The Professionals by James Dietz

A summer day off the coast of California and the flight deck of the USS Lexington swarms with activity. Flying the premiere Navy fighter, the stubby Boeing F4B-4, pilots of Fighting Two prepare for take-off. Certainly all Naval Aviators are considered professionals, but these men were unique; they were a small group of hand-picked enlisted pilots. The flying Chiefs of VF-2 were selected from all rated enlisted pilots; it was both an honor and a challenge to fly with Fighting Two.