Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937–45

Download Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937–45 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1782005382
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937–45 by : Henry Sakaida

Download or read book Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937–45 written by Henry Sakaida and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-10-20 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Little has been published in English on the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF), let alone its most successful fighter pilots no less than 150 of them achieved ace status during eight years of near-constant war. They are all listed in this volume. From the arid plains of the Mongolian border region to the lush jungles of New Guinea, the JAAF was more than a match for the many opponents it fought against for control of the skies. Indeed, even when the mighty Allied war machine proved almost overwhelming from early 1944 onwards, the elite fighter pilots of the various sentais within the JAAF fought on with near-fanatical loyalty in defence of the Home Islands.

Japanese Army Fighter Aces, 1931-45

Download Japanese Army Fighter Aces, 1931-45 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Stackpole Books
ISBN 13 : 0811710769
Total Pages : 370 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (117 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Japanese Army Fighter Aces, 1931-45 by : Ikuhiko Hata

Download or read book Japanese Army Fighter Aces, 1931-45 written by Ikuhiko Hata and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2012 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In-depth review of Imperial Japanese Army Air Force fighter units and pilots Detailed study of equipment (e.g., the Zero fighter), operations from Pearl Harbor to kamikaze attacks, and pilots who achieved ace status Heavily illustrated with photos of pilots, aircraft, and unit insignia

Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces, 1931–1945

Download Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces, 1931–1945 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1909166286
Total Pages : 433 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces, 1931–1945 by : Ikuhiko Hata

Download or read book Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces, 1931–1945 written by Ikuhiko Hata and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2009-04-21 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An extensive guide to Japan’s Army Air Force Units and their ace pilots during conflicts in the 1930s and ‘40s, now in English. Commencing with a detailed study of the development, equipment, and operations flown by this force since its inception immediately after the end of World War I, until the catastrophic conclusion of World War II, the initial section deals with the wars in China and Manchuria, as well as the Pacific War of 1941-1945. The second section explores the history of each unit, listing the types of aircraft used, the bases from which they flew, and the unit and formation commanders. Notable mission details are also included. Finally, the third section offers biographical notes for notable fighter pilots and features supporting listings and a glossary of Japanese terms. Photographs of pilots and aircraft are also included, along with line drawings indicating the unit markings carried. This revised edition is a companion volume to Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1932–1945.

Japanese Naval Fighter Aces

Download Japanese Naval Fighter Aces PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Stackpole Books
ISBN 13 : 0811711676
Total Pages : 466 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (117 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Japanese Naval Fighter Aces by : Ikuhiko Hata

Download or read book Japanese Naval Fighter Aces written by Ikuhiko Hata and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2013 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is as good as we are likely to get on the subject in English. For Pacific Theater aerophiles, it's a must-have. --Barrett Tillman, author of WhirlwindVivid account of Japanese navy fighter units in combatContains biographies of all pilots claiming ace statusIncludes photos of planes like the Zero fighter and the pilots who flew them

Japanese Army Fighter Aces

Download Japanese Army Fighter Aces PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Stackpole Books
ISBN 13 : 1461751187
Total Pages : 353 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (617 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Japanese Army Fighter Aces by : Ikuhiko Hata

Download or read book Japanese Army Fighter Aces written by Ikuhiko Hata and published by Stackpole Books. This book was released on 2012-04-05 with total page 353 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In-depth review of Imperial Japanese Army Air Force fighter units and pilots Detailed study of equipment (e.g., the Zero fighter), operations from Pearl Harbor to kamikaze attacks, and pilots who achieved ace status Heavily illustrated with photos of pilots, aircraft, and unit insignia

Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1932–1945

Download Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1932–1945 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1909166782
Total Pages : 651 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1932–1945 by : Ikuhiko Hata

Download or read book Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1932–1945 written by Ikuhiko Hata and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2012-09-20 with total page 651 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An extensive guide to Japan’s Naval Air Force Fighter Units and their ace pilots during conflicts in the 1930s and ‘40s, now in English. The book begins by looking at the land- and aircraft carrier-based navy fighter units and their operations from 1932 to 1945, as well as their history and achievements. This is followed with biographical details for all pilots who claimed eight or more aerial victories. The thorough appendix provides detailed listings of all pilots known to have claimed five or more victories (and thus considered to be “aces”), listings of the graduation from training of all Japanese Navy fighter pilots, and of fighter pilot casualties. Photographs, maps, and artist’s side-view drawings and paintings of aircraft relevant to each of the units are also included. This revised edition is a companion volume to Japanese Army Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces, 1931–1945.

American Aces against the Kamikaze

Download American Aces against the Kamikaze PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1849087466
Total Pages : 96 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (49 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis American Aces against the Kamikaze by : Edward M. Young

Download or read book American Aces against the Kamikaze written by Edward M. Young and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-09-20 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This illustrated history describes the clashes between the US against the hastily created Kamikaze units of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Air Forces, some of the last large scale aerial engagements of the Pacific War. The Japanese High Command realised that the loss of Okinawa would give the Americans a base for the invasion of Japan. Its desperate response was to unleash the full force of the Special Attack Units, known in the west as the Kamikaze ('Divine Wind'). In a series of mass attacks in between April and June 1945, more than 900 Kamikaze aeroplanes were shot down. Conventional fighters and bombers accompanied the Special Attack Units as escorts, and to add their own weight to the attacks on the US fleet. In the air battles leading up to the invasion of Okinawa, as well as those that raged over the island in the three months that followed, the Japanese lost more than 7,000 aircraft both in the air and on the ground. In the course of the fighting, 67 Navy, 21 Marine, and three USAAF pilots became aces. As Edward M Young shows, in many ways it was an uneven combat and on numerous occasions following these uneven contests, American fighter pilots would return from combat having shot down up to six Japanese aeroplanes during a single mission.

Richard Bong

Download Richard Bong PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Wisconsin Historical Society
ISBN 13 : 0870204343
Total Pages : 130 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (72 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Richard Bong by : Pete Barnes

Download or read book Richard Bong written by Pete Barnes and published by Wisconsin Historical Society. This book was released on 2009-08 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wisconsin-born Richard Bong was the highest-rated flying ace in World War II, famous for having shot down 40 Japanese planes during a 3 year career as a fighter pilot. The recipient of a Silver Star and a Congressional Medal of Honor, Bong was killed after the war in a flying accident just months after marrying the love of his life, Marge Vattendahl. Badger Biographies is a series intended to integrate reading and Wisconsin history for 4th through 8th grade students or for ELL/ESL high school students.

Race of Aces

Download Race of Aces PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Hachette Books
ISBN 13 : 0316508640
Total Pages : 534 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (165 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Race of Aces by : John R Bruning

Download or read book Race of Aces written by John R Bruning and published by Hachette Books. This book was released on 2020-01-14 with total page 534 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The astonishing untold story of the WWII airmen who risked it all in the deadly race to become the greatest American fighter pilot. In 1942, America's deadliest fighter pilot, or "ace of aces" -- the legendary Eddie Rickenbacker -- offered a bottle of bourbon to the first U.S. fighter pilot to break his record of twenty-six enemy planes shot down. Seizing on the challenge to motivate his men, General George Kenney promoted what they would come to call the "race of aces" as a way of boosting the spirits of his war-weary command. What developed was a wild three-year sprint for fame and glory, and the chance to be called America's greatest fighter pilot. The story has never been told until now. Based on new research and full of revelations, John Bruning's brilliant, original book tells the story of how five American pilots contended for personal glory in the Pacific while leading Kenney's resurgent air force against the most formidable enemy America ever faced. The pilots -- Richard Bong, Tommy McGuire, Neel Kearby, Charles MacDonald and Gerald Johnson -- riveted the nation as they contended for Rickenbacker's crown. As their scores mounted, they transformed themselves from farm boys and aspiring dentists into artists of the modern dogfight. But as the race reached its climax, some of the pilots began to see how the spotlight warped their sense of duty. They emerged as leaders, beloved by their men as they chose selfless devotion over national accolades. Teeming with action all across the vast Pacific theater, Race of Aces is a fascinating exploration of the boundary between honorable duty, personal glory, and the complex landscape of the human heart. "Brings you into the cockpit of the lethal, fast-paced world of fighter pilots . . . Fascinating." -- Sara Vladic"Extraordinary . . . a must-read." -- US Navy Captain Dan Pedersen"A heart-pounding narrative of the courage, sacrifice, and tragedy of America's elite fighter pilots." -- James M. Scott"Vivid and gripping . . . Confirms Bruning's status as the premier war historian of the air." -- Saul David

The Early Air War in the Pacific

Download The Early Air War in the Pacific PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 147666997X
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (766 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Early Air War in the Pacific by : Ralph F. Wetterhahn

Download or read book The Early Air War in the Pacific written by Ralph F. Wetterhahn and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2019-11-29 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:  During the first 10 months of the war in the Pacific, Japan achieved air supremacy with its carrier and land-based forces. But after major setbacks at Midway and Guadalcanal, the empire's expansion stalled, in part due to flaws in aircraft design, strategy and command. This book offers a fresh analysis of the air war in the Pacific during the early phases of World War II. Details are included from two expeditions conducted by the author that reveal the location of an American pilot missing in the Philippines since 1942 and clear up a controversial account involving famed Japanese ace Saburo Sakai and U.S. Navy pilot James "Pug" Southerland.

Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ Aces of World War 2

Download Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ Aces of World War 2 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781846034084
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (34 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ Aces of World War 2 by : Hiroshi Ichimura

Download or read book Ki-43 ‘Oscar’ Aces of World War 2 written by Hiroshi Ichimura and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2009-03-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dubbed the 'Oscar' by the Allies, the Ki-43 Hayabusa was the most prolific Japanese fighter of World War II. Produced in great numbers, it initially proved superior to most US and British fighter types, due to its excellent maneuverability. The light weight and large wing area gave it a small turning radius and a high rate-of-climb which was ideal for pilots in close combat fighting. However, the Ki-43's swiftness and agility came at a price, with the low-wing design meaning that firepower and safety had to be sacrificed. With only two machine guns, a Ki-43 pilot would have to perform a dangerous balancing act between achieving a high rate of kills and their own survival. Surprisingly, more Japanese pilots achieved Ace status flying the Hayabusa than any other plane and despite being steadily outclassed by new fighters, the Ki-43 remained in frontline JAAF service until the war's end. This book expertly charts the experiences of the pilots and discusses the early stages of the war in South-East Asia, China, Burma and New Guinea. Accompanied by detailed appendices and specially commissioned artwork, this is the first volume in English to focus exclusively on the exploits of the Ki-43.

Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces

Download Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1780962967
Total Pages : 100 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (89 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces by : Nicholas Millman

Download or read book Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces written by Nicholas Millman and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-11-20 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of the elite Japanese Army Air force (JAAF) aces that flew the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Swallow), and the Ki-100 Goshikisen in the Pacific Theatre of World War 2. The former, codenamed 'Tony' by the allies, was a technically excellent aircraft, possessing power, stability and a good rate of climb - differing radically from the usual Japanese philosophy of building light, ultra-manoeuvrable fighters. Its pilots soon realised, however, that the type was plagued by a number of dangerous mechanical issues. Then as the war moved relentlessly closer to Japan's doorstep, a desperate, expedient innovation to the Ki-61 airframe by fitting it with a radial instead of inline engine resulted in one of the finest fighters of World War 2 - the Ki-100. This book uses the latest findings to provide a gripping account of some of the most remarkable and hard-pressed fighter pilots of the war. It reveals how these men, unlike so many of their unfortunate late-war colleagues, could surprise Allied aircraft in high-performance fighters and claim successes in the face of enormous odds.

Ki-27 ‘Nate’ Aces

Download Ki-27 ‘Nate’ Aces PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781849086622
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (866 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Ki-27 ‘Nate’ Aces by : Nicholas Millman

Download or read book Ki-27 ‘Nate’ Aces written by Nicholas Millman and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2013-08-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduced into service early in 1938 during a time of extensive re-organisation of Army air units, the Ki-27, known as the 97 Sen by its pilots, achieved its first successes during the so-called 'China Incident' against the mainly biplane types operated by the Chinese. On 10 April 1938 Ki-27 pilots of the 2nd Daitai (later to become the 64th Sentai) claimed 24 Chinese biplane fighters shot down for the loss of only two of their own. Almost within a year of its combat debut against the Chinese the 97 Sen was to be tested in fighting against the Russians during the Nomonhan Incident of 1939. Initially the 97 Sen proved superior to the Soviet I-16 monoplanes, but the latter were hastily modified to better engage the Japanese fighter and the Russian pilots rapidly adapted to exploit their own strengths and the enemy weaknesses. A handful of Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) aces emerged from this showdown to be lauded by the Japanese press and ever associated with the iconic 97 Sen - Shimada the 'Red-Legged Hawk', Shihonara the 'Richthofen of the Orient' and Yoshiyama, the 'warrior of the Holombile Plateau'. These were the glory days for the JAAF and many of the successful 97 Sen pilots went on to become the outstanding leaders and veteran aces of the Pacific War. By December, 1941 the JAAF had just started to replace the 97 Sen with the more modern Hayabusa, but the fixed undercarriage fighter still equipped 17 of the 19 Army fighter Sentai and took the brunt of the offensive against the British and Americans in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, as well as the Homeland Defence capability at the time of the Doolittle Raid. Initially facing more modern Allied types of fighter, the 97 Sen was more than able to hold its own by exploiting its outstanding aerobatic qualities. But the writing was on the wall for an unarmoured, fixed undercarriage aircraft with two rifle-calibre machine guns as the Allies consolidated and began their fightback. In China, Chennault had already assessed the 97 Sen's strengths and weaknesses, describing it as a fighter that 'climbs like a sky rocket and manoeuvres like a squirrel'. Prior to the outbreak of the Pacific War he had sent a complete dossier on the type to the USA where it was studiously ignored. The pace of re-equipment with new types and the resurgence of Allied airpower required JAAF units to continue with the 97 Sen as main equipment, especially on the quieter fronts and in Home Defence. By 1943 it was considered seriously obsolete but was still being encountered in combat by Allied pilots, especially in the air defence role. The Ki-27 also found an important secondary role as an armed fighter trainer, equipping an important number of training units and flying schools. The Mansyu Ki-79, a purpose built trainer produced in both single and two-seater versions, was based on the Ki-27. It also served expediently in the suicide attack role and in at least one epic air defence combat. In February 1945, over Chiba, experienced ace WO Masatoshi Masuzawa, flying one of the open cockpit trainers, downed a US Navt Hellcat. Masuzawa had scored his first victory in a 97 Sen over Nomonhan in 1939, and in three months of fighting there had claimed 12 enemy aircraft shot down. He epitomised the veteran JAAF flyers who had first taken the 97 Sen to war and survived to see the atom bombs dropped on their homeland.

Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937–45

Download Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937–45 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1782005390
Total Pages : 198 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937–45 by : Henry Sakaida

Download or read book Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937–45 written by Henry Sakaida and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2012-10-20 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The outcome of the Pacific War was heavily influenced by the results of naval battles between the Imperial Japanese fleet and the US Navy. One of the key elements was Japan's large fighter component, which had gained experience over Manchuria, China and Mongolia in the late 1930s. Flying A5Ms, at least 21 pilots achieved 'acedom' securing air superiority for the invaders. Manufacturer Mitsubishi derived much from these campaigns, producing one of the best fighters of the War, the A6M Zero-Sen. Navy pilots proved to be highly skilled when engaged by the Allied forces. This volume tells the story of pilots like Nishizawa, Sagita and Sakai, scoring more than 60 kills apiece.

The Flying Tigers

Download The Flying Tigers PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 0593511352
Total Pages : 321 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (935 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Flying Tigers by : Sam Kleiner

Download or read book The Flying Tigers written by Sam Kleiner and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-03-01 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The thrilling story behind the American pilots who were secretly recruited to defend the nation’s desperate Chinese allies before Pearl Harbor and ended up on the front lines of the war against the Japanese in the Pacific. Sam Kleiner’s The Flying Tigers uncovers the hidden story of the group of young American men and women who crossed the Pacific before Pearl Harbor to risk their lives defending China. Led by legendary army pilot Claire Chennault, these men left behind an America still at peace in the summer of 1941 using false identities to travel across the Pacific to a run-down airbase in the jungles of Burma. In the wake of the disaster at Pearl Harbor this motley crew was the first group of Americans to take on the Japanese in combat, shooting down hundreds of Japanese aircraft in the skies over Burma, Thailand, and China. At a time when the Allies were being defeated across the globe, the Flying Tigers’ exploits gave hope to Americans and Chinese alike. Kleiner takes readers into the cockpits of their iconic shark-nosed P-40 planes—one of the most familiar images of the war—as the Tigers perform nail-biting missions against the Japanese. He profiles the outsize personalities involved in the operation, including Chennault, whose aggressive tactics went against the prevailing wisdom of military strategy; Greg “Pappy” Boyington, the man who would become the nation’s most beloved pilot until he was shot down and became a POW; Emma Foster, one of the nurses in the unit who had a passionate romance with a pilot named John Petach; and Madame Chiang Kai-shek herself, who first brought Chennault to China and who would come to visit these young Americans. A dramatic story of a covert operation whose very existence would have scandalized an isolationist United States, The Flying Tigers is the unforgettable account of a group of Americans whose heroism changed the world, and who cemented an alliance between the United States and China as both nations fought against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Wings of the Rising Sun

Download Wings of the Rising Sun PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472823710
Total Pages : 338 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Wings of the Rising Sun by : Mark Chambers

Download or read book Wings of the Rising Sun written by Mark Chambers and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2018-11-29 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating insight into how the Allies learned about the capabilities and limitations of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force and Japanese Army Air Force through flight testing and evaluation of enemy equipment. In the Pacific War's early years, Japanese air power was dominant. The only way for the Allies to defeat their enemy was to know it. This made the task of maintaining productive intelligence gathering efforts on Japan imperative. Establishing Technical Air Intelligence Units in the Pacific Theatre and the Technical Air Intelligence Center in Washington DC, the Allies were able to begin to reveal the secrets of Japanese air power through extensive flight testing and evaluation of captured enemy aircraft and equipment. These provided an illuminating perspective on Japanese aircraft and aerial weapon design philosophy and manufacturing practice. Fully illustrated throughout with a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, Mark Chambers explores Allied efforts to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Japanese air power during the war years, and how this intelligence helped them achieve victory in the Pacific.

Genda's Blade

Download Genda's Blade PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Ian Allan Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781903223253
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (232 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Genda's Blade by : Henry Sakaida

Download or read book Genda's Blade written by Henry Sakaida and published by Ian Allan Publishing. This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Captain Minoru Genda was the mastermind behind the raid on Pearl Harbor. He was commander of the 343 Kokutai-an elite unit of handpicked pilots chosen to fly Japan's newest and most advanced fighter, the Shiden-Kai (George), in the bitter defensive air battles over the Japanese homeland during the first half of 1945. The authors have spent years tracing and interviewing former pilots of both the 343 Kokutai and the American carrier and bomber groups that they encountered, to piece together this dramatic story and tell it largely from the personal perspective. The narrative is spiced with 300 remarkable photographs, most of which are published for the first time in an English language book. Accompanied by color artwork and written by acknowledged experts on Japanese military aviation, this book will be an essential requirement for any student of the Pacific air war.