Overview

"This volume conveys detailed stories of aerial warfare in the South Pacific, chosen because both Japanese and Allied records can be matched for an accurate accounting. Often the actual outcomes are very different to the exaggerated claims made by both sides upon which many traditional histories have relied to date. Further, for each of the chosen stories photographic or other evidence enables an accurate depiction of the aircraft involved. Through these chosen snapshots Pacific Adversaries portrays the South Pacific conflict as accurately as possible. This first volume describes confrontations between the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) and the Allies in New Guinea and the Solomons. JAAF units first arrived in the South Pacific in December 1942 and effectively ceased operations in mainland New Guinea in April 1944. Theirs is a rich and colourful history about which many myths persist. Perhaps the biggest is that their Allied counterparts thought they were mainly fighting ""Zeros"", a falsehood still published and accepted to this day. In New Guinea the Allies ratcheted up a grueling, coordinated and unrelenting campaign, destroying most JAAF air power on the ground, not in the air. Their assault against Wewak's key bases involved an interwoven and complex strategy which eventually overpowered the Japanese. Never before have detailed accounts matched up adversaries so closely and in doing so shine light on key events in Pacific skies so many years ago."

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9780646803142

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Reviews

''It will be of interest to the aviation historian who studies the war in the Pacific and with photos and artwork that will be helpful for modellers as well. Judging simply by this first volume, the next ones in the series will add up to a neat reference source.''-- Military Model Scene ...excellent portrayals of lesser-known JAAF aircraft will be of particular interest to modelers and enthusiasts alike. -- Air Power History Although it can't really be considered, strictly speaking, a history of the air war, it scores high points for its careful, detailed explanations of these quite engrossing events. -- Stone & Stone Second World War Books Few books can relate the human side, the mortality that confronted the pilots, as they waged war over the unforgiving skies of the South Pacific, but Pacific Adversaries does this successfully. -- j-aircraft.net

Although it can't really be considered, strictly speaking, a history of the air war, it scores high points for its careful, detailed explanations of these quite engrossing events. --Stone & Stone Second World War Books

...excellent portrayals of lesser-known JAAF aircraft will be of particular interest to modelers and enthusiasts alike. --Air Power History Although it can't really be considered, strictly speaking, a history of the air war, it scores high points for its careful, detailed explanations of these quite engrossing events. --Stone & Stone Second World War Books Few books can relate the human side, the mortality that confronted the pilots, as they waged war over the unforgiving skies of the South Pacific, but Pacific Adversaries does this successfully. --j-aircraft.net

Although it can't really be considered, strictly speaking, a history of the air war, it scores high points for its careful, detailed explanations of these quite engrossing events. --Stone & Stone Second World War Books Few books can relate the human side, the mortality that confronted the pilots, as they waged war over the unforgiving skies of the South Pacific, but Pacific Adversaries does this successfully. --j-aircraft.net

Author Information

Raised in Port Moresby, Michael Claringbould is a globally recognised expert on the New Guinea air war and Japanese aviation in particular.

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