Corsair fighter squadrons of MAG-33, VMF-322 and her sister units - diving through relentless anti-aircraft fire to strike enemy positions only yards from friendly troops. This is the untold true story of Major Frederick Rauschenbach, 24, commanding officer of VMF-322 and a group of fellow young Marine aviators who commanded and fought along side one another, and risked everything to save the men on the ground - and in doing so helped shape the future of close air support.Nicknamed "Whistling Death" by the Japanese, the F4U Corsair was one of the most powerful fighters of World War II.Fast, survivable, and deadly. Capable of carrying a mix bombs, napalm, rockets, 20mm cannons or six .50 caliber machine guns, it became the perfect weapon for supporting Marines and soldiers fighting on Okinawa.The Corsair pilots of VMF-322 flew hundreds of dangerous missions to protect the troops below.This is the air war you have never seen, and the heroes you will never forget.