SOLVED. YA Historical novel. Marine pilot on a submarine in WWII on a mission to fly a downed plane out of a Japanese held island. Read around 1970. Spoiler ahead. [s]

[Ron]

This book was sold through the bulletin distributed to schools (Scholastic?).
He resents being on this mission since he can see no reason to put a solitary marine in a sub for this unknown mission.
The sub goes down but he alone escapes through the escape hatch. Winds up on a Japanese held island. Finds a downed plane and realizes why he is on the mission and is shot up taking it off but succeeds somehow. I'm sure I've misremembered a point or two here.

[Rainbowheart]

Flight Deck?

[Ron]

Sorry but Flight Deck looks close but not quite right. I don't remember a brother and I don't see anything about a sub which seemed like it took up maybe a quarter of the novel. But thanks for trying!

[Rainbowheart]

Another review, if it helps....

John Lawrence, a navy pilot on combat duty in World War II, is injured in an enemy bombardment and grounded. Through a secret arrangement with his brother, John decides to station himself on a supposedly deserted island so that he may radio nearby Guadalcanal of approaching enemy planes. When John's brother is shot down, no one in the entire navy knows of John's whereabouts. John discovers a forsaken shack in the woods and he moves in, just as unexpected Japanese troops land on the beach. John carefully watches the enemy's procedures and maneuvers, but when he contacts Guadalcanal, he is not believed. Alone, with an injured Australian boy, he finally destroys the enemy camp and escapes on a rescue ship... With an eye for action, an understanding of his characters, and a devotion to reality, Robb White has created another fast-moving and logically conceived adventure story for masculine readers.

[Rainbowheart]

It sounds like he's alive at the end, though, so most likely not your book.

[Ron]

Right. And I don't remember a boy nor destroying an enemy camp. But thanks for trying.

[Rainbowheart]

Maybe Up Periscope?

[Ron]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Maybe Up Periscope?"

I don't think so. The mission (not disclosed until the sub delivering the protagonist sinks) is to fly a plane out I think. And he is definitely shot up at the end because I remember being sad about it.
It seems like the sub would have to be featured in any synopsis.
The author's name seems a little familiar so you may be on the right track.

[Rainbowheart]

I also found Torpedoes Away! and War Beneath the Sea, but not sure how closely they match.

[Ron]

Ron wrote: "Rainbowheart wrote: "Maybe Up Periscope?"

I don't think so. The mission (not disclosed until the sub delivering the protagonist sinks) is to fly a plane out I think. And he is defini..."

Thanks for trying but I think those are further afield. After thinking about it, it was probably an Air Force man rather than a Marine. That makes more sense too. The point was, he was an outsider (non-Navy) guy in the midst of the seamen on the sub. And he was a pilot. Very sure of that.

[Kris]

Removed the spoiler from the topic header ("He dies at the end.") and added a spoiler alert.

Spoilers are fine in the comments. Just give us a clear warning first.

[Rainbowheart]

Bumping up for Ron.

[Andria]

Possibly The Survivor? Also by Robb White. One of the GR reviews is by someone who got it from a Scholastic Book Fair...

[Rainbowheart]

I think Andria has got it!

[Ron]

I missed Andria's response 3 months ago. Apologies. That cover and description fit the bill. Thanks a million!!!