In the first two years of the pacific war of world war ii, air forces from japan, the united states, australia, and new zealand engaged in a ruthless struggle for superiority in the skies over the solomon islands and new guinea. As a professional researcher and world war ii historian, bill beigel provides research services to genealogists, historians, authors, and civilians who are looking for information found in ww2 military unit records. Most of the japanese task force was destroyed, and japanese troop losses were heavy. Take the controls and master iconic aircraft in this amazing ww2 flight combat game. For an easily readable book covering the most basic stuff about the war which took place over 6 continents and all of the worlds oceans, by the way you can start with 1001 things everyone should know about wwii. The us army in the pacific war, 19411943 july 30, 2019 by john c mcmanus. Dec 09, 2008 the books has since been broken up, expanded, and rebranded as the second world war.
All variations and markings are covered in this the first of a projected multivolume series. Apr 03, 2017 in november 2010, history aired wwii in hd. Herman wouks boldly dramatic, brilliantly entertaining novel of lifeand mutinyon a navy warship in the pacific theater was immediately embraced, upon its original publication in 1951, as one of the first serious works of american fiction to grapple with the moral complexities and the human consequences of world war ii. Despite the volumes written about world war ii, many questions remain unanswered. The japanese navy began gradually mobilizing its forces. List of books and articles about world war ii pacific theater. Raafs greatest casualties were with the bomber command raids. History of us naval operations in wwii, 15 vols by. It is the definitive history of the us civil war it gives equal treatment to both sides, and is more than one million words, but is never boring. The battle of the bismarck sea 24 march 1943 took place in the south west pacific area swpa during world war ii when aircraft of the u. Sherrod anyone who has watched history channel specials on world war ii in the pacific will undoubtedly be familiar with the name robert sherrod. Germany and japan depended on air forces that were closely integrated with land and naval forces. Aug 19, 2015 world war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany, with the war in the pacific as an afterthought.
Best books on the pacific war for reasons big and small, understandable and unjustified, the war in the pacific during world war ii has largely been overshadowed by the allies war against hitler. It remains one of the key moments in the pacific war that began the defeat of the japanese and the end of the war. Naval power and naval air power played a crucial role in the war in the pacific in ways not seen before or since in modern warfare. This looks to be an informative and detailed account of an. Reknowned japanese aircraft historian richard bueschel revises and updates his classic series of books on japanese naval and army air force aircraft of world war ii. South pacific air war volume 3 battle of the coral sea. Courage in the skies the untold story of qantas, its brave men and women and their extraordinary role in world war ii by jim eames. The air war over europe and the pacific was notable for the use of strategic. New listing rare ww2 pacific us marines corps peleliu 1950 usmc historical section. Only 3% of australians who served to ww2 went as part of a bomber aircrew yet 39% of all australias ww2 casualties were from this bomber command group, of which were from a single raaf squadron, 460 sqn. The pacific war by costello is a similar read akin to spectors book. He was trained as a wireless air gunner and was soon on his way, via the panama canal and america, to join the air war over britain. Army in world war ii series the armys official history of world war ii commonly referred to as the green books are listed in the following sections.
Pacific wrecks is a notforprofit 501c3 charity dedicated to bringing home those missing in action mia and leveraging new technologies in the study of past conflicts. When one thinks of the pacific war, it is invariably the marines that come to mind for good reason. Imho the negatives only serve to take a 7 star book down to 5. The air war over europe and the pacific was notable for the use of strategic bombing, and four bluntly honest and forthright memoirs from key military commanders are indispensable. The 11th air fleet, the mainstay of the navys landbased air force, was pulled out of. Get the best deals on original ww ii us books when. Fire in the sky is one of the most informative ww2 books i own and i own hundreds. Japanesecontrolled areas of china the japanese seized manchuria in 1931 and occupied much of the coast and north china plain by 1941. Get the best deals on original ww ii us books when you shop the largest online selection at. Americas air war against japan in east asia and the pacific, 19411945 by eric hammel apr 1, 1998 5.
An entertaining story of naval aviation in the pacific in ww2. And though the battle locales that constitute the war in the pacific pearl harbor, midway, tarawa, guadalcanal, iwo jima are common knowledge, locations and statistics alone cant convey what it was like to have fought in those battles. Join the navy and fight to win the battle of your life. World war ii united states military records, 1941 to 1945. This article on war in the pacific is an excerpt from barrett tillmans book on wave and wing. It was the largest aircraft to have a significant operational role in the war, and remains the only aircraft in history to have ever used a nuclear weapon in combat. Fifth air force and the royal australian air force raaf attacked a japanese convoy carrying troops to lae, new guinea. An excellent account of the second world war in the philippines, from the pre war american colony to the disasters of 194142, the long struggle of the resistance to macarthurs eventual return and the costly battles that followed. The combined air, land, and sea assault was the first of its kind, marking the allies first major offensive against the empire of japan in the pacific theater. Our pick of the best books and memoirs on world war ii aviation. Saga of technology that changed the course of the pacific air war. Buy raaf military books battle of britain books on war.
Books on the pacific war from pearl harbor to hiroshima. The air war, focusing on the eighth air forces strategic campaign against the german luftwaffe in the months leading up to dday. Read your way through wwii with these true stories of blood, sand, and saltwater in pacific locales, including the battles of pearl harbor. Through living history, we strive to present an accurate portrayal of u. Pacific air tells the exhilarating, inspiring story of a generation of young naval aviators who. Summary of the pacific war, one of the major theatres of world war ii. The german blitzkrieg, or lightning war, with its use of new techniques of mechanized and air warfare, crushed the polish defenses, and the conquest was almost complete when soviet forces entered sept. His war writing and coverage was unsurpassed in that theater as he found himself in some of its fiercest battles. Even better, the new version are spiralbound, which stands up better against wear and tear. The 11th air fleet, the mainstay of the navys landbased air force, was pulled out of mainland china to. These are some topics of interest and that seem little known or of possible help in understanding the period. From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written each year, seemingly dozens of new titles emerge to offer fresh perspectives and uncover.
New listing p4y2 pilots handbook pb4y2 privateer flight manual world war. Volunteer combat correspondent richard tregaskis was one of just two journalists who witnessed the invasion. While this attention is both wellearned and welldeveloped. Best sellers, newest to oldest oldest to newest price low to high price.
List of books and articles about world war ii pacific. Despite operating under primitive conditions in a largely unknown and malignant physical environment, both sides. Apr 28, 2020 war is stirring in the pacific and command of the air is your path to victory. Martins press, by sword and fire the destruction of manila in wwii.
The generals advance into new britain, coupled with halseys mauling of japanese air and naval power at rabaul, allowed the allies to bypass that fabled japanese stronghold and, following the seizure of the admiralty islands in february 1944, continue his advance from base to base along the north. Each book focused on a different topic, such as the resistance, spies, the home front but mainly the battles and campaigns of the conflict. War is stirring in the pacific and command of the air is your path to victory. The 100 year quest to perfect the aircraft carrier. The pacific theater ww2 a list of favorite books 4 over the course of several decades of research and writing i have a small bookshelf of essential titles i often refer to. These books are noted for the expert detailed narrative together with some of the best illustrative art work to be found in an australian war book for years. After a prolonged operational tour in 10 squadron sunderland flying boats much of it spent tracking and attacking german uboats off the biscay coast of france, he eventually looked to home and the pacific war. Pacific wrecks world war ii pacific war and korean war.
What are the best books on the pacific theater of wwii. A critical perspective on japans role in world war ii saburo ienaga ienaga was a teacher who got himself into trouble by telling the truth as he saw it about japans conduct of the war. A readers guide to the air war military aviation air. The air warfare of world war ii was a major component in all theaters and, together with antiaircraft. When he found himself out of a job, he wrote this book and got even deeper into trouble.
How australias signalsintelligence network helped win the pacific war by david dufty. An excellent account of the second world war in the philippines, from the prewar american colony to the disasters of 194142, the long struggle of the resistance to macarthurs eventual return and the costly battles that followed. South pacific air war volume 1 the fall of rabaul december 1941 march 1942. Books pacific theater books page 1 the national wwii museum. They are each 208 pages in length, heavily illustrated and with pictorial essays on specific topics within the. Completing a trilogy of books about the south pacific air war volume 3 takes in the battle of coral sea 48 may 1942.
This is a question that has been begged by the decades of europefirst histories of great quality, but extreme focus on the the battles in the west including the germans eastern front. The introduction to the memorial on the website says, the memory of americas world war ii generation is preserved within the physical memorial and. If you want a more detailed set of reads i would look at willmotts empires in the balance, the barrier and the javelin, the war with japan, and his battle of leyte gulf. Fortunately, there is no shortage of worthwhile books about the. World war ii is a series of books published by timelife that chronicles the second world war. In this balanced and thoughtful chronicle, historian and world war ii expert len deighton dares to explore intriguing questions, including why the british werent more prepared for the. The air warfare of world war ii was a major component in all theaters and, together with antiaircraft warfare, consumed a large fraction of the industrial output of the major powers. Listed here are most of the books that would appeal to a general reader, with an emphasis on memoirs.
Raaf flying boats catalina sunderland 10 sqn 1 air. Updated sep 26, 2015 start daily headlines 75 years ago. Ww2 menu to world war ii in the pacific, the early years. Founded in 1995 as an online resource for 25 years supported by donations from users. The books have detailed maps of all campaigns, not just the ones involving americans. World war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany, with the war in the pacific as an afterthought. Discover librarianselected research resources on world war ii pacific theater from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. You and your troops are on duty near the pacific and there can only be one winner the battle continues after 1941 frozen front and this time, its all about naval warfare. Own the battlefield and send your soldiers to the frontline. Crisis in the pacific the battles for the philippine islands by the men who fought them, gerald astor. The battle for the pacific and southeast asia during world war 2 required a special breed of aircraft and pilot. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator.