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| 1942 the pacific air war: 1942 the Pacific Air War John Possidente, 1995 1942: Pacific Air War is the exciting new WWII air combat simulation that gives gamers a real sense of what naval campaigns were like for Japanese and American pilots. This official guide is a must for readers interested in this period. Included are all the hints, tips, adn tactics needed to become an ace for either side. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: South Pacific Air War Michael Claringbould, Peter Ingman, 2018-09 This second volume chronicles aerial warfare in the South Pacific for the two crucial months of March and April 1942 when a deadly struggle for Port Moresby played out. It can be read alone or as part of a trilogy which culminates in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.The period begins with the stunning 10 March US Navy carrier strike against Lae and Salamaua which caused the Japanese to pause their advance until their own carriers were available. Instead they tried to grind the Allied forces at Port Moresby into submission through an unrelenting air assault by their Betty bombers and superlative Zero fighters. After a long wait, Allied land-based fighters finally arrived in the form of Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawks. These were backed up by a growing collection of United States Army Air Force bombers including A-24 Banshees, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders (the latter two types making their worldwide combat debut over the skies of New Guinea). Together this motley force took the fight to the Japanese, resulting in a complex aerial campaign which saw units from both sides reach exhaustion. Never before has such a detailed chronicle of this air war been published, and for the first time the authors match Allied accounts with Japanese records. The result is both thrilling and surprising, with the resulting dispositions of the air forces of both sides setting the scene for the Battle of the Coral Sea in May.Both authors are uniquely qualified to tell this story. Raised in Port Moresby, Michael Claringbould is an acknowledged expert on the Pacific air war and Japanese aviation in particular. Peter Ingman is an acclaimed military history author specialising in the early Pacific War period. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: South Pacific Air War Volume 4 Peter Ingman, Michael Claringbould, 2020-12 Volume Four chronicles aerial warfare in the South Pacific in the critical period between 19 June and 8 September 1942. It can be read alone or as a continuation of the first three volumes that spanned the first six months of the Pacific War, culminating in the Battle of the Coral Sea.Unlike the previous three volumes, no aircraft carriers appeared in New Guinea waters. Instead, the air war was fought solely by land-based air units. This was in the face of an increasingly complex strategic situation that saw the Japanese land at both Buna and Milne Bay. For the first time, airpower in the theater was tasked to support the land forces of both sides which became engaged in a bloody struggle in the mountains of Papua and then the narrow muddy quagmire of Milne Bay.Two veteran Japanese air groups, the Tainan and No. 4 Kokutai, continued their Herculean struggle against mounting Allied opposition. In the face of continued attrition, Japanese pilots had many notable successes including several coveted aerial victories against B-17s. Then, from August a plethora of fresh Japanese units arrived in theatre including the No. 2, No. 6, Chitose, Misawa and Kisarazu Kokutai.USAAF P-39s and RAAF P-40Es responded with low level close support missions and B-25s, B-26s and B-17s ramped up an unrelenting bombing campaign. Towards the end of the period A-20A strafers made their combat debut, portending a radical blueprint for future attack tactics in the theater.Never before has this campaign been chronicled in such detail, with Allied accounts matched against Japanese records for a truly factual account of the conflict. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Whirlwind Barrett Tillman, 2010-03-02 WHIRLWIND is the first book to tell the complete, awe-inspiring story of the Allied air war against Japan—the most important strategic bombing campaign inhistory. From the audacious Doolittle raid in 1942 to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, award-winning historian Barrett Tillman recounts the saga from the perspectives of American and British aircrews who flew unprecedented missions overthousands of miles of ocean, as well as of the generalsand admirals who commanded them. Whether describing the experiences of bomber crews based in China or the Marianas, fighter pilotson Iwo Jima, or carrier aviators at sea, Tillman provides vivid details of the lives of the fliers and their support personnel. Whirlwind takes readers into the cockpits and gun turrets of the mighty B-29 Superfortress, the largest bomber built up to that time. Tillman dramatically re-creates the sweep of wartime emotions that crews endured on fifteen-hour missions, grappling with the extreme tedium of cramped spaces and with adrenaline spikes in flak-studded skies, knowing that a bailout would put them at the mercy of a merciless enemy or an unforgiving sea. A major character is the controversial and brilliant General Curtis LeMay, who rewrote strategic bombing tactics. His command’s fire-bombing missions incinerated fully half of Tokyo and many other cities, crippling Japan’s industry while still failing to force surrender. Whirlwind examines the immense logistics and construction efforts necessary to support Superfortresses in Asia and the Mariana Islands, as well as the tireless efforts of engineers to build huge air bases from scratch.It also describes the unheralded missions that American bomber crews flew from the Aleutian Islands to Japan’s northernmost Kuril Islands. Never has the Japanese side of the story been so thoroughly examined. If Washington, D.C., represented a “second front” in Army-Navy rivalry, the situation in Tokyo approached a full-contact sport. Tillman’s description of Japan’s willfully inadequate approach to civil defense is eye-opening. Similarly, he examines the mind-set in Tokyo’s war cabinet, which ignored the atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, requiring the emperor’s personal intervention to avert a ghastly Allied invasion. Tillman shows how, despite the Allies’ ultimate success, mistakes and shortsighted policies made victory more costly in lives and effort. He faults the lack of a unified command for allowing the Army Air Forces and the Navy to pursue parochial goals at the expense of the larger mission, and he questions the premature commitment of the enormously sophisticated B-29 to the most primitive theater in India and China. Whirlwind is one of the last histories of World War II written with the contribution of men who fought in it.With unexcelled macro- and microperspectives, Whirlwind is destined to become a standard reference on the war, on multiservice operations, and on the human capacity for individual heroism and national folly. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Pacific Air David Sears, 2011-06-03 The exhilarating epic story of the heroic fighter pilots whose fast - flying, hard - turning planes turned the tide in the Pacific theater during World War II.... |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 (Vol. 1) (The Pacific War Trilogy) Ian W. Toll, 2011-11-14 Winner of the Northern California Book Award for Nonfiction Both a serious work of history…and a marvelously readable dramatic narrative. —San Francisco Chronicle On the first Sunday in December 1941, an armada of Japanese warplanes appeared suddenly over Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and devastated the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Six months later, in a sea fight north of the tiny atoll of Midway, four Japanese aircraft carriers were sent into the abyss, a blow that destroyed the offensive power of their fleet. Pacific Crucible—through a dramatic narrative relying predominantly on primary sources and eyewitness accounts of heroism and sacrifice from both navies—tells the epic tale of these first searing months of the Pacific war, when the U.S. Navy shook off the worst defeat in American military history to seize the strategic initiative. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Fortress Rabaul Bruce Gamble, 2013-09-09 For most of World War II, the mention of Japan's island stronghold sent shudders through thousands of Allied airmen. Some called it “Fortress Rabaul,” an apt name for the headquarters of the Imperial Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific. Author Bruce Gamble chronicles Rabaul’s crucial role in Japanese operations in the Southwest Pacific. Millions of square feet of housing and storage facilities supported a hundred thousand soldiers and naval personnel. Simpson Harbor and the airfields were the focus of hundreds of missions by American air forces. Winner of the Gold Medal (Military Writers Society of America) and Editor's Choice Award (Stone & Stone Second World War Books), Fortress Rabaul details a critical and, until now, little understood chapter in the history of World War II. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Early Air War in the Pacific Ralph F. Wetterhahn, 2019-11-29 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. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Dutch Naval Air Force Against Japan Tom Womack, 2023-10-04 Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Dutch Naval Air Force--or Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (MLD)--played a significant but largely overlooked role in the opening months of the Pacific War. With 175 aircraft, the MLD greatly outnumbered the combined forces of its American and British allies. In three months of intense combat, the MLD lost 50 percent of its personnel and 80 percent of its aircraft, as the Netherlands' colonial empire was stripped away. This book details MLD operations during the Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies, giving a comprehensive overview of organization, personnel, aircraft, equipment and tactics. For the first time in English, the failed evacuation of Java is examined. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: South Pacific Air War Richard Dunn, 2024-04-28 A new history of the South Pacific campaigns based primarily upon primary source material |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Midway 1942 Mark Stille, 2012-06-20 The most important and dramatic carrier battle of World War II, which completely changed the fortunes of both Japan and America. In less than one day, the might of the Imperial Japanese Navy was destroyed and four of her great aircraft carriers sank burning into the dark depths of the Pacific. Utilizing the latest research and detailed combat maps, this book tells the dramatic story of the Japanese assault on Midway Island and the American ambush that changed the face of the Pacific war. With sections on commanders, opposing forces, and a blow-by-blow account of the action, this volume gives a complete understanding of the strategy, the tactics, and the human drama that made up the Midway campaign, and its place as the turning point in the Pacific war. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Carrier Attack -Darwin 1942 Tom Lewis, Peter Ingman, 2013 When the Pacific war began it was a case of when not if Darwin would be attacked. But nobody could have predicted the extraordinary scale and ferocity of the 19 February 1942 raid. A massive strike force, blooded at Pearl Harbor just weeks before, hit Darwin in the biggest Japanese air attack ever in the South Pacific. Since then, generations of Australians have been drawn to the stories and folklore of the Darwin action. But facts have blurred and mythology has thrived. What of the warning that never happened? What of the ghost ship actually sunk in the Atlantic a year earlier? Did a fighter pilot contrive a false combat record? Did the authorities cover up the raid? Why do Australians know so little about it? This is the book that tests these many Darwin myths and reveals new information: another ship sunk; the actual intent and nature of the attack; the precise extent of the Japanese losses. The Darwin raid is usually portrayed as a wholesale disaster for the Allies, and a day full of military ineptitude. Carrier Attack shows the defenders were alert and fought with purpose. Arguably it was the Japanese that wasted much of their attacking strength, and in this way the Darwin defenders avoided a much larger catastrophe. Carrier Attack provides a timely and fresh analysis of the raid. Most importantly, it draws on specially translated Japanese sources. About the AuthorsDr Tom Lewis OAM is the award-winning author of 11 books. A long time resident of Darwin, he is the current Director of the Darwin Military Museum. In 2012 he was a major participant in the 70th anniversary of the Darwin raid, which included a multi-million dollar re-development of the Museum. Tom is a former naval of cer whoseservice included a combat deployment to Baghdad. Peter Ingman is the grandson of an original Gallipoli Anzac who lived in 1930s Darwin. He has been a regular visitor to the Northern Territory since the 1980s when his father worked there as a surgeon. With a background as a business executive, he has a longinterest in Australian military history. Peter currently manages an Adelaide-based publishing company. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Zero Masatake Okumiya, Jiro Horikoshi, Martin Caidin, 2004 This is the thrilling saga of the war in the air in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II from Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki, as told by the men who created, led, and fought in the deadly Zero fighter plane. They tell what it felt like to bomb American ships and to shoot down American airplanes-and then of their shock when their myth of invincibility was shattered by the new American Lightning, Hellcat, and Corsair fighters. The story continues to the final desperate days of the kamikaze suicide planes. And finally they reveal their reaction to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Cactus Air Force Eric Hammel, Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, 2022-09-01 Using diary entries, interviews and first-hand accounts, this vivid narrative brings to life the struggle in the air over the island of Guadalcanal between August 20 and November 15, 1942. The battle of Guadalcanal was the first offensive operation undertaken by the US and its allies in the Pacific War. The three months of air battles between August 20, 1942, when the first Marine air unit arrived on the island, and November 15, when the last enemy attempt to retake the island was defeated, were perhaps the most important of the Pacific War. “Cactus,” the code name for the island, became a sinkhole for Japanese air and naval power, as they experienced losses that could never be made good. For 40 years, the late Eric Hammel interviewed more than 150 American participants in the air campaign at Guadalcanal, none of whom are still alive. These interviews are the most comprehensive first-person accounts of the battle assembled by any historian. More importantly, they involved the junior officers and enlisted men whose stories and memories were not part of the official history, and thus provide a unique insight. In The Cactus Air Force, Pacific War expert Thomas McKelvey Cleaver worked closely with Eric to build on his collection of diary entries, interviews and first-hand accounts to create a vivid narrative of the struggle in the air over the island of Guadalcanal between August 20 and November 15, 1942. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: D-Day in the Pacific Harold J. Goldberg, 2007-05-02 “The narrative moves smoothly and crisply. There is effective treatment of strategy, preparations, and then the invasion and battle for Saipan itself.” —Spencer C. Tucker, author of American Revolution In June 1944 the attention of the nation was riveted on events unfolding in France. But in the Pacific, the Battle of Saipan was of extreme strategic importance. This is a gripping account of one of the most dramatic engagements of World War II. The conquest of Saipan and the neighboring island of Tinian was a turning point in the war in the Pacific as it made the American victory against Japan inevitable. Until this battle, the Japanese continued to believe that success in the war remained possible. While Japan had suffered serious setbacks as early as the Battle of Midway in 1942, Saipan was part of her inner defense line, so victory was essential. The American victory at Saipan forced Japan to begin considering the reality of defeat. For the Americans, the capture of Saipan meant secure air bases for the new B-29s that were now within striking distance of all Japanese cities, including Tokyo. “Harold Goldberg’s riveting story of this conflict brings the dead back to life by blending rigorous research with dramatic narratives by hundreds of survivors. He has written a superb account of a pivotal, little-known, and heart-breaking battle.” —Col. Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (ret.),author of Storm Landings “Using recent interviews he conducted with extant US veterans, [Goldberg] skillfully develops the soldiers’ view of the battle for Saipan in an engaging, clearly written and interesting volume.” —The Journal of Military History |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Great Pacific War Hector C. Bywater, 2002-04 This gripping blow-by-blow account of a war between the United States and Japan, originally published in 1925, predicted actual events. Writing 16 years before the japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Bywater, the world's leading naval authority in the period between the two world wars, prophesied a Japanese surprise attack on the U.S. in the Pacific, while simultaneously invading the Phillippines and Guam. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: First Offensive Henry I. Shaw, Jr., 1996-11 |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Air Campaign John A. Warden, III, 1994-05 One of the first analyses of the pure art of planning the aerial dimensions of war. Explores the complicated connection between air superiority and victory in war. Focuses on the use of air forces at the operational level in a theater of war. Presents fascinating historical examples, stressing that the mastery of operational-level strategy can be the key to winning future wars. 20 photos. Bibliography. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: 'The Most Dangerous Moment of the War' John Clancy, 2015-11-19 “A well-detailed account of the [World War II] raid, which badly stung the Royal Navy but which the Japanese failed to exploit to a strategic advantage” (Seapower). In early April 1942, a little-known episode of World War II took place. Said by Sir Winston Churchill to be “the most dangerous moment of the war,” the Japanese made their only major offensive westwards into the Indian Ocean. As historian Sir Arthur Bryant said, “A Japanese naval victory in April 1942 would have given Japan total control of the Indian Ocean, isolated the Middle East and brought down the Churchill government.” Having crippled the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese turned their sights on the British Eastern Fleet based at Ceylon. Occupation of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, would not only provide the Japanese a springboard into India but also control of the essential convoy routes to Europe and the Western Desert. And aside from the British Eastern Fleet, the Indian Ocean lay undefended. In April 1942, a Japanese fleet led by six aircraft carriers, four battleships, and thirty other ships sailed into the Bay of Bengal. In the ferocious battles that followed, the British lost a carrier, two heavy cruisers, and many other ships; however, the Japanese eventually turned back, never to sail against India again. John Clancy, whose father survived the sinking of HMS Cornwall during the battle, “masterfully combines the strategic overview, the tactical decision making and many personal experiences to bring this episode of the war to life” (WWII Today). “Absolutely enthralling.” —Books Monthly “Well researched . . . a balanced view of men acting under the stress of war during a critical time.” —WWII History |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Battle of Milne Bay 1942 Nicholas Anderson, 2018-08-05 By 1942 the formidable Japanese military had conquered swathes of territory across south-east Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Despite its defeat at the Battle of Midway, Japan remained a potent enemy committed to the creation of a defensive arc to shield its captured possessions in the Pacific. The capture of Port Moresby would cement the southern border of this defensive arc and sever the vital lines of communication between Australia and the United States. It was the Japanese plan to seize Moresby that would set the course for the Battle of Milne Bay. Situated on the eastern tip of New Guinea, Milne Bay was a wretched hell-hole: swamp-riddled, a haven for malaria and cursed with torrential rain. It was here that General Douglas MacArthur ordered the secret construction of an Allied base with airfields to protect the maritime approach to Port Moresby. But the Japanese soon discovered the base at Milne Bay and despatched a task force to destroy its garrison and occupy the base. All that stood between the Japanese and their prize was a brigade of regular Australian soldiers untrained in tropical warfare and a brigade of Australian militia with no combat experience whatsoever. While the Kokoda campaign is etched in public memory, its sister battle at Milne Bay has long been neglected. However the bitter fighting over this isolated harbour played an equally important role in protecting Port Moresby and made a valuable contribution to shifting Allied fortunes in the Pacific War. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Japan Runs Wild, 1942-1943 Peter Harmsen, 2024-07-15 This book details the astonishing transformation that took place from 1942 to 1943, setting the Allies on a path to final victory against Japan. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-sen Edward M. Young, 2013-08-20 The Grumman F4F Wildcat and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen were contemporaries, although designed to very different requirements. The Wildcat, ruggedly built to survive the rigors of carrier operations, was the best carrier fighter the US Navy had available when the USA entered World War II, and it remained the principal fighter for the US Navy and the US Marine Corps until 1942–43. With a speed greater than 300mph, exceptional manoeuvrability, long range, and an impressive armament the slick Zero-sen could out-perform any Allied fighter in 1941–42. The battles between the Wildcat and the Zero-sen during 1942 represent a classic duel in which pilots flying a nominally inferior fighter successfully developed air-combat tactics that negated the strengths of their opponent. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: South Pacific Air War Volume 5 Michael Claringbould, Peter Ingman, 2021-12 Volume Five of this series chronicles aerial warfare primarily in the New Guinea theater in the critical period between September and December 1942. It can be read alone or as a continuation of the previous four volumes which span the first nine months of the Pacific War. By early September the strategic picture in the theater had changed markedly within just six weeks. From their new Buna beachhead, the Japanese Army commenced a Papuan mountain campaign which threatened the Allied bastion of Port Moresby. Meanwhile the battle for Guadalcanal was raging, with the outcome of the wider Pacific War in the balance. Against this background a strengthened US Fifth Air Force took the fight to the IJA with direct air support. While this was being conducted by P-39s, P-40Es, A-20As and B-25s, raids by B-17s against Rabaul aided US forces in the neighboring Solomons. RAAF Beaufighters, Beauforts, Bostons, and Hudsons also contributed substantially to these efforts. At Rabaul, a wide variety of fresh IJN fighter and bomber units poured in the theater, although these became focused mainly on the Solomons. Such were the massive losses experienced, by November the IJN undertook a complete operational and administrative reorganization of its air power. Then, despite a strong reluctance to become involved, the IJA sent an advance reconnaissance detachment to Rabaul, the forerunner of major reinforcements that would arrive in December. Never before has this campaign been chronicled in such detail, with Allied and Japanese accounts matched together for a truly factual account of the conflict. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Air War Pacific Eric Hammel, 2020-12-05 AIR WAR PACIFIC: Chronology America’s Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941 – 1945 Eric Hammel THE GREAT AMERICAN AERIAL CRUSADE OF WORLD WAR II: There was never a military campaign like it, and there never will be another. Here is an opportunity to follow the great crusade as it unfolded in the air over the Japan’s ill-gotten empire in East Asia and the Pacific. This exhaustive chronology sheds a fascinating light on the course of America’s air war against Japan in all the active theaters. * The Air War Pacific Chronology is a day-by-day accounting of all the major combat aviation missions undertaken by United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and American Volunteer Group units and commands in China, Burma, India, and throughout the Pacific during World War II. * All Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine, and Flying Tiger theater fighter aces are covered including unit affiliation, date and time ace status was attained, and date and time of highest victory tally (over ten). * Information pertaining to the arrival, activation, transfer, departure, and decommissioning of air commands, combat units, and special units. Comings and goings of the commanders of major aviation units are also covered. * Provides a rich contextual framework pertaining to related ground campaigns; international and high-command conferences and decisions influencing air strategies and campaigns; and breakthroughs in the development of special techniques and equipment. * Includes a bibliography, guide to abbreviations, maps, and two indexes. Eric Hammel is the author of more than forty military history books, including Pacifica Military History’s Air War Europa Chronology; Fire In the Streets; Six Days in June; Aces Against Japan, and Guadalcanal: Starvation Island. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Carl A. Spaatz and the Air War in Europe Richard G. Davis, 1993 This is the first detailed examination of the career of the highest-ranking U.S. Army Air Forces officer in Europe during World War II. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Empire Strikes South Tom Lewis, 2017-04 Very few Australians today know of the fierce air battles fought across the Top End of Australia in World War II. For more than two years Japanese aircraft crossed the coast and bombed relentlessly. Savage dogfights were fought between the legendary Zero fighter and Allied Kittyhawks and Spitfires. Big twin-engine Betty bombers rained down blast and fire upon airfields and towns, even penetrating as far inland as Katherine, some 300 kilometres from the coast. Nearly 200 Japanese aircrew died in the onslaught. This book lists all of their names and describes all of the combat missions - and reveals for the first time that the number of combat flights, aircraft shot down, and aircrew who died is far higher than previously thought. Scores of aircraft were downed in combat operations ranging from Exmouth to Townsville, with the majority of action taking place in the Northern Territory. This new extensive research shows the number of air raids was higher than the previously suggested figure of 64, with 78 raids on the Territory alone, while 209 enemy combat flights were carried out across Northern Australia. 187 Japanese airmen died when their aircraft were brought down. In many cases their bodies lie in remote sites across the vast bush and coastal waters of the north. Many of the wrecks have never been found. The Empire Strikes South describes all of the aircraft used, and gives an insight into the world of fighter pilots and aircrew. With a full range of new colur graphics by renowned illustrator Michael Claringbould, this significant new research reveals a battle for Australia that has been previously unknown. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: South Pacific Air War Volume 3 Michael John Claringbould, Peter Ingman, 2019-08 This third volume chronicles aerial warfare in the South Pacific during the critical months of May and June 1942. It can be read alone or as part of a trilogy that spans the first six months of the Pacific War and culminates in the Battle of the Coral Sea. In early May 1942 the Japanese launched Operation MO, a complex plan that involved the seizure of Tulagi and Port Moresby. Within the context of an ongoing regional war waged by land-based air forces, opposing fleet carriers were drawn into conflict for the first time in history. The result was the Battle of the Coral Sea, resulting in the loss of the USS Lexington and the withdrawal of the remaining American carrier. The orthodox view of Coral Sea is of an Allied victory whereby the Japanese were forced to abandon their plan to capture Port Moresby. However, the authors make a compelling argument that the Japanese capacity to mount the invasion was largely intact and it was a serious error by their rigid and hierarchical command structure to postpone the invasion at this critical time. Following the Coral Sea battle, the bloody aerial campaign continued in earnest between the land-based air forces. This resembled something of a slugfest between the opposing bases of Lae and Port Moresby - just one hour's flying time apart. The Allied offense was waged by American B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder bombers shuttling up from Australia. Protecting their critical base at Port Moresby were a few hard-battling P-39 Airacobra squadrons, which suffered an astounding loss rate during this period. On the Japanese side, their formations of Betty and Nell bombers regularly pounded Moresby, and by June had begun targeting its vulnerable harbor. These were protected by the wide-ranging Zero fighters of the famed Tainan Kokutai, whose fighter pilots were amongst the best and most experienced to be found on any front during the Second World War. Never before has this campaign been chronicled in such detail, with Allied accounts matched against Japanese records and supported by the most accurate artwork ever produced of this era. Both authors are uniquely qualified to tell this story. Raised in Port Moresby, Michael Claringbould is a globally acknowledged expert on the New Guinea conflict and both Japanese and USAAF aviation of this period. Peter Ingman is an acclaimed military history author specializing in the early part of the Pacific War. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Dakota Hunter Hans Wiesman, 2015 This book tells the story of a Dutch boy who grew up during the 1950s in post-war Borneo, where he had frequent encounters with an airplane, the Douglas DC-3, aka the C-47 Skytrain or Dakota of World War II fame. For a young boy living in a remote jungle community, the aircraft reached the proportions of a romantic icon, as the essential lifeline to a bigger world for him, the beginning of a special bond. In 1957 his family left the island, and all its residual wreckage of World War II, and he attended college in The Hague. After graduation he started a career as a corporate executive, and met the aircraft again during business trips to the Americas. His childhood passion for the Dakota flared up anew, and the fascination pulled like a magnet. As if predestined, or maybe just looking for an alibi to come closer, he began a business to salvage and convert Dakota parts, which meant first of all finding them. As the demand for these war relic parts and cockpits soared, he began to travel the world to track down surplus, crashed or derelict Dakotas. He ventured deeper and deeper into remote mountains, jungles, savannas and the seas where the planes are found, usually as ghostly wrecks but sometimes still in full commercial operation. In hunting the mythical Dakota he often encountered intimidating or dicey situations in countries plagued by wars or revolts, others by arms and narcotics trafficking, warlords and con men. This book describes his multiple expeditions in search of the remains of the Dakota legend. It takes the reader to some of the remotest spots in the world, but once there one is often greeted by the comfort of what was once the West's apex in transportation--however now haunted by the courageous airmen of the past. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Pacific Profiles Volume Two Michael Claringbould, 2020-11 The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII aircraft profiles to date of Japanese & Allied aircraft in the Pacific theater.Volume Two illustrates, by unit, Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) bomber and other supporting aircraft types operating in New Guinea and the Solomons from December 1942 to April 1944. In this distant theater many different aircraft types and their variants were assigned to a variety of bomber, reconnaissance, command and transport units which together formed the 4th Air Army. Unit insignia, camouflage and command markings varied considerably from unit to unit, giving a wide variety of color, heraldry and markings. The profiles, based on photos, Japanese documents, Allied intelligence reports and post-war wreck investigations, are accompanied by brief histories of each relevant unit and explanations of their role in the theatre.The author, Michael Claringbould, is world-renown for his expertise in respect to wartime Japanese aviation. These profiles accurately portray JAAF bombers and support aircraft during this fascinating and esoteric timeframe of the Pacific air war. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Eagles Over Darwin Tom Lewis, 2020-11 In 1942, the air defense of the northern Australian frontier town Darwin was operated by airmen from the United States.That year was very nearly the end of Australia as a country. To those men the present nation owes a debt.A massive Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February had left the town and its air base in ruins. An understrength squadron of USAAC P-40E Warhawks fought a gallant defense but was all but wiped out.Northern Australia was now at the mercy of Imperial Japanese Navy Betty bombers and Zero fighters whose crews were both skilled and experienced. However, help was on the way. The 49th Fighter Group was the first such group formed in the US to be sent overseas after the start of the Pacific War. Its destination was Darwin.From modest beginnings on make-shift airstrips, the 49th FG entered combat with its feared Japanese adversaries. Its P-40E Warhawks were poor interceptors but were rugged, reliable and well-armed. Unable to dogfight the highly manoeuvrable Zeros, the American pilots resorted to dive and zoom tactics more suited to their heavier fighters.Over several months the 49th FG pilots fought a brave and innovative campaign against a stronger enemy that did much to safeguard Australia in its darkest hour. Today lonely and long forgotten airfields still bear the name of American pilots who made the ultimate sacrifice.This is their story. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Zero, the Story of Japan's Air War in the Pacific - As Seen by the Enemy Martin Caidin, 2012-04-25 This is the thrilling saga of war in the air in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II told from the Japanese point of view. It is the story of the men who created, led, and fought in the deadly Zero fighter plane. In their own words, Jiro Horikoshi (who designed the Zero), Masatake Okumiya (leader of many Zero squadrons), and Saburo Sakai (Japan's leading surviving fighter ace) as well as many other men, tell the inside story of developing the Zero and Japan's air force. They tell what it felt like to bomb American ships and to shoot down American airplanes -- and then of their shock when the myth of invincibility was shattered by the new Lightning, Hellcat, and Corsair fighters. They tell of the fight against the growing strength of a remorseless American enemy; and how, in desperation the Japanese High Command ordered the creation of deadly suicide squadrons, the Kamikaze. And finally they reveal their reaction to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Southern Skies: Thunderbolt and the Pacific Air War Pasquale De Marco, In the vast expanse of the Pacific theater during World War II, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt emerged as a formidable force, leaving an indelible mark on aerial warfare. Known as the Southern Skies Thunderbolt, this aircraft played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the conflict, contributing to Allied victory with its unmatched firepower, versatility, and the unwavering determination of its pilots. This comprehensive exploration delves into the origins, development, and operational history of the P-47 in the Pacific theater. From its early design and evolution to its deployment in combat missions, the book provides a detailed analysis of the aircraft's technical specifications, armaments, and performance. Beyond the technical aspects, the book also sheds light on the personal experiences of the men who flew the Thunderbolt. Through firsthand accounts, interviews, and historical records, readers gain insight into the challenges, triumphs, and sacrifices of these brave pilots. Their stories offer a glimpse into the realities of aerial combat, the camaraderie formed in the face of adversity, and the unwavering dedication that fueled their missions. The book also examines the Thunderbolt's impact on the broader air war in the Pacific. From its dominance in air-to-air combat to its effectiveness in ground attack missions, the P-47 proved to be a versatile asset. Its contributions to the overall Allied strategy, including its role in escorting bombers, providing close air support, and disrupting enemy supply lines, are thoroughly explored. Moreover, the book delves into the technological advancements that shaped the P-47's capabilities. From engine improvements and aerodynamic refinements to the development of specialized armaments, the book highlights the continuous efforts to enhance the aircraft's performance and effectiveness in combat. Southern Skies Thunderbolt: The Republic P-47 in the Pacific Air War is a captivating narrative that brings together historical accounts, technical analysis, and personal anecdotes to illuminate the legacy of this remarkable aircraft. It is a fitting tribute to the men and women who served in the air forces, a testament to their courage and skill, and a reminder of the transformative role of aviation in shaping the course of history. If you like this book, write a review! |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Pacific War Douglas Ford, 2012-02-23 A rich and broadranging account of the Asia-Pacific campaigns of WWII. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: P-40 Warhawk Aces of the Pacific Carl Molesworth, 2013-01-20 The first USAAF fighters to engage the Japanese in World War 2, a handful of P-40s rose to defend Pearl Harbor from attack on the morning of 7 December 1941. Warhawk units were also heavily involved in the ill-fated fight to stem invading Japanese forces in the Philippines and Java between December 1941 and April 1942 and again in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands between January 1943 and March 1944. This book examines The Warhawk's wartime exploits and all of its aces including 'aces-in-a-day' Mel Wheadon and Joe Lesika. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Major Fleet-Versus-Fleet Operations in the Pacific War, 1941-1945 Milan N. Vego, 2016 A detailed study of three major naval operations of World War II. These three, initiated by imperial Japan, took place in the Pacific and resulted in the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway/Aleutians, and the Philippine Sea. All the cases provide ample background on the geographic and strategic context of the operations, as well as an account of the unfolding of the action utilizing much primary source material in, especially, American and Japanese archives--Provided by publisher. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: The Early Air War in the Pacific Ralph F. Wetterhahn, 2019-11-22 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. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: Survival in the South Pacific Robert Richardson, 2024-09-30 “This account of oft-forgotten aspects of the war that is also a powerful survival story is highly recommended for the casual reader of military history as well as the serious scholar of the Pacific war.” - Journal of America's Military Past In September 1943, as America began advancing from its foothold on Guadalcanal, a young American airman was lost in heavy weather over the South Pacific on what was expected to be a routine flight. In examining that loss and the events leading up to a rescue attempt on an island in the South Pacific, and bringing together societies utterly alien to each other, Survival in the South Pacific brings together the big themes of the Pacific War. Lieutenant Leonard Richardson and his comrades had been swept from their homes across America, trained at speed for war, and dispatched to one of the remotest places on the globe. American war plans in place when Pearl Harbor was attacked poorly reflected the capabilities of its military, and the limits imposed by America’s far-flung and indefensible territories. The “Germany First” policy had resulted in a deeply uncertain future for forces in the South Pacific and Australia—the United States was unprepared for the global war that came to it in late 1941, even as the pipeline of men and materiel began to fill. Young Allied and Japanese aviators, sailors, and soldiers, were not the only ones thrown into the swirling maelstrom of war that had engulfed the Pacific—the indigenous islanders were also immersed in a new reality. In bringing together individual stories of men at war, this book gives a new perspective on the Pacific War. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: A - Airports British Library, 2012-05-21 No detailed description available for A - Airports. |
| 1942 the pacific air war: X-Com Interceptor David Ellis, 1998 Combining the classic style of the original X-COM with a Wing Commander-style space simulation, Interceptor takes the series to the next level--fighting the Sectoids in outer space. Complete mission briefings and maps are featured in this guide, which was written by the lead designer of the game. |
1942 - Wikipedia
1942 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1942nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 942nd year of the 2nd millennium, …
Historical Events in 1942 - On This Day
Feb 2, 2013 · Search the largest and most accurate independent site for today in history. Historical events from year 1942. Learn about 629 famous, scandalous and important events …
What Happened In 1942 - Historical Events 1942 - EventsHistory
Nov 12, 2016 · What happened in the year 1942 in history? Famous historical events that shook and changed the world. Discover events in 1942.
1942 Fun Facts, Trivia and History - Pop Culture Madness
1942 was a significant year for World War II, with several major military engagements. It was also a time of great social upheaval, with the internment of Japanese Americans and other …
Major Events of 1942 - Historical Moments That Defined the ...
Sep 26, 2024 · Discover the most significant events of 1942, from world-changing political decisions to cultural milestones. Explore the key moments that shaped history during this …
Timeline of events in 1942 during the Second World War
Important events of 1942, including the battle of El Alamein in North Africa (pictured to the left). Japanese forces start to attack the Philippines. The Allies in the south-west Pacific set up a …
1942 Archives - HISTORY
In 1942, the U.S. Navy defeated the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway, a turning point of the war in the Pacific, while in Germany, Nazi officials met to plan the “Final Solution” and Anne...
1942 - Wikipedia
1942 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1942nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 942nd year of the 2nd millennium, …
Historical Events in 1942 - On This Day
Feb 2, 2013 · Search the largest and most accurate independent site for today in history. Historical events from year 1942. Learn about 629 famous, scandalous and important events …
What Happened In 1942 - Historical Events 1942 - EventsHistory
Nov 12, 2016 · What happened in the year 1942 in history? Famous historical events that shook and changed the world. Discover events in 1942.
1942 Fun Facts, Trivia and History - Pop Culture Madness
1942 was a significant year for World War II, with several major military engagements. It was also a time of great social upheaval, with the internment of Japanese Americans and other …
Major Events of 1942 - Historical Moments That Defined the ...
Sep 26, 2024 · Discover the most significant events of 1942, from world-changing political decisions to cultural milestones. Explore the key moments that shaped history during this …
Timeline of events in 1942 during the Second World War
Important events of 1942, including the battle of El Alamein in North Africa (pictured to the left). Japanese forces start to attack the Philippines. The Allies in the south-west Pacific set up a …
1942 Archives - HISTORY
In 1942, the U.S. Navy defeated the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway, a turning point of the war in the Pacific, while in Germany, Nazi officials met to plan the “Final Solution” and Anne...
