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ISBN: 0935553002

ListPrice: $25.00

Edition: 1st ed

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ISBN: 9780060959210

ListPrice: $14.95

Summary: In July 1945, the heavy cruiser "U.S.S. Indianapolis" put in at the Pacific atoll of Tinian to deliver a rare cargo: several hundred pounds of uranium, the makings of the two atomic bombs that only a few weeks later would be dropped on Japan. Having discharged this duty, the "Indianapolis" made way for Guam, and thence for the Philippines, in waters that the high command had assured its captain were safe. En route, it crossed the path of a Japanese submarine, which fired six torpedoes and sank the cruiser, killing hundreds of sailors--some of whom were devoured by sharks--and leaving others to float in the open ocean for days.
Almost as soon as the survivors of the "Indianapolis" were rescued, the cruiser's unfortunate captain, an Annapolis graduate named Charles Butler McVay III, was court-martialed for his alleged failure to practice evasive maneuvers in enemy waters. Eventually exonerated of all but one charge, McVay still could not escape blame for the ship's loss, and he killed himself in 1968. Richard Newcomb's "Abandon Ship!", first published in 1958, brought McVay's sad case to the American public's attention with a vigorous you-are-there account that depicts the miscalculations--and willful misrepresentations--that condemned the "Indianapolis". The case was recently reopened thanks to the efforts of McVay's family and a bright middle-school student who looked into the matter as a class project. As a result, the scapegoated captain's name has been cleared. In this edition, McVay's case is updated by the noted true-crime author Peter Maas, whose arguments in McVay's favor add to Newcomb's original findings. Superb as historical journalism, the book is also a fascinating document in the annals of military justice. "--Gregory McNamee"

ISBN: 1841766186

ListPrice: US$ 17.48

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ISBN: 9780517030844

ListPrice: $9.99

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ISBN: 9780935553260

ListPrice: $59.95

Summary: Of course, this is no reading book. But any person who has an interest on air war in the pacific MUST have this book. This is a chronological day by day and theater by theater account of missions, units movements and victory claims for all US air operations, be it Army Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. All this is served by excellent indexes that make it easy to find what you are looking for: places, poeple, units, you name it. In a nutshell - The perfect reference book.

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ISBN: 9781592232246

ListPrice: $17.98

Summary: From the start of World War II, in 1939, to its conclusion six years later, military aircraft developed from prewar biplanes such as the Gloster Gladiator, to classic aircraft—the Messerschmitt Me 109 and the P-51 Mustang—and on to the age of jet warplanes—the Arado Ar 234 and the Gloster Meteor. 600 color and archival photographs perfectly showcase the length and design of each entry. Presented here in mesmerizing detail, these artifacts from the world’s first major air battles will fascinate both WWII and military aircraft buffs alike.

ISBN: 9781875671359

ListPrice: $21.95

Summary: "Aircraft of WWII" is a concise and thorough reference of World War II combat aircraft. It provides photos, technical specifications, and operational histories for all major and most minor aircraft types. A unique and useful feature is the author includes production levels for each aircraft in the statistics section which has often not been included in other similar reference books. Some drawbacks to the book include a lack of clarity about which exact aircraft models the technical data refers to, and some errors in the tech specs converting measurements from the metric system into the English system and vice versa. Other than this however this book is worth owning.

ISBN: 1902304047

ListPrice: $24.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: As soon as the first aeroplane had proved its value in war it became a target, and the fighter pilot was born. This book tells the story of the men and the aircraft in which they fought, from the rudimentary beginnings of tactics to the sophisticated technology of the present day.

Using diagrammatic paintings and pinpoint line artwork, the author illustrates the often complex manoeuvres of air combat, and tells the stories of fighter aces such as Baron von Richthofen, Albert Ball, Saburo Sakai, "Sailor" Malan and Joseph McConnell. The book includes strategy and tactics from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Falklands and the Gulf.

ISBN: 9780970167866

ListPrice: $29.95

Summary: FROM THE BACK COVER
A Biographical History of the Revolutionary World War II Landing Craft and Their Brave Crews. The first of three volumes in William L. McGee's AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC IN WWII series, THE AMPHIBIANS ARE COMING!, Volume 1, provides a close-up look at the revolutionary WWII shore-to-shore landing craft and the unsung heroes that manned them. Exhaustive research, hundreds of interviews, and a point-blank writing style capture the very essence of the amphibious assignments in the World War II 'Gator Navy.
Puts the reader aboard the landing craft specifically designed and built to speed assault troops directly to the beach.
Provides a brief history of amphibious warfare from the Revolutionary War to the 1942 Guadalcanal and North Africa campaigns.
Profiles the famed "Green Dragons," the high-speed destroyer transports that filled a pressing Marine Corps need for ship-to-shore delivery prior to the availability of the new landing craft.
Focuses on the "Earlybird" Flotilla Five LCTs, LSTs and LCIs and their crews, from landing craft design and construction to amphibious training and crew and flotilla formations, to on-the-job warfare training the southern Solomons, in preparation for their first invasion of enemy-held territory, Operation TOENAILS.

ISBN: 078581311X

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Ten -the second in this series to deal with the Battle of the Atlantic-concerns itself with the war on enemy submarines, particularly the battle against the German U-Boats for control of the supply routes. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 9780681504462

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ISBN: 9780553263503

ListPrice: $7.99

Summary: I came to this book believing that "Pappy" Boyington was a pugnacious drunken spendthrift that the Marine Corps was anxious to be rid of, and that he may not have been the leading Marine Corps ace of World War II as he was thought to be. From what I had read, Boyington spent most of his time on the ground as a member of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), better known as "The Flying Tigers," and was only credited with shooting down 3 ½ Japanese planes (although he claimed six). I also understood that Boyington left the AVG early and was the only man ever dishonorably discharged from that organization. In addition, I questioned his account of the final action in which he was shot down, another unseen action in which he claimed two more enemy planes.



After reading this book, however, I'm not quite so sure. In it, Boyington readily admits that he was a "drunk" and a "bum," and he allows as how he liked to wrestle a bit. As to his claim of six enemy planes while with the AVG, his explanation is easily believable. As he explains it: In order to get credit for a kill with the AVG you almost had to bring your victim back to the landing field in your teeth and drop it where everyone could see it, whereas the majority of his kills had been 75 to 100 miles away, most times behind enemy lines. In addition, and most likely with some merit, he states that the records of his actions at Rangoon were lost when that city fell to the Japanese. With regard to his being "dishonorably discharged" from the AVG, Boyington acknowledges that he left shortly before the remaining volunteers were forced/coerced into the Army Air Corps as 2nd lieutenants. But once again his explanation rings true. Boyington correctly states that he wasn't the only member of the AVG to leave the group, that the reason he left was because he wanted to return to the Marine Corps rather than be conscripted into the Army, and that it was ridiculous to claim that you could "dishonorably discharge" someone from a civilian volunteer organization. As to his account of his final, once again unseen action, Boyington's account is so vivid as to be easily believable.



Having read a number of books which touched upon the life and times of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington before reading this one, I had already formed a somewhat negative impression of the man. After reading this book, however, I have concluded that it is one thing to view a man from the outside, especially from a distance in time, recounting his every fault and failure, but it is quite another thing to view that same man from the inside looking out.



So, although much about Boyington is and will always remain a mystery, he certainly was an American hero and he certainly could tell an interesting, believable, and highly entertaining tale. And this is one of them. But don't stop reading too early. You certainly won't want to miss the chapters in which he recounts his nineteen months as a "captive" of the Japanese. To me, that's the best part of the book. Six stars anyone?

ISBN: 0898391040

ListPrice: $34.95

Edition: 12th

Summary:

ISBN: 9781591142195

ListPrice: $28.95

Summary: For almost 20 years, more than 200 reels of microfilmed Japanese naval records remained in the custody of the U.S. Naval History Division, virtually untouched. This unique book draws on those sources and others to tell the story of the Pacific War from the viewpoint of the Japanese. Former Marine Corps officer and Asian scholar Paul Dull focuses on the major surface engagements of the war--Coral Sea, Midway, the crucial Solomons campaign, and the last-ditch battles in the Marianas and Philippines. Also included are detailed track charts and a selection of Japanese photographs of major vessels and actions.

ISBN: 0805070729

ListPrice: $15.00

Edition: 2 Revised

Summary: The Battle of Savo Island is the story of the opening engagement of the Solomon Islands campaign, a unique chapter in naval history. It was the first surface encounter for a coordinated American force in nearly half a century and a very bad start. Courage and will were never lacking, but the Imperial Japanese Navy was about to hand the U.S. Navy the bitterest defeat in its history.

ISBN: 9780785813026

ListPrice: $12.99

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume One explores all United States naval operations in the Atlantic, from pole to pole, including the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Barents Sea and Atlantic territorial waters. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

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Illustrator: Illus. by the author

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ISBN: 9781592232239

ListPrice: $17.98

Summary: Biplanes and seaplanes dominated early aviation. The flying surfaces on biplanes added strength to the structure and provided extra lift to compensate for comparatively small engines, while seaplanes were favored for the unlimited space water provided for long take-off runs. This is an extensive guide to more than 120 biplanes, triplanes, and seaplanes, from early designs such as the Wright Flyer to jet flying boats and timeless classics like the Tiger Moth and the Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny." 600 color and archival black-and-white photographs are featured in this extraordinary book.

ISBN: 0760324026

ListPrice: $29.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: On the morning of Saturday, November 20, 1943, the 2d Marine Division undertook the first modern amphibious assault against a well-defended beachhead. The objective was tiny Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, and the going was supposed to be easya target already pounded into coral dust by a massive naval and air bombardment.But what the Marines discovered was an island garrison alive and well, the Japanese defenses intact and manned by foes who would rather die than surrender. The battle that followedthree full days of terror during which more than 3,000 died to secure an island half the size of New Yorks Central Parkis fully told in words and pictures in this dramatic book.Building on the updated text of their 76 Hours: The Invasion of Tarawa, the authors use more than 250 photos and combat drawings from the U.S. Navy and Marine archives and private collections to reveal the graphic horror of warfare at its worst. Their book follows every terrifying step as the Marines, failed by the invasions planners, are forced to wade more than 500 yards through fire-swept, knee-deep water, reaching land only to face what many historians agree was the best, most concentrated defenses American troops encountered in the entire Pacific War.The result is an immortal story of certainty shattered and courage recovered against overwhelming odds, of victory culled from near-defeat, and its terrible cost.

ISBN: 9780785813071

ListPrice: $12.99

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Six - the fourth in this history to deal with the naval action in the Pacific-describes the action that led to the colossal victory in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, in which twelve Japanese ships, over 3000 men and twenty to thirty planes were destroyed at a cost of only two American bombers and three fighters. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 9780743260107

ListPrice: $16.00

Summary: "A Band of Brothers for the Pacific, this is the gut-wrenching but ultimately triumphant story of the Marines' most ferocious -- yet largely forgotten -- battle of World War II. Between September 15 and October 15, 1944, the First Marine Division suffered more than 6,500 casualties fighting on a hellish little coral island in the Pacific. Peleliu was the scene of one of the most savage no-quarter struggles of modern times, one that has been all but forgotten -- until now. Drawing on extensive interviews with Marine veterans, Bill Sloan follows a small group of young Americans through this incredibly vicious campaign and rescues their heroism on Peleliu from obscurity. Misled by faulty intelligence, the 9,000 Marine infantrymen who landed on Peleliu's beaches under withering enemy fire found themselves facing 11,000 Japanese embedded in an intricate network of caves and underground fortifications unrivaled in the history of warfare. At the heart of the Japanese defensive system was a maze of sheer cliffs and deep ravines known collectively as the Umurbrogol plateau. Endless strings of ridges bristled with concealed artillery, mortars, machine guns, and riflemen, making every inch of contested ground a potential death trap for Marines. Making matters worse, Japanese soldiers had been told by their commanders that they were to hold Peleliu at any cost in a suicidal defense of the island. Sloan's gripping narrative seamlessly weaves together the experiences of the men who were there, producing a vivid and unflinching tableau of the twenty-four-hour-a-day nightmare of Peleliu -- a melee of nonstop infantry attacks, ferocious hand-to-hand fighting, night assaults, and exhausting forced marches in temperatures that topped 115 degrees. With casualties in some infantry units averaging more than sixty percent, Peleliu ranks with the bloodiest battles in the Corps' history. Exemplifying these staggering losses was K Company, Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment (K/3/5), on whose gallant officers and enlisted men the narrative focuses from the initial assault on the beaches to the horrific struggle for the Umurbrogol's crags and crevices. Surprisingly, Peleliu received little public notice back in the States even as it was being fought and was virtually forgotten after the war, despite elements of controversy that are still debated by military strategists today. The invasion was ordered by Army General Douglas MacArthur to protect his flank as he launched his campaign to recapture the Philippines. But many experts believed then -- and still maintain today -- that the bloodshed at Peleliu was needless and that the island could have been safely bypassed. In Brotherhood of Heroes, readers witness the brutal spectacle of Peleliu close-up through the eyes of the Marines who fought there. Their story will stand with Ghost Soldiers and Flags of Our Fathers as a modern classic in military history and a riveting read. "

ISBN: 9780553267273

ListPrice: $3.50

Summary: I read this book several years ago and was impressed with the historical facts pertaining to the Quadalcanal fight. The men that took place in the defense of that island were true Heros.

ISBN: 0898391725

Edition: 2

Summary: Originally published in the 1950s by the USMC Historical Branch as an official campaign history. This volume covers the operations of the First Marine Division on New Britain island.

ISBN: 9780425190197

ListPrice: $14.00

Summary: Led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson, the 2nd Marine Raider commandos were the celebrated "Gung Ho Battalion." In August 1942, as a diversion to the invasion of Guad-alcanal, the 219 Raiders traveled 2,000 miles by submarine to Makin Atoll. In one of the most daring attacks of World War II, they caused substantial damage to the Japanese-before making a nightmarishly hazardous withdrawal.

To an America badly in need of heroes, "Carlson's Raid" was the answer to a prayer. But the raid's long-term consequences were bloodier than anyone could have imagined. And, ultimately, the controversial Carlson's high profile would be his undoing.

This is the full story of that daring mission, its unforeseen consequences, and the decision made when the fighting was toughest-kept secret for fifty years-that would have brought a far different conclusion to the famous Makin Raid.

ISBN: 0760320527

ListPrice: $22.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: Beginning with detailed descriptions of the history of the aircraft carrier, the development of carrier-air tactics, the training of carrier pilots, and numerous operational considerations that defined the way carrier battles had to be fought, Carrier Clash takes the reader into the air with brave U. S. Navy fighter pilots as they protect their ships and the Guadalcanal invasion fleet against determined Japanese air attacks on August 7 and 8, 1942. Next, Hammel sets the stage for the August 24 Battle of the Eastern Solomons, by putting the reader right into the cockpits of the U. S. Navy Dauntless dive-bombers as they drive on the Imperial Navy light carrier Ryujo - and hit the ship with 500-pound bombs! Carrier Clash is the definitive combat history of the Battle of the Eastern Solomons' third battle (of only five) between American and Japanese aircraft carriers. Had the Navy failed in this battle against the Japanese fleet, the 1st Marine Division's invasion of Guadalcanal would have been defeated almost before it began.About the AuthorEric Hammel is the author of almost thirty works of military history. He is also a frequent contributor to various military journals including Marine Corps Gazette and is currently working on an illustrated history of the Marine Corps in World War II to be published by Zenith Press. Hammel lives in northern California near San Francisco.

ISBN: 0760321280

ListPrice: $22.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: In Carrier Strike, critically acclaimed military historian Eric Hammel gives a blow-by-blow, edge-of-your-seat account of this crucial naval battle. Drawing on American and Japanese battle reports and the recollections of aviators and seamen who were there, Hammel recreates World War II's fourth carrier versus carrier battle, the battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942. Written in the heart-stopping style that Hammel's readers have come to expect, Carrier Strike offers the only up-to-date, up-close, in-depth look at the battle that cost Japan any hope of winning the war in the Pacific.

ISBN: 0195167767

ListPrice: $19.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: Hailed as "one of the finest memoirs to emerge from any war" by acclaimed author Paul Fussell, With the Old Breed remains the most powerful and moving account of the U.S. Marines in World War II. Now, with his long-awaited sequel, China Marine, E. B. Sledge continues his story where With the Old Breed left off and recounts the compelling conclusion of his Marine career. After Japan's surrender in 1945, Sledge and his company were sent to China to maintain order and to calm the seething cauldron of political and ideological unrest created by opposing factions. His regiment was the first Marine unit to return to the ancient city of Peiping (now Beijing) where they witnessed the last of old China and the rise of the Communist state. Sledge also recounts the difficulty of returning to his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, and resuming civilian life while haunted by shadows of close combat. Through the discipline of writing and the study of biology, Sledge shows how he came to terms with the terrifying memories that had plagued him for years. Poignant and compelling, China Marine provides a frank depiction of the real costs of war, emotional and psychological as well as physical, and reveals the enduring bond that develops between men who face the horrors of war.

ISBN: 1591141192

ListPrice: $59.95

Edition: Revised

Summary: This is an amazing book, the culmination of 50 years of research.



It begins on 19 August 1939 when U45, U46, U47, U48 and U50 set out from Kiel and U28, U29, U33, U34, U37, U38, U39, U40, and U41 from Wilhelmshaven into the North Atlantic to take up waiting positions.



It ends on 30 November 1945 when the RCN corvette 'Merittonia' is wrecked off the coast of Nova Scotia.



That gives you some idea of the level of detail that the book goes into on what happened on each day inbetween these two dates.



In addition, there the indexes. Interested in the 'Killoran?' Look in the 'Index of Merchant Ships,' she's mentioned on page 35. On page 35 she was a Finnish sailing ship of 1,817 tons in British service and sunk by the German auxillary cruiser 'Schiff 21/Widder.' There's also an 'Index of Warships,' an 'Index of Personnel,' an 'Index of Convoys,' an 'Index of Operations,' an 'Index of U-Boat Packs and Patrol Lines,' and an 'Index of Minefields and Mine Barrages.'



This is not, perhaps, the ultimate reference book on World War II, there not much in it on strategy for instance, it's a chronology. But as a report of what went on, it's about the most complete you'll ever find.

ISBN: 9780451219565

ListPrice: $15.00

Summary: The true story of one of the greatest and most decisive conflicts in the history of naval warfare-from an award-winning author. In June, 1944, American and Japanese carrier fleets made their way through the Philippine Sea, both hoping to take control of the vital Marianas Islands. When they met, they embarked upon a naval engagement that escalated into the most spectacular aircraft carrier battle in history. Here is the true account of the battle, told from both sides-by those who were there. Drawing upon numerous interviews as well as official sources, "Clash of the Carriers" is an unforgettable testimonial to the bravery of those who fought and those who died in a battle that will never be forgotten.

ISBN: 9780553267211

ListPrice: $4.95

Summary: Tang carried the war to the enemy with unparalleled ferocity. This is her story as told by her skipper.

ISBN: 9781875671502

ListPrice: $19.95

Summary: "Combat Aircraft Since 1945" provides excellent coverage of the subject. While almost all the books of this type would skip experimental planes like Canada's Avro CF-105, Britain's TSR 2, Israel's Lavi, a Mirage-like fighter co-developed by Egypt and Spain, and even the Russian V/STOL Yak-141, and many other more obscure planes, this book gives each equal coverage. In addition, since this is about "combat aircraft", bombers and attack aircraft are covered along side fighters. One plane, however, that it chooses not to cover, is Mirage 4000, which could have seen eye-to-eye with the F-15.
As this book was published in 2000, most the newest planes are covered: the 2 JSF's, India's LCA, F-22, Su-37, etc.
I find the format simply and effectively designed -- each page has two columns, each covering one plane. Each plane has one photo, and the characteristics of the plance are listed below the photo, followed by descriptions and historical backgrounds. The information is fairly complete. For example, under "armament," ordinance, and usually the maximum load, are listed. This makes it easy to compare differnt planes.
Descriptions are interesting instead of terse and purely technical like many other books. There is a good balance between objectivity and subjectivity. For example, about Avro CF-105, it is obvious that the author thinks very negatively of the Canadian government's decision to cancel this project because it thought missles would soon replace airplane.
For a book of this size (i.e., relatively thin), it is the most comprehensive available, nd the best organized.

ISBN: 9780831739393

ListPrice: $59.98

Summary: I have glanced through the book, and decided to buy it. I haven't regretted it since. It is exacty like the title suggests: offering information on all (until 1994) fighter aircraft. Often the information displayed is concise, and could have been more elaborate, but I understaand that it is impossible to describe thousands of aircraft in-depth. It would probably take a dozen books to do that. Also, it is awkward to miss the aircraft of manufacturers that haven't built any fighter at all, or miss famous or even favourite aircraft that were no fighters. i just hope that there will be another book on the bombers, trainers, transports, maritime patrol aircraft, flying boats, etc etc that is as good as this. All in all it is an excellent reference work (displaying pictures if there were pictures available at all), of which there should be more. It should not be missed in any aviations' fan book shelf.

ISBN: 0785801472

ListPrice: US$ 10.00

Summary:

ISBN:

Summary: This author's list of credits is quite impressive. He is an internationally recognised air historian, has over 20 books published and contributes to "Jane's All the World's Aircraft." In this book he has concentrated on all those aircraft employed by the Axis Powers of WW2 and, in short, he has made an excellent job of it too.



Laid out in strict alphabetical order by make, each aircraft commences with a text headed "History and Notes" in which all the relevant history is covered and the numerous variations of different aircraft explained. To this is added plans and the occasional photograph. Most interestingly, instead of treating the reader to an artist's impression of a single profile example, we get several different profiles of each aircraft showing their numerous variations and livery. In the case of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, for example, there are 10 such profiles.



In my own work I frequently find myself researching whatever aircraft was involved with the sinking of a particular ship and this book gives me all the historical and technical details I could ever want.



An excellent choice for those with a deeper interest in the subject.



NM.

ISBN: 0785801464

ListPrice: US$ 35.00

Summary:

ISBN: 9780870219139

ListPrice: $79.95

Summary: The best book of it's type. While Jane's for the same general period is a collection of period work, complete with incorrect data used at the time, Conway's is an accurate library of the warships of the day.

ISBN: 9781406760576

ListPrice: $27.45

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ISBN: 0785813055

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Four - the second in this series on the war in the Pacific-turns the corner from defeat to victory, beginning with the first of the great carrier actions of the war, the Battle of the Coral Sea. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 9780253348692

ListPrice: $29.95

Summary: 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.

ISBN: 0743269292

ListPrice: $16.00

Edition: 1st Simon & Schuster Pbk. Ed

Summary: Although most people associate the term D-Day with the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, it is military code for the beginning of any offensive operation. In the Pacific theater during World War II there were more than one hundred D-Days. The largest -- and last -- was the invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945, which brought together the biggest invasion fleet ever assembled, far larger than that engaged in the Normandy invasion.
"D-Days in the Pacific" tells the epic story of the campaign waged by American forces to win back the Pacific islands from Japan. Based on eyewitness accounts by the combatants, it covers the entire Pacific struggle from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Pacific war was largely a seaborne offensive fought over immense distances. Many of the amphibious assaults on Japanese-held islands were among the most savagely fought battles in American history: Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, New Guinea, Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa.
Generously illustrated with photographs and maps, "D-Days in the Pacific" is the finest one-volume account of this titanic struggle.

ISBN: 9780898391558

Summary: This book is to the Battle of Wake Island what the 9/11 Report is to the terrorist attacks.

This book is the tenth on the subject I have read since discovering some family items relating to a Marine of VMF-211 killed at the outset of war.

My interests specifically surround the events between December 8-24, 1941 and this book describes these military actions in plain sterile military detail.

If you want drama about the saga of combat and subsequent imprisonment and brutality endured by the Americans at the hands of the Japanese, this is not likely the book for you. Consider this a supplement if you are studying the human stories of Wake.

As a scholar on Wake, this is the material I live for!

Published originally in 1947, the valuable photos, appendixes, maps and notations comprise a gem for research and reference.

REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ, AUTHORS DESERVE YOUR OPINIONS!

ISBN: 9780275946463

ListPrice: $56.95

Summary: On September 15, 1944, General William Rupertus and the 16,000 Marines of the U.S. 1st Marine Division moved confidently toward Peleliu, an obscure speck of coral island 500 miles east of the Philippines. Though he knew a tough fight awaited him, Rupertus anticipated a quick two-day crush to victory, strengthening Gen. Douglas MacArthur's flank in his drive on the Philippines. Instead, as The Devil's Anvil reveals, American forces struggled desperately for more than two months against 10,000 deeply entrenched Japanese soldiers who had spent six months preparing for the battle. By the time the weary Americans could claim a victory, the fight had become one of the war's most costly successes. Even more tragic, Peleliu was later deemed a more or less unnecessary seizure. For those who survived, Peleliu remains a bitter, emotionally exhausting chapter of their lives. In The Devil's Anvil, Hallas reports on the personal combat experience of scores of officers and enlisted men who were at Peleliu. These men describe the heartbreaking loss of friends, the pain of wounds, and the heat, dirt, and exhaustion of a fight that never seemed to end.

ISBN: 0394741013

ListPrice: $18.95

Edition: 1st Vintage Books Ed

Summary: Only now can the full scope of the war in the Pacific be fully understood. Historian Ronald Spector, drawing on newly declassified intelligence files, an abundance of British and American archival material. Japanese scholarship and documents, and research and memoirs of scholarly and military men, has written a stunning, complete and up-to-date history of the conflict.

ISBN:

Summary: I read this book some time ago and found it very interesting.

Two surprising things that I learned from this book were:



The question of whether Hirohito would be tried for war crimes was left open to see how the Japanese would respond. They were very nervous.

Ultimately, they proposed that Hirohito be taught Christianity.

This was considered, but rivalry between Catholic and Protestant hierarchies made for an impossible situation and Thorpe saw the bickering as a great opportunity lost. The Japanese did not give up, however and later arranged for the Crown Prince to be educated by a Quaker. [See Windows for the Crown Prince.}



The other item of interest was the Dutch role in breaking the Japanese code, which is rarely mentioned. Like the Poles, they were very vulnerable and survival depended on having good intelligence.

ISBN:

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ISBN: 9780760311455

ListPrice: $17.95

Summary: This in-depth analysis of the tactics and equipment used by Japans infantry during World War II examines the training received by infantrymen and marines.

ISBN: 9780813338699

ListPrice: $27.00

Summary: This was the first book of Mr. Bergerud's I've read, and I must say I was impressed. The way he broke down the course of the war into the several aspects he felt to be contributing factors in its outcome I found to be thoughtful and well supported. He supplied frequent first hand accounts that not only backed up the point being made, but were startling in their vividness.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an in-depth study of the air war in the south Pacific. Don't let the size of the book scare you; he does a fine job of covering the subject and supporting his statements. I'd compare his style to the great Barbara Tuchman's: it may take you a while to get through it all, but when you're finished your understanding of the subject will be absolute.

ISBN: 0786421584

ListPrice: $45.00

Edition: New Ed

Summary: On February 19, 1945, seven battalions of U.S. Marines landed on the eastern beaches of Iwo Jima. On the southernmost flank, in the shadows of Suribachi, the First Battalion, 28th Marines, stormed ashore into the bloodiest and most renowned of all battles fought by the U.S. Marine Corps. Thirty-six days later, the Marines overran the "Bloody Gorge" and dislodged the last enemy holdouts. The battle was over, but at great cost: 225 of the First Battalion's men died on Iwo Jima.
Based on official reports and personal accounts, this is a day-by-day history of the First Battalion, 28th Marines, on Iwo Jima. Each chapter presents an overview of that day's combat and other relevant events, and also contains the text of that day's official regimental and battalion narratives. The text is complemented by a chronology and transcribed muster rolls for February and March 1945.

ISBN: 1591144728

ListPrice: $29.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: Although this book concentrates on U.S. Navy fighter combat during the first four months of the Guadalcanal campaign, it gives so many details of associated events that it should be read by anyone interested in the entire Guadalcanal campaign itself. This book also does a great job of giving details of the Japanese side, even to the point of naming most of the individual Japanese pilots involved in combat with the U.S. Navy and Marines around Guadalcanal. The only criticism (and this is slight criticism) I have of this book is Lundstrom's strong defence, for whatever reason, of Fletcher's actions during the initial part of the campaign which have been heavily criticized by just about every other historian. But, I guess it stands to reason that at least one credible historian would find a reason to defend Fletcher.



Anyway, if I were to name the top three books about the Guadalcanal campaign, this would be one of them along with Richard Frank's "Guadalcanal, the Definitive Account" and Michael Smith's "Bloody Ridge."

ISBN: 0615133738

Edition: FIRST EDITION

Summary: THE MEMOIR OF CORPORAL MARK E. PETERIK, A MARINE FROM WISCONSIN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. HE WON 4 PURPLE HEARTS AND THE SILVER STAR. CAPTURED AND SURVIVED ON SAIPAN. GREAT STORIES AND PHOTOS. HE WAS IN EASY COMPANY

ISBN: 9780760311295

ListPrice: $14.98

Summary: Since they first took to the skies more than 80 years ago, military aircraft have been variously daubed, cunningly camouflaged and boastfully personalized. This superb overview spans the entire history of this fascinating art form, depicting more than 100 aircraft types from World War I SPADs to the modern swing-wing Panavia Tornado.

ISBN:

Illustrator: Illustrated Throughout

Summary:

ISBN: 9780898390995

ListPrice: $49.95

Summary: This is a nice reprint of the original book about the Second Marine Division in WWII. Somewhat dated today as it was first published about 1948. My stepfather has a first edition copy as he was in that Unit and all of the Island Invasions including the nightmare of Tarawa.

ISBN: 9780898391169

ListPrice: $39.95

Summary:

ISBN: 9789999693189

ListPrice: $16.00

Summary:

ISBN: 9780553381948

ListPrice: $15.00

Summary: A gripping narrative of unprecedented valor and personal courage, here is the story of the first American battle of World War II: the battle for Wake Island. Based on firsthand accounts from long-lost survivors who have emerged to tell about it, this stirring tale of the “Alamo of the Pacific” will reverberate for generations to come.

On December 8, 1941, just five hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese planes attacked a remote U.S. outpost in the westernmost reaches of the Pacific. It was the beginning of an incredible sixteen-day fight for Wake Island, a tiny but strategically valuable dot in the ocean. Unprepared for the stunning assault, the small battalion was dangerously outnumbered and outgunned. But they compensated with a surplus of bravery and perseverance, waging an extraordinary battle against all odds.

When it was over, a few hundred American Marines, sailors, and soldiers, along with a small army of heroic civilian laborers, had repulsed enemy forces several thousand strong––but it was still not enough. Among the Marines was twenty-year-old PFC Wiley Sloman. By Christmas Day, he lay semiconscious in the sand, struck by enemy fire. Another day would pass before he was found—stripped of his rifle and his uniform. Shocked to realize he hadn’t awakened to victory, Sloman wondered: Had he been given up for dead—and had the Marines simply given up?

In this riveting account, veteran journalist Bill Sloan re-creates this history-making battle, the crushing surrender, and the stories of the uncommonly gutsy men who fought it. From the civilians who served as gunmen, medics, and even preachers, to the daily grind of life on an isolated island—literally at the ends of the earth—to the agony of POW camps, here we meet our heroes and confront the enemy face-to-face, bayonet to bayonet.

ISBN: 9780316501118

ListPrice: $16.99

Summary: For the first time in trade paperback, the book in which one of the most celebrated biographer/historians of our time looks back at his own early life and gives us a remarkable account of World War II in the Pacific, of what it looked like, sounded like, smelled like, and, most of all, what it felt like to one who underwent all but the ultimate of its experiences. Back Bay takes pride in making William Manchesters intense, stirring, and impassioned memoir available to a new generation of readers. A book that will enthrall readers interested in the experiences and exploits of Americas greatest generation. As noted in a recent front-page New York Times article, William Manchester is today widely regarded as Americas preeminent biographer/historian. In the two decades since its initial publication, Goodbye, Darkness has achieved the status of a modern classic.

ISBN: 9780471037422

ListPrice: $29.95

Summary: From the critically acclaimed author whom The Wall Street Journal called "a first-class historian," here is a riveting account of one of the most spectacular rescue operations in history. On January 30, 1945, American troops staged a successful raid on Cabanatuan, a notorious Japanese POW camp where thousands of prisoners had been tortured and died. Based on interviews with the heroes who survived the raid, this book brings to life in electrifying detail the dramatic events that took place on that historic day.
Praise for William B. Breuer and his books
"A first-class historian." —The Wall Street Journal
"Fast-paced, detailed, and satisfyingly dramatic." —World War II Magazine on Devil Boats
"Another smasher by Breuer, who specializes in thrilling reports of WWII spycraft and warfare." —Kirkus Reviews on Race to the Moon
"Vivid . . . skillfully written." —Los Angeles Times on Retaking the Philippines
"Brings to life how airborne soldiers survived, how the human will prevails . . . against overwhelming enemies, tactical failures, and even death."—The New York Times on Geronimo: American Paratroopers in World War II
Early on the morning of January 28, 1945, a small detachment of volunteers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Mucci, leader of the 6th Ranger Battalion, embarked from their base in the Philippines on the most audacious rescue operation ever undertaken. Their objective: Penetrate thirty miles behind enemy lines and liberate 511 POWs from Cabanatuan, the notorious Japanese POW camp where thousands of American prisoners had been brutally tortured and killed. Little did Mucci's Rangers know when they got under way that morning that over the next few days and nights they would be making history.
Written by acclaimed military historian William B. Breuer, The Great Raid on Cabanatuan is a riveting account of that rescue mission and the gallant soldiers who carried it out against overwhelming odds. Based largely on interviews with the heroes who survived the operation, and featuring twenty-eight previously unpublished photographs—many of them taken while the raid was in progress—it brings to life in electrifying detail the dramatic events that took place on the night of the raid, January 30, and during the harrowing days that followed.
In sketching out the many roads that led to Cabanatuan, Breuer brilliantly combines oral history with dramatic narrative to bring to life some of the most spectacular events of the war in the Pacific. We relive the hellish battles for Bataan and Corregidor, where in 1942 American and Filipino soldiers fought bravely to hold back the Japanese invasion force. We experience firsthand the horrors of the Bataan Death March on which tens of thousands of prisoners lost their lives en route to Cabanatuan. And we learn of the American underground and guerilla operations in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation from the men and women behind them, including Margaret Utinsky, leader of "Miss U's underground," and Claire Phillips, the glamorous lounge singer turned spy- master.
A gripping chronicle of one of the most harrowing rescue missions ever undertaken as told in all its gritty detail by the heroes who made it happen, The Great Raid on Cabanatuan is both a first-class piece of military scholarship and a thrilling adventure story.

ISBN: 9781855322530

ListPrice: $18.95

Summary: On what was a virtually unheard of Pacific island, the United States shattered the myth of Japanese invincibility. In the first American amphibious assault of the Second World War, the US Marines and Army halted the apparently irresistible Japanese advance in its tracks. Over 30,000 American and Japanese casualties were suffered in five months of bitter fighting. From the ranks of the units that contested this campaign a seasoned fighting force of US veterans was created that would, island by island, sweep the Japanese back across the Pacific.

ISBN: 0898391474

Edition: 2

Summary: Originally published by the USMC Historical Branch as an official campaign history for WWII, this book covers the first offensive operations of the US Marine Corps on Guadalcanal in 1942. The 1st Marine Division spearheaded the invasion, later reinforced by units of the 2nd Marine Division, the Marine Raiders and the 3rd and 9th Marine Defense Battalions.

ISBN: 9780935553352

ListPrice: $27.50

Summary: This is the first book that I have ever read by Eric Hammel. Originally I had checked it out from my local library, but it was so outstanding and difficult to put down, that I purchased this book just to have my own copy. I want to read this book again and again. In fact this book has led me to purchase the Guadalcanal triology authored by Mr. Hammel. All books are now in my possession and a reading adventure that I will enjoy for years to come. Mr. Hammel's writing style and the amount of detail he includes will keep you on the edge of your reading chair late into the night.

ISBN: 9780140165616

ListPrice: $22.00

Summary: I concur with all the highest praises for this book but for two irksome faults. One, there is no decent overall map of Guadalcanal island. The whole island is only pictured on a 4" wide map covering Japan to California where it's a dot with a name, and on another map of the Solomons where Guadalcanal is only 3/8" across (obviously without any sites or beaches indicated). All the other maps are tight zoom-in's and often without any scale. On the plus side the author tracks troop movements meticulously, but you'd best have along side a war atlas or expert memory and visualization skills.



The second disappointment is more minor, and not all will think it a drawback - the author's painstaking detail on...everything. I, too, love detail, but with one or more excellent maps the author could've saved a fifty pages of "ninety-five yards north, then angled seventy yards northwest, then backtracked to the southwest one hundred fifty-seven yards until...". A GOOD map is worth a thousand directions.



Last word: still get this book, it is a remarkable work.

ISBN: 0760331480

ListPrice: $34.95

Edition: First

Summary: On August 7, 1942, a scant nine months after Pearl Harbor, the Marine Corps struck back against Japan on a small island half a world away: Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands. The stakes were high. The Japanese had been running roughshod across Asia and the Pacific and even into the Indian Ocean. If the Marines failed in the Solomons, New Guinea would almost certainly fall, mortally threatening Australia. The victory of the 1st Marine Division at Guadalcanal, told here in pictures for the first time, ranks with the most heroic, dramatic, and enduring of military history.

ISBN: 9780807120132

ListPrice: $34.95

Summary: Although its not widely known, the October 1944 edition of the Handbook on Japanese Military Forces was completely revised, updated and lengthened in September of 1945 with more accurate information after the war ended.

ISBN: 9780786710966

ListPrice: $26.00

Summary: In this gritty, poignant, often disturbing oral chronicle of one of the first and most tragic military engagements in World War II, Chet Cunningham gives the gallant U.S. defenders of Wake Island—among them his older brother, Kenneth, then a private in the Marines—their long-overlooked due. For Kenneth Cunningham, a serviceman in the defense battalion stationed on Wake Island, World War II began on December 8, 1941, just five hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It ended on December 23. That day the Marines on Wake Island—their twelve Wildcat fighter planes lost, their forces diminished—faced an overwhelming enemy invasion, with the Japanese arriving in so many ships that, as one eyewitness put it, they could have walked from one to the other on the open sea. Private Cunningham and his fellow Marines fought intrepidly, until their commanding officers ordered them to surrender. Their term in hell, though, had just begun. When the Marines laid down their arms they were stripped naked. With their hands bound, they sat naked in the hot sun all day; at night they shivered in the cold. They suffered endless days at sea jammed in the holds of ships that took them to prison camps in China and Japan. Forty-four months later, liberated at last, they would return home unheralded and largely forgotten. Their often horrific, frequently heroic story now stands recorded, for the most part in the words of the soldiers, sailors, Marines, and civilian personnel who were there, as well as of their wives and widows, in startling, unforgettable detail. Eight pages of black-and-white photographs add to this gripping reconstruction of the sixteen-day battle for Wake Island and its aftermath.

ISBN: 9780743413077

ListPrice: $14.00

Summary: The true, incredible story of the U.S. Marines in World War II

ISBN: 0785813152

ListPrice: £25.00

Edition: New Ed

Summary:

ISBN: 9780252070372

ListPrice: $9.95

Summary: During the last months of 1943, when Allied forces of the South and Southwest Pacific were hammering at islands and airfields in the Bismarcks and Bougainville, Admiral Chester Nimitz organized two massive amphibious operations to capture the strategically vital Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Volume 7 of Samuel Eliot Morison's splendid history describes this mighty sweep of the Pacific Fleet across Micronesia, as well as the warfare in the remote and frigid Aleutian Islands.
The campaigns of 1943-44 marked a great advance in the art of war. Fast carrier strikes, new anti-aircraft and airborne weapons, better radar capabilities, and faster fire- and damage-control solutions combined to revolutionize amphibious operations; advances in photographic reconnaissance improved strategic planning; and all-terrain vehicles called amphtracs facilitated beach landings. In addition, the Micronesia campaigns inspired revolutionary innovations in logistics to meet the challenge of supplying and servicing an enormous amphibious force in an area with no large land masses, no labor, and no supplies or facilities of any kind.
Similar logistical difficulties characterized operations in the Aleutian Islands, compounded by hazardous conditions including dense fog, almost constant cloud cover, blinding blizzards, and icy seas. Morison tracks the Americans' recovery of Attu and Kiska as well as the gallantly fought Battle of the Komandorski Islands.

ISBN: 9780252070389

ListPrice: $9.95

Summary: This installment of Samuel Eliot Morison's insider history of the U.S. Navy covers five of the most eventful months of the Pacific war, March through July 1944. Awash with spectacular rescues of downed airmen, bold beach landings, and brilliant though risky strategic gambles, this volume carries Morison's coverage of the war in the Pacific through the Allies' securing of Dutch New Guinea and the Marianas.
The three assaults that comprised Operation "Forager"--in which Morison participated--add up to one of the most important amphibious operations in history: protracted, bitterly contested, requiring great flexibility as well as fortitude. The development of powerful new weapons and sophisticated new tactics, together with the greatly extended distance of active operations from continental bases, rendered naval operations more vast and more complicated than ever before in history.
After nearly two years of bitter and almost continuous fighting, the Allies have broken the Bismarcks Barrier, conquered key Japanese positions in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and cleared the way for an advance along the New Guinea-Mindanao axis. General MacArthur is intent on his one road to Tokyo, but Combined Chiefs of Staff decide to send Admiral Nimitz and the Pacific Fleet on a second, northern route, parallel to MacArthur's. Morison follows MacArthur's Southwest Pacific Forces in a series of bold leaps to Holandiak, Wakde, Biak, and the Vogelkop, also covering Pacific Fleet operations from the end of the Marshall Islands campaign to the recovery of Guam.

ISBN: 9780252070396

ListPrice: $9.95

Summary: Volume 9 of Morison's comprehensive history covers the period of the opening of the second front in the Mediterranean, focusing on three major amphibious operations: the march from North Africa to Sicily (Operation Husky), the campaigns at Salerno and Naples (Operation Avalanche), and the action at Anzio (Operation Shingle).
These complicated campaigns were charged with controversy stemming from an almost complete cleavage of opinion at the highest level of strategic decision. While the British wanted to step up operations in the Mediterranean, the Americans favored a frontal attack on the German armies. Morison brilliantly unravels the strategic thinking on all sides as well as the dramatic events as they actually occurred, culminating in the Allies' triumphal entry into Rome on June 5, 1944.
Combining atmospheric accounts of beach landings and explosive naval skirmishes, deft sketches of leaders and their men, and sophisticated summaries of the various perspectives that converged into strategy, Morison brings the Italian campaigns vividly to life. Distinguished by his hallmark blend of the tactical and human components of war, Morison's history provides an immensely satisfying account of these great campaigns.

ISBN: 9781841543666

Illustrator: Nuala Kennedy

Summary:

ISBN: 9780760307229

ListPrice: $11.95

Summary: Wow! This hefty international directory profiles every aircraft ever to have fought in WWII. This amazing volume contains detailed color illustrations especially useful to modelers and artists. More than 450 historical black and white, plus dozens of color photos, deliver amazing value and detail for every WWII enthusiast. A lot of book at a great price!

ISBN: 9780785813590

ListPrice: $29.99

Summary: this encyclopedic volume is a complete panorama of "flying machines" from the drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci to the most sophisticated military aircraft of the present and future. Includes detailed analyses of over 800 significant examples of military aircraft throughout history and 700 accompanying 3-D drawings.

ISBN:

Summary:

ISBN: 9780743214810

ListPrice: $15.00

Summary: The author of "Beyond Valor" offers a new collection of oral histories from veterans of the Second World War, this time from the Pacific theater. In an introduction, Patrick K. O'Donnell warns, "oral histories are perhaps the best means available to reveal the horrors and pathos of the foxhole." Indeed, several of the accounts he compiles on these pages are grisly, such as the story of Tom Lyons, stabbed in the neck by a Japanese soldier on Guadalcanal. Lyons survived, but only after being heaped on top of a pile of dead bodies. Rumors of his death reached home: "My mother got a check from my insurance company saying I was dead the same day she got a letter from me written by a nurse at a hospital in New Zealand." Combat stories abound, including a firsthand account of Gunnery Sergeant William G. Walsh jumping on a grenade to protect his squad on Iwo Jima, a feat for which he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. O'Donnell organizes his material chronologically and introduces each chapter to help readers understand the context of the soldiers' individual narratives. For those who enjoy real-life war stories told from the perspective of the men who were there, "Into the Rising Sun" is hard to beat. "--John Miller"

ISBN: 1560987529

ListPrice: $17.95

Edition: Subsequent

Summary: Haven't read a pilot's memoirs for quite a while, although doing much more of it now. Into the Teeth of the Tiger was the first of a long line of new purchases that I need to read and it was well worth the purchase. Mr Lopez, while an excellent flier and leader, is also a wonderful writer. He writes with modesty and is not afraid to describe his errors in addition to his successes. The action sequences are superb and the humour used by the pilots and crews to lighten things up a bit is guaranteed to generate a smile and even a chuckle. Of course, this is war and the deaths of friends and the treatment of the civilian population was no doubt shattering for all involved. I get the impression that this book has become somewhat of a classic and justly so. It is a well-written account of a less publicised theatre of the war by a (then) very young pilot. What these guys did at 20-25 really puts things into perspective. A bloody good read!

ISBN: 0785813128

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Eleven recounts the part played by the United States and Allied naval forces in the final victorious offensive against Germany. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 9781841761787

ListPrice: $18.95

Illustrator: Jim Laurier

Summary: One of the decisive battles of the Second World War in the Pacific, Iwo Jima was described by Lieutenant-General Holland Smith, Commander Fleet Marine Forces Pacific, as "The most savage and most costly battle in the history of the Marine Corps" - a titanic struggle that eclipsed all that had gone before. Situated halfway along the B-29 Superfortress route to the Japanese mainland, the island was of major strategic importance to the US Air Force, but also to the Japanese, 20,000 of whom were deeply entrenched in the island. This book provides a definitive account of the battle, from its origins to its hard-fought conclusion.

ISBN: 9780898391084

ListPrice: $39.95

Summary: Iwo Jima, Amphibious Epic is a very good account of the battle of Iwo Jima. Written for the Marine Corps Historical Branch in 1954 dates the book in one way, in that it only lists 24 of the 27 Medal of Honor recipients. Missing from the book are Pharmacists Mates Pierce, Williams and Willis. This book includes 24 maps which include 4 generalized maps of the entire island, and twenty fold out maps that show the daily progress of the battle, what battalions were in the attack each day, and the direction of attack. It is not filled with personnal accounts of the battle, just facts based on the after action reports. It contains and a good bit of tabular type data, giving task orginizations, units involved, commanders names and casualties for the US along with the order of battle for the Japanese. If you are looking for a summary of the battle day by day, this is the book you want to read. It gives an overview of the battle from all three divisions views, not one company, battalion, or regiment. Well worth the price.

ISBN: 9780345019639

Summary: this another example of the overall excellence of the Ballantine series about the violet 20th Century. This one having to deal with the end of WWII and the defeat of Japan by the Allies. I found the writing and research of this book to be top notch and informative.

ISBN: 9781841763538

ListPrice: $15.95

Illustrator: Stephen Andrew

Summary: During Japan's devastating Pacific offensive of 1941/42, the Allies paid a high price for their failure to take seriously an army which had already been fighting in Manchuria and China for ten years. That army was a unique blend of the ancient and the modern and its up-to-date equipment and resourceful tactics served an almost medieval code of unquestioning obedience and ruthless aggression. This first of two titles covers the organisation, equipment, uniforms and character of Japanese ground forces in the Chinese and early Pacific campaigns, illustrated with insignia charts, many rare photographs, and eight meticulous uniform plates.

ISBN: 9781841763545

ListPrice: $15.95

Illustrator: Stephen Andrew

Summary: Within months of its greatest triumph in 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army began to face the difficulties which would eventually destroy it - overstretched supply lines, and inadequate industrial support. Yet as the Allies grew steadily stronger and more skilful, the Japanese Army and Naval Landing Forces dug in to defend their conquests with a determination which shocked all who fought them. In this second book the author describes the deployments, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the Army - including the dreaded Kempei-tai military police - the naval infantry, paratroopers, special raiding units, and foreign auxiliaries during the long and savage war in Burma and the Pacific. His text is illustrated with many rare photographs, three insignia charts, and eight highly detailed colour plates.

ISBN: 9781841768700

ListPrice: $23.95

Summary: The 1941 Japanese Pacific onslaught saw the defeat of Allied forces on all fronts, with the Philippines, Netherlands East Indies, and Commonwealth possessions falling under their control. During 1942-43, the Japanese consolidated their gains and redeployed forces in an attempt to break the Southern Lifeline between America and Australia. These plans were affected by the defeat at Midway, which forced the Japanese onto the defensive. This book examines Japanese forces employed in the follow-on conquests of 1942-43, and describes how unit organization, weaponry, and equipment were found lacking in the harsh environment of the Solomon Islands and on New Guinea.

ISBN: 9781841767895

ListPrice: $23.95

Summary: The Japanese conquest of the Pacific comprised of a complex series of widely scattered operations; their intent was to neutralize American, Commonwealth, and Dutch forces, seize regions rich in economic resources, and secure an outer defense line for their empire. Although their conquest was successful, the forces deployed from Japan and China were not always ideally trained, equipped and armed. The South Seas and tropics proved challenging to these soldiers who were used to milder climates, and they were a less lethal enemy on the Chinese mainland. This book examines the overall structure of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), the forces in existence at the beginning of World War II and the organization of the forces committed to the conquest of the Pacific.

ISBN: 9780850451184

ListPrice: $15.95

Illustrator: Michael Youens

Summary: In 1941 the Allied forces in the Pacific were devastatingly unprepared for the onslaught of the Japanese Army, which by this time had been fighting for ten years on the Manchurian front. The Allies paid dearly for their lack of planning and found themselves defeated time and time again as the seasoned Japanese forces swept through the Pacific colonies. This book examines the Japanese concept of war and describes the organisation, tactics and weaponry of the Japanese Army from their triumphant invasions of 1941-42 until their ultimate defeat in 1945. Numerous illustrations and colour plates depict the weapons and uniforms of the Japanese troops in vivid detail.

ISBN: 9781841768182

ListPrice: $17.95

Illustrator: Michael Welply

Summary: This book examines in detail the Japanese Infantryman who was, despite comparisons with the notorious German Waffen SS, an enigma to Westerners. Brutal in its treatment of prisoners as well as the inhabitants of the areas that it conquered, the Imperial Japanese Army also had exacting standards for its own men - strict codes of honor compelled Japanese soldiers to fight to the death against the more technologically advanced Allies. Identifying the ways in which the Japanese soldier differed from his Western counterpart, the author explores concepts such as Bushido, Seppuku, Shiki and Hakko Ichi-u in order to understand what motivated Japanese warriors.

ISBN:

Illustrator: Ronald Percy

Summary:

ISBN: 9781841764283

ListPrice: $16.95

Illustrator: Ian Palmer

Summary: The prolonged and bloody fighting for control of the Japanese occupied Pacific islands in World War II is a key point in 20th-century warfare. No two islands were alike in the systems and nature of their defensive emplacements, and local improvization and command preferences affected both materials used and defensive models. This title details the establishment, construction and effectiveness of Japanese temporary and semi-permanent crew-served weapons positions and individual and small-unit fighting positions. Integrated obstacles and minefields, camouflage and the changing defensive principles are also covered.

ISBN: 9781846031007

ListPrice: $15.95

Illustrator: Christa Hook

Summary: The spearhead of Japan's assault landing operations both in China pre-Pearl Harbor, and in US and British territory post-Pearl Harbor, was provided by the Special Naval Landing Forces - 12 numbered battalion-size Imperial Japanese Navy units. They garrisoned a number of the islands which the US Marines then had to re-claim in some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War. These included the infamous battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the elite force which has be never before been examined in such detail in English, covering weapons and equipment as well as uniform and insignia.

ISBN: 9781889901084

ListPrice: $26.95

Summary: The Battle of Leyte Gulf -- four major actions -- was the greatest sea battle in history. The Surigao Strait action is considered the Navy's greatest single triumph, a model of timeing, coordination and execution. This is a unique, behind-the-guns view; a gripping eye-witness account riding the battle line at Surigao int he last Crossing of the 'T'.

ISBN: 9780451220707

ListPrice: $14.00

Summary: "Shively has documented in a very readable fashion the transformation of a young Hoosier into a disciplined member of the United States Marine Corps. His book is a detailed and touching tale of one man's experience of the battle of Iwo Jima, and the many excellent photographs and maps enhance the story." —Major General Fred Haynes, USMC (Ret.)
The 36-day assault on the small volcanic island known as Iwo Jima resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. Of the 20,000 Japanese defenders, only 1,083 survived. The Marines' efforts secured what would become a vital emergency landing strip for crippled B-29s returning from bombing runs. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines and sailors, many posthumously, more than were awarded for any other single operation during the war.
Jim Craig was a platoon commander with the Marines on Iwo Jima. This book presents his story, as told to his nephew, John C. Shively. A particularly vivid and exciting account of some of the most intense fighting of the Pacific War, the immediacy of the story is heightened by the detail that Shively's research has added to Craig's recollections. The result is one of the most realistic depictions of combat ever written.

ISBN: 9781841769783

ListPrice: $18.95

Illustrator: Howard Gerrard

Summary: Leyte Gulf was a key victory for the United States: its scale dwarfed previous sea conflicts and its result created an opportunity for the US forces to invade the Philippines. Four different battles - Leyte, Samar, Cape Engaño and the Surigao Strait - occurred almost simultaneously as part of a Japanese plan to claim a Trafalgar-style victory over US forces. Yet they were defeated in the battles on the surface, under the sea and in the air. This highly-accessible book describes the conflict's interweaving battles and the personalities of the commanders involved in what has been called 'the greatest sea battle of all'.

ISBN:

Illustrator: Photo Illustrated

Summary:

ISBN: 0785813136

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Twelve recounts the greatest naval battle of all time, the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the western Pacific. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 0785813144

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Thirteen describes the aftermath of the Battle for Leyte Gulf including the liberation of the rest of the Philippine Archipelago. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 0891416528

ListPrice: $17.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: Describes the Marine Corps in all its glory.--U.S. Army War College Parameters

ISBN: 9781580970501

ListPrice: $34.95

Summary: In America's island-hopping war against Japan, the U.S. Marines were our cutting edge. Yet, until now, little has been written about the desperate combats fought by the Marines' own spearheads - their tanks. It is a story of trial and error, incredible courage, and finally, triumph.
In the early island campaigns, Marine tankers went into battle inexperienced and inadequately trained. In a series of costly battles and jungle campaigns - Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Bouganville, Cape Gloucester, Tarawa, Marianas, Peleliu, Saipan and Okinawa - Marine tankers proved beyond doubt that they were essential in achieving victory. Despite suffering sometimes staggering losses, the Marines and their tanks eventually crushed fierce Japanese resistance.
Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific is a gripping narrative that combines exhaustive detail on Marine armor and combat with moving eyewitness accounts, never before published, of what it was actually like to be a Marine tanker in action in the Pacific - awe inspiring bravery in the face of a skilled and fanatic foe.

ISBN: 9781841768519

ListPrice: $18.95

Illustrator: Howard Gerrard

Summary: Following the capture of Tarawa in November 1943, American eyes turned to the Marshall Islands. These were the next vital stepping-stone across the Pacific towards Japan, and would bring the islands of Guam and Saipan within the reach of US forces. In their first amphibious attack, the new 4th Marine Division landed on Roi and Namur islands on 1 February 1944, while US 7th Division landed on Kwajalein. At the time this was the longest shore-to-shore amphibious assault in history. The lessons of the bloody fighting on Tarawa had been well learned and the successful attack on the Marshalls set the pattern for future amphibious operations in the Pacific War.

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ListPrice: US$ 3.50

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ISBN: 9781855323353

ListPrice: $18.95

Summary: One of the most important naval battles in history, Midway was fought barely six months after the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The badly damaged USS Yorktown was repaired in just 48 hours and with Enterprise and Hornet set out to meet the Japanese. In a battle marked by great heroism on both sides the United States dealt a devastating blow to the Imperial Japanese Fleet sinking four of her most powerful carriers. In this superbly illustrated volume Mark Healy tells the whole story; espionage, daring, luck and extreme heroism. A fascinating read supplemented by genuine photographs of the battle in progress.

ISBN: 9781591141136

ListPrice: $34.95

Summary: With Guadalcanal firmly in American control by October 1943, the Allies decided to invade Bougainville, another island in the Solomon chain, to tighten their stranglehold on the Japanese in the area. To divert the enemy's attention, a raid was ordered on the nearby island of Choiseul. Success relied on making the Japanese think that a Marine division had landed on Choiseul so that they would rush reinforcements there while a much larger American Marine force would land on Bougainville. But Allied resources were scarce, so the Choiseul raid fell to the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion. An aggressive unit of paratroopers under the command of the now legendary "Brute" Krulak, they were well trained in guerilla warfare and night fighting. This is the story of the paratroopers' courageous fight, told from their unique perspective.
Told to make the noise of an entire division, the Marines knew that if they got into trouble, there would be no reinforcements. For seven days they raised hell, bringing the fight to the Japanese along the coastline and deep into the jungle. Then, on November 3, as a large Japanese force closed in, the Marines slipped off the island, mission accomplished. Bougainville had been secured. This hour-by-hour account of what happened is based on an exhaustive gathering of all possible eyewitness accounts and includes a rescue by John F. Kennedy's PT boat and the death of a Marine in Kennedy's bunk. It is a page-turner more akin to a novel than a work of nonfiction.

ISBN: 9781592232253

ListPrice: $17.98

Summary: More than 120 bombers, transports, and tankers, all still in service around the world today, are featured here on heavily illustrated two-page spreads. From early jets such as the MiG-15 to the $2 billion B-2A Spirit, the wide range of aircraft employed by today’s air forces is thoroughly examined in text, graphics, and color and archival black-and-white photographs.

ISBN: 9781557503275

ListPrice: $36.95

Summary: This is an excellent account of the Naval Battle off Guadalcanal in the early hours of 13 November 1942. The battle was one of three major disasters that overtook the U.S. Navy in World War II, the others being Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and Savo Island in August 1942. Grace provides a very well written account of the battle with excellent accounts of the men and ships in battle. Very highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780831765798

ListPrice: $4.98

Summary:

ISBN: 9781855326071

ListPrice: $18.95

Illustrator: Howard Gerrard

Summary: By the spring of 1945 the Allies were sweeping all before them in the Pacific War against Japan, and a series of victories had reclaimed many of the islands and territories seized by the Imperial Japanese forces in the early months of the war. The dark days of humiliating defeat were far behind the unstoppable Allied juggernaut - victory was now assured. The question was where the last battle would be fought. That place was the island of Okinawa. This book details the struggle for the island as US Marines and Army units battled determined Japanese defenders in the last battle of World War II.

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Summary:

ISBN: 0898391318

Edition: 2

Summary: Originally published in 1955 by the USMC Historical Branch as an official campaign history for WWII, this book covers the operations of the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions on the island of Okinawa in 1945.

ISBN: 9780898393125

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ISBN: 0451221389

ListPrice: $15.00

Edition: Reprint

Summary: In the Tarawa atoll lies the tiny islet of Betio. In November of 1943, the men of the 2nd Marine Division watched as bombardments destroyed the island's Japanese defenses. But when the Marines landed, the Japanese poured out of their protective bunkers and began one of the most brutal encounters of the war. Drawn from sources such as participants' letters and diaries and interviews with survivors, "One Square Mile of Hell" is the riveting true account of a battle between two determined foes, neither of whom would ever look at each other in the same way again.

ISBN: 0785813039

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Two - the first book in the series to be actually published- details firsthand the North African campaign, the largest overseas expedition ever undertaken. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 9780451212054

ListPrice: $14.00

Summary: Though it started on the day that would "live in infamy," few know the full story of the battle that took place on Wake Island. With extensive research into both sides of the conflict, including interviews with survivors and Japanese reports, military historian John Wukovits breaks new ground on the assault, offering a complete picture of the compelling and heroic struggle."Wukovits has given this epic drama new meaning for a changing time." (Michael E. Haskew, "WWII History Magazine")

ISBN: 9780356031408

Summary:

ISBN: 9780789207616

ListPrice: $65.00

Summary: An unprecedented chronicle of America's bitter war against Japanese imperialism a half-century ago that interweaves poignant first-person memories with unique color photography of the major battle sites paired with evocative archival images.
This fascinating, richly illustrated survey of all aspects of the Pacific war, from Pearl Harbor to Japan's surrender in Tokyo Bay, presents something unique among World War II histories: an extensive color portfolio of dramatic wartime relics surviving decades on most of the Pacific island battlefields. Rusting American landing craft and tanks still can be found on treacherous reefs and beaches where they were tragically stopped by enemy fire so long ago, aircraft of both sides lie hidden in the jungles where they crashed, battle-scarred Japanese pillboxes and artillery emplacements still stand sentinel, and packed-coral landing strips remain as good as new. All such evocative memento mori have been beautifully captured by Jerry Meehl, probably the only photographer to have sought out all these far-flung battle sites, many of them still dangerous underfoot and now off limits to travelers. The authors also searched official archives for pictures that really show the terrors of combat, and often these display the very tanks and amtracs now decomposing on distant invasion beaches. They also found captured prewar photos of Japanese pillboxes and gun emplacements as newly built, and contrast them with their current, war-torn condition.
But this is far from just a "then" and "now" picture book. Each of the more than twenty photo essays of particular battles features a lively narrative that relies heavily on the firsthand accounts of men who were there, archival pictures shot during the actual fighting, and color photographs of the remaining Japanese bunkers and gun emplacements all of which help the reader visualize what hand-to-hand combat in the Pacific war was really like.
Other details: 500 illustrations, 250 in full color

ISBN: 0345025857

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ISBN:

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ISBN: 9780750937467

ListPrice: $39.95

Summary: The American 'island-hopping' campaign in the Pacific during the Second World War was a crucial factor in the eventual defeat of Japan in 1945. The assault and capture of these seemingly unimportant islands meant US bombers and their fighter escorts could now reach mainland Japan, eventually crippling Japan's war economy. In November 1943, Tarawa tested the doctrine of seaborne assault to the limit in a 76-hour battle in which Marines waded ashore from the surrounding reefs in the face of murderous enemy fire. Peleliu in September 1944 was the 'unknown battle', where a combination of poor planning, dubious leadership and a major change in Japanese defensive strategy turned what was expected to be a three-day battle into one of the most savage battles of the war. Iwo Jima in February 1945 was a titanic struggle that eclipsed all these battles, as three Marine divisions struggled in appalling conditions against an enemy for whom surrender was not an option. That April a massive Marine/Army operation against Okinawa was a foretaste of what could be expected in the proposed assault on the Japanese mainland. These battles were all characterized by savage fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. Employing archive color and black & white photographs, maps and first-hand accounts, the author relates these pivotal battles to the wider struggle against the Japanese in the Pacific.

ISBN: 0892562064

Edition: 1st ed

Summary: Although this work does have a few minor factual errors,it provides a solid overview of the Pacific War. The main strength of this work is that it is clearly written and it discusses complex battles and campaigns in a simple straightforward manner. Highly recommended for general audiences and history buffs alike.

ISBN: 1846032121

ListPrice: $12.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary:
Twelve world-renowned military historians provide a fresh re-evaluation of the events, troops, strategies, and tactics of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Despite unforgiving conditions and brutal jungle fighting that drained resources and morale, the American advance across the ocean towards the Japanese homelands drove the evolution of ever more innovative amphibious warfare, and increasingly desperate Japanese countermeasures.

Bringing together American, Japanese, Australian, and British perspectives, each chapter of The Pacific War Companion focuses on a different aspect of the conflict - from operational planning to the experiences of the men on the ground, and from the assault on Pearl Harbor to the atomic annihilation of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

ISBN: 9780760320679

ListPrice: $19.95

Summary: On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Fleet attacked Pearl Harbor, thus starting a war in the Pacific that would last four years, see Japan brought to her knees, and witness the first, and so far only, use of atomic bombs in warfare. The Pacific War Day by Day is a chronological, month-by-month approach to the conflict, allowing the reader to see at a glance the key battles on land, at sea ,and in the air, engagements such as Singapore, Tarawa Atoll, Guadalcanal, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Midway, Kohima, Imphal, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Each major engagement is illustrated by a map for ease of understanding. In addition to the battles and campaigns, the book includes sidebars on all the main commanders. The Pacific War Day by Day includes entries on landing craft, aircraft carriers, carrier aircraft, long-range bombers, and amphibious landing techniques.- Encyclopedic guide to the World War II campaigns in the Pacific Theater- An excellent reference work- Continues the successful series covering World War IIAbout the AuthorJohn Davison is a freelance military writer. His areas of expertise are World War II, the Third Reich and modern special forces. He has written a number of articles on these subjects and has also contributed text to Ultimate Special Forces. He currently lives in Wales in the UK.Hardcover - 8-1/2" x 11" - 192 pp - 400 b/w'

ISBN: 9780975906309

ListPrice: $22.95

Summary: There is more to war on the front lines than just firing weapons and keeping your head down. This is one Marine's story of living through the World War II Pacific islands war. Stanley P. Holloway's story of survival entails not only island invasions, but also dealing with the inanities of the Marine Corps, developing a deep brotherhood with fellow Marines, coping with death and disease, and falling in love. Holloway's unit was the "Forgotten Battalion," which was involved with the battles of Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima
Stanley P. Holloway didn't say anything about the war for fifty years. Then his son started asking him questions. What followed was an awakening of stories and experiences that spanned four years, including numerous island invasions. Holloway had brazened machine gun fire while Marines died around him; he had watched a banzai attack approaching; he had been in mortar barrages and howitzer attacks; he had contracted diseases that could kill; and he had found the love of his life.

ISBN: 9780789208170

ListPrice: $27.50

Summary: Approaching the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, this is the most extensive collection published to date of first-person oral histories on so many diverse aspects of the war in the Pacific—told in gripping, eyewitness accounts by more than seventy veterans from all branches of service.
In this new book by the authors of Pacific Legacy: Image and Memory of World War II in the Pacific, the history of the War in the Pacific comes vividly to life in the words of those who witnessed it first hand. The editors create for the reader, as the veterans themselves recall it, what that war was like—how it looked, felt, smelled, and sounded. The stories collected here are a unique portrayal of the mundane, exotic, boring, terrifying, life-altering events that made up their wartime experiences in World War II in the Pacific, a war fought on countless far-flung islands over an area that constitutes about one-third of the globe. What the veterans saw and lived through has stayed with them their entire lives, and much of it comes to the surface again through their vivid memories.
The narratives, grouped into fifteen thematic, chronologically arranged chapters, are stirring, first-hand accounts, from front-line combat at the epicenter of violence and death to restless, weary boredom on rear area islands thousands of miles from the fighting. While their experiences differed, all were changed by what happened to them in the Pacific. These are not the stories of sweeping strategies or bold moves by generals and admirals. Instead, we hear from men and women on the lower rungs, including ordinary seamen on vessels that encountered Japanese warships and planes and sometimes came out second best, rank-and-file Marines who were in amtracs churning toward bullet-swept tropical beaches and saw their buddies killed beside them, and astounded eyewitnesses to the war's sudden start on December 7, 1941. This is an important book for military buffs as well as for the survivors of World War II and their families.

ISBN: 0394734963

ListPrice: $17.00

Edition: 1st Paperback Ed

Summary: A portrayal of how and why Japan waged war from 1931-1945 and what life was like for the Japanese people in a society engaged in total war.

ISBN: 0760320977

ListPrice: $40.00

Edition: First

Summary: From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, and more recently from the jungles of Vietnam to the killing fields of Iraq, Americas soldiers of the sea have fought their countrys battles with famed valor, skill, and perseverance in the face of long odds. But where did the U.S. Marines earn their reputation as being the first to fight? It was on the South Pacific Island of Guadalcanal. There, on August 7, 1942, the 1st Marine Division stormed ashore to begin one of the most difficult and brutal campaigns of military historyand an unbroken string of victories staged across the Pacific. Up the Solomons from Guadalcanal, westward into the islands of the central Pacific, and on to the climactic campaigns of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, these are the legendary battles celebrated in this volume, a lavishly illustrated tribute to the men who led the way against Japan. Nearly 300 combat photographs, many never before published, capture the fighting Leathernecks in training and in battle, landing and mopping up, making inexorable headway through the Pacific theater. Pacific Warriors also gives readers a look at the prewar Corps and its phenomenal growth from a modest two-regiment force to a full six divisions with its own modern air force.

ISBN: 9780883655436

ListPrice: $3.98

Summary: "An unusual book, filled with fascinating photographs, diagrams, maps and illustrations that bring the destruction back to life. The real soldiers and sailors had it all over Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett."--"Playboy "

"Especially good for its maps."--"Houston Chronicle "

"Engrossing. Get this superb read, which will answer many of the questions that are bound to pop up. Recommended."--"Library Journal"

""A date which will live in infamy."--President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, December 7, 1941."

This eye-popping, large-size, and image-packed book about the infamous sneak attack that changed the course of history will keep readers fascinated.
Through bold and striking images previously unseen outside of Japan, and an authoritative, thoroughly up-to-date text, the shocking event that was Pearl Harbor unfolds. Enhancing the experience are the standout maps and graphics by Malcolm Swanston (expert cartographer of the History of Warfare series). Starting his narrative long before the assault and continuing through to its dramatic aftermath, H.P. Willmott, a brilliant and experienced historian, breaks new ground and corrects misconceptions. Above all, Willmott makes sense of the complex, often surreal process that led the Japanese High Command to consider an attack on Pearl Harbor the preferred strategy. The text about the strike itself draws on extensive new research. Highlights include concise tables listing every warship involved in the operation, along with every formation of aircraft, which carriers they flew from, and which targets they hit. Most controversial: a discussion of crucial evidence that explains why a third and potentially devastating strike on the American base never occurred. Finally, you'll see why this fateful day may have been not only the day that Japan started the war...but also the day she lost it.

ISBN:

Illustrator: 156

Summary:

ISBN: 9781841765129

ListPrice: $19.95

Illustrator: Howard Gerrard

Summary: Equalling Tarawa, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in scale and ferocity, the battle for Peleliu has long been regarded as the Pacific War’s “forgotten battle”, and perhaps one that should never have been fought. A massive carrier-based attack some weeks before the invasion destroyed all aircraft and shipping in the area and virtually isolated the Japanese garrison. 1st Marine Division commander, General Rupertus, made extravagant claims that the capture of Peleliu would “only take three days – maybe two.” But the Japanese fought a bloody battle of attrition from prepared positions an in a struggle of unprecedented savagery a whole Marine Division was bled white.

ISBN: 0394565886

ListPrice: $22.00

Edition: 1st ed

Summary: This is probably the best account of this particular tragic battle I have come across. The battle alone, Peleliu, is not well known and now that it falls into the category of "ancient history" by the younger set, is even less heard of. This is a shame. The history of the U.S.M.C. is a testament to the ability and endurance of the American fighting man and woman Never has there been a better example than this forgotten battle. I have had the honor of having several conversations with two of the survivors of this epic battle...it is hard to imagine that the human body and spirit could survive such a thing. They did. The author has done his research with this one. He has been able to address the controversies surrounding this episode without distracting from the bravery of the men who took part in it. There is much to be learned here, both of the human condition and of military blunders and why they happen. I highly recommend this one be added to your collection.

ISBN: 9780600603023

ListPrice: $14.95

Summary: Every major aircraft in service--fighters, fighter-bombers, helicopters, transports, and trainers--are all shown here in full color, along with diagrams that show them from above, front, and sideways. Military and aviation buffs will treasure this alphabetically organized, fact-filled guide that provides specifications, origin, type, armaments, power plants, performance, weights, and dimensions for each entry, along with a fascinating summary of its history in the skies. Included are such models as the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, which made its maiden flight in April 1952 and continues strong; the former USSR's six crew Antonov AN-12 "Cub," which became its most important military transport for many years; and Italy's Aermacchi MB.339, with advanced aeronautics, comprehensive weapons compatibility, and a rugged airframe. Perfect for identification at air shows and in operation!

ISBN: 9780850450910

ListPrice: $14.95

Illustrator: Gerry Embleton

Summary: Text by Bryan Philpott, with colour plates by Michael Trim and Gerry Embleton. First published in 1977 this title forms part of a special reprint of the Airwar series. Detailing the history the RAF fighter units over Europe, Bryan Philpott's book offers a chronological account of the experiences of Fighter Command pilots, their aircraft and equipment. The development of Fighter Command as the war progressed is interwoven with informative accounts of individual actions, which bring the experiences of those involved alive. Uniforms and aircraft markings are illustrated in the colour plates and contemporary photographs offer a valuable insight into equipment and conditions.

ISBN: 0785813047

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Three -the first on the war in the Pacific-includes coverage of the attack on Pear Harbor and its aftermath as well as the Defense of the Malay Barrier. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 9780786409914

ListPrice: $55.00

Summary: The battle for Saipan is remembered as one of the bloodiest battles fought in the Pacific during World War II, and was the turning point on the road to the defeat of Japan and the end of the war. The island was a blaze of fire and steel for over three weeks in the summer of 1944. Visible reminders of the devastation still exist-one can find human remains scattered on the jungle floor or in caves throughout the island. Emotional reminders still exist as well, for both the soldiers and the civilians who survived the battle. In this work, the survivors of Saipan-including Pacific Islanders on whose land the Americans and Japanese fought their war-have the opportunity to tell their stories in their own words. The author introduces the volume with a history of Saipan and arranges the oral histories by location: Saipan, Yap and Tinian, Rota, Palau Islands, and Guam.

ISBN: 9780898391091

ListPrice: $39.95

Summary: Detailed facts are stated concurrently. On hand source from both conflicted sides!

ISBN: 0743412834

ListPrice: $14.00

Edition: New Ed

Summary:
THE GRIPPING SAGA OF THE RISE AND FALL OF THE JAPANESE NAVAL AIR FORCE IN WORLD WAR II THROUGH THE CAREER OF ONE OF ITS BEST FIGHTER ACES
Written by Martin Caidin from Saburo Sakai's own memoirs and journalist Fred Saito's extensive interviews with the World War II fighter pilot, "Samurai!" vividly documents the chivalry and valor of the combat aviator who time after time fought American fighter pilots and, with 64 kills, would survive the war as Japan's greatest living ace. Here are the harrowing experiences of one of Japan's greatest aces: from fighter pilot school -- where the harsh training expelled over half of his class -- to the thrilling early Japanese victories; from his incredible six hundred mile fight for life from Guadalcanal to his base in Rabaul, to the poignant story of the now-handicapped veteran's return to the air during the final desperate months of World War II.

ISBN: 0743252225

ListPrice: $15.00

Edition: Reprint

Summary: "Sea of Thunder" is a taut, fast-paced, suspenseful narrative of the Pacific War that culminates in the battle of Leyte Gulf, the greatest naval battle ever fought. Told from both the American and Japanese sides, through the eyes of commanders and sailors of both navies, Thomas's history adds an important new dimension to our understanding of World War II.

Drawing on oral histories, diaries, correspondence, postwar testimony from both American and Japanese participants, and interviews with survivors, Thomas provides an account not only of the great sea battle and Pacific naval war, but of the contrasting cultures pitted against each other.

ISBN: 9781841762296

ListPrice: $14.95

Summary: The war in the Pacific began with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and ended with the atomic bombs on Hirsoshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which led to the surrender in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. It was a war of great naval battles, such as those in the Coral Sea, at Medway, and at Leyte and of grim jungle battles, at Guadalcanal, New Guinea and Burma. This book explores the many facets of this complicated conflict, which reshaped the face of Asia and splintered forever European invincibility as a colonial power.

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Summary:

ISBN: 9780898391190

Summary: Tinian is a small island. In 1944 it was held by only 9,000 Japanese. Yet it was so well defended by nature against an amphibious operation that it might have proved a formidable and costly barrier to the final conquest of the Marianas. It had only one beach area suitable - by previous standards - for a major amphibious landing and that beach was heavily mined and skillfully defended.
The enemy, although long alerted to our intentions to attack Tinian, was tactically surprised when we avoided his prepared defenses and landed on two small beaches totaling in width only about 220 yards. Before he could recover from the shock, he was out-numbered and out-equipped on his own island. His subsequent effort to throw us into the water resulted in complete failure. We then pushed the length of the island in nine days, while suffering casualties light in comparison with those of most other island conquests.
As a participant in the operation, I naturally take pride in this achievement, as well as in Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's evaluation: "In my opinion, the Tinian operation was probably the most brilliantly conceived and executed amphibious operation in World War II."
C.B. Cates
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps

ISBN: 9780891418771

ListPrice: $15.95

Summary: Here, one of America’s most popular military historians re-creates, using their own moving and powerful voices, the true stories of the U.S. Marine pilots who flew the Allies to victory in World War II. These riveting accounts recreate conflicts ranging from the Marines’ gallant defense of Wake Island, where Captain Henry “Baron” Elrod destroyed two enemy planes before joining the fight on the ground, earning a posthumous Medal of Honor in the last-ditch attempt to stave off the Japanese, to the Battle of Midway and Guadalcanal.

Running the gamut from Second Lieutenant Alvin Jensen’s single-handed destruction of twenty-four grounded Japanese aircraft on Kahili to Lieutenant John W. Leaper’s sawing off a Kamikaze’s tail with his propeller over Okinawa, these thrilling oral histories of the Pacific war’s air battles bring them to life in all their terror and triumph.

ISBN: 0060932287

ListPrice: $13.95

Edition: 1st HarperPerennial ed

Summary:
As Napoleon threatens to crush Britain on the battlefield, Lt. Col. Richard Sharpe leads a ragtag army to exact personal revenge against a French general known for his acts of terror.
"Sharpe's Battle" takes Richard Sharpe and his company back to the spring of 1811 and one of the most bitter battles of the Peninsular War, a battle on which all British hopes of victory in Spain will depend. Sharpe is given responsibility to lead an Irish battalion of the king of Spain's household guard, ceremonial troops untrained and unequipped for battle. While quartered in the crumbling fort of San Isidro, they are attacked by murderous Brigadier General Guy Luop's elite French brigade. Sharpe has witnessed General Loup's despicable was crimes before; to put an end to them, and to settle another more personal score, Sharpe must lead his company into the blood-gutted streets of Fuentes de Oñoro, where thousands of French troops have amassed, in a battle to the death.

ISBN: 9780060560959

ListPrice: $7.99

Summary: "


It is 1810, and in Napoleon's determination to conquer Portugal -- and push the British back to the sea -- he sends his largest army yet across the Spanish frontier. But between the Portuguese border and Napoleon's seemingly certain victory are twoobstacles -- a wasted land, stripped of food by Wellington's orders, and Captain Richard Sharpe.
But Sharpe is in trouble. The captain of the Light Company is threatened from inside and out: First by an incompetent British officer, who by virtue of family connections is temporarily given Sharpe's command. An even greater danger is posed by two corrupt Portuguese brothers -- Major Ferreira, a high-ranking officer in the army of Portugal, and his brother, nicknamed ""Ferragus"" (after a legen-dary Portuguese giant), who makes no claims to respectability, preferring instead to rule by crude physical strength and pure intimidation. Together the brothers have developed a devious plot to ingratiate themselves with the French invaders who are threatening to become Portugal's new rulers.
Sharpe's interference in the first stage of their plan earns the undying enmity of the brothers. Ferragus vows revenge and plots a merciless trap that seems certain to kill Sharpe and his intimates -- battle-tested ally Sergeant Harper, the Portuguese officer Jorge Vicente, and a prickly but lovely English governess. As the city of Coimbra is burned and pillaged, Sharpe and his companions plot a daring escape, ensuring that Ferragus will follow on toward Lisbon, into the jaws of a snare laid by Wellington -- the massive lines of Torres Vedras, a daring and ingenious last stand against the invaders. There, beneath the British guns, Sharpe is reunited with his shattered but grateful company, and meets his enemies in a thrilling and decisive fight.

ISBN: 9780060561550

ListPrice: $13.95

Summary: "


It is 1810, and in Napoleon's determination to conquer Portugal -- and push the British back to the sea -- he sends his largest army yet across the Spanish frontier. But between the Portuguese border and Napoleon's seemingly certain victory are twoobstacles -- a wasted land, stripped of food by Wellington's orders, and Captain Richard Sharpe.
But Sharpe is in trouble. The captain of the Light Company is threatened from inside and out: First by an incompetent British officer, who by virtue of family connections is temporarily given Sharpe's command. An even greater danger is posed by two corrupt Portuguese brothers -- Major Ferreira, a high-ranking officer in the army of Portugal, and his brother, nicknamed ""Ferragus"" (after a legen-dary Portuguese giant), who makes no claims to respectability, preferring instead to rule by crude physical strength and pure intimidation. Together the brothers have developed a devious plot to ingratiate themselves with the French invaders who are threatening to become Portugal's new rulers.
Sharpe's interference in the first stage of their plan earns the undying enmity of the brothers. Ferragus vows revenge and plots a merciless trap that seems certain to kill Sharpe and his intimates -- battle-tested ally Sergeant Harper, the Portuguese officer Jorge Vicente, and a prickly but lovely English governess. As the city of Coimbra is burned and pillaged, Sharpe and his companions plot a daring escape, ensuring that Ferragus will follow on toward Lisbon, into the jaws of a snare laid by Wellington -- the massive lines of Torres Vedras, a daring and ingenious last stand against the invaders. There, beneath the British guns, Sharpe is reunited with his shattered but grateful company, and meets his enemies in a thrilling and decisive fight.

ISBN: 9780061012716

ListPrice: $7.99

Summary: Fighting in the millet fields of India circa 1803, Richard Sharpe knows trouble when he sees it: dissension in the ranks, a feverish and arrogant enemy, nobody to confide in. Unbeknownst to his comrades, Sharpe has buried a fortune in booty along the way. He knows his freedom is coming, and it's only a matter of time before he can feast on the spoils. "Sharpe's Fortress" is the 17th in Bernard Cornwell's series starring this colonial British soldier who has risen in the ranks despite blunders and misadventures, not to mention his own suspicions of the men around him.
Treason, near-death experiences, cannonballs hidden in the tall grass "sticky with blood and thick with flies, lying twenty paces from the man it had eviscerated," these are the elements of Cornwell's war stories, which rely heavily on long, involved--and involving--battle scenes, marvelous description, and bawdy dialogue in the trenches (a highlight: arguments over whether there's such a thing as breasts that look like grapes). For readers who hunger for humorous, complex characterizations, Sharpe proves vivid and three-dimensional. He holds tightly to his dreams of treasure, eavesdropping on betrayers, ultimately hatching a desperate plan to make his way to the fortress in the sky, Gawilghur. Cornwell's hero is an honest soldier, and also a pragmatic one. He doesn't care as much about the medals and the glory as he cares about dodging cannon fire and finding a place to sleep. "--Ellen Williams"

ISBN: 0060561564

ListPrice: $13.95

Edition: Reprint

Summary:
The year is 1811. With the British army penned into a small part of Portugal, and all of Spain except for the coastal city of Cádiz fallen to the invader, the French appear to have won their war. Raised in the gutters of London and taught to fight, Captain Richard Sharpe is in the Spanish capital on a mission for the British ambassador. But when a British attack on an enemy-held bridge goes disastrously wrong, he finds himself trapped in a city under siege, a hotbed of treachery, false allies, and pernicious plots. And as dawn breaks on a March morning, Sharpe must be prepared to come to the aid of the charismatic Scotsman Sir Thomas Graham, the city's would-be liberator, whose small, outnumbered army has been abandoned by the Spanish and is now is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Yet for Richard Sharpe, the impending battle against overwhelming odds is about more than destiny and duty; it is about revenge.

ISBN: 0060566701

ListPrice: $13.95

Edition: Repack

Summary: Bestselling historical novelist Bernard Cornwell returns to the battlefields of the Iberian Peninsula with Sharpe's Havoc, where the lieutenant and his men bravely fight the French invasion into Portugal. It is 1809, a few years after Lieutenant Richard Sharpe's heroic exploits on the battlefields of India and at Trafalgar, and Sharpe finds himself fighting the savage armies of Napoleon Bonaparte as they try to bring the whole of the Iberian Peninsula under their control. Napoleon is advancing fast in northern Portugal, and no one knows whether the small contingent of British troops stationed in Lisbon will stay to fight or sail back to England. Sharpe, however, does not have a choice: He and his squad of riflemen are on the lookout for the missing daughter of an English wine shipper, when the French onslaught begins and the city of Oporto becomes a setting for carnage and disaster. Stranded behind enemy lines, Sharpe returns to his mission to find Kate Savage. Sharpe's position on enemy grounds is precarious, and his search is further complicated by a mysterious and threatening Englishman, Colonel Christopher, who has his own ideas on how the French can be driven from Portugal. Christopher's scheme is dangerous, and Sharpe and his Riflemen are the only obstacles standing in his way. Suddenly, a newly arrived British commander in Lisbon, Sir Arthur Wellesley, unknowingly comes to Sharpe's rescue. Just when Sharpe and his men seem doomed, Sir Arthur mounts his own counterattack, an operation of breathtaking daring that will send Marshal Soult's army reeling back into the northern mountains. Sharpe's Havoc is a classic Sharpe story, based on real history, and a return to Portugal in the company of Sergeant Patrick Harper, Captain Hogan, and Sharpe's beloved Green-jackets, who can turn a battle as fast as Cornwell's readers can turn a page.

ISBN: 9780060084530

ListPrice: $13.95

Summary: PerfectBound e-book extra: ""Bernard Cornwell On: The Origin of Richard Sharpe, Sharpe's Adventures, and Sharpe's Trafalgar Plus: Become a member of the Sharpe Appreciation Society. Bestselling novelist Bernard Cornwell returns to his popular Richard Sharpe series with this eighteenth dazzling installment, which finds his beloved hero in the heart of war-torn Denmark, trying to protect the prized Danish fleet from Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitions. The year is 1807, and Richard Sharpe is back in England, where his career seems to have come to a dead end. Loveless, destitute, and relegated to the menial tasks of quartermaster, Sharpe roams the streets of London, pondering a bleak future away from the army. Then, out of the blue, an old friend invites him to undertake a secret mission -- the delivery of a bribe -- to the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Denmark is officially neutral, but Napoleon is threatening an invasion in order to capture the powerful Danish fleet, which could replace the ships France lost in its disastrous defeat at Trafalgar. The British, fearing such enhancement of French power, threaten their own preemptive invasion, and Sharpe, whose errand seemed so simple, is trapped in a web of treachery that will end only when the city, which thought itself safe, is subjected to a brutal and merciless bombardment. Sharpe's Prey - the chronological sequel to Sharpe's Trafalgar - finds Bernard Cornwell at the top of his bestselling form, combining the meticulous historical detail and fantastic battle scenes he's famous for with a plot that races at breakneck speed toward the final, bloody battle that threatens to destroy Copenhagen.

ISBN: 9780140294293

ListPrice: $14.00

Summary: It's 1809, and Napoleon's army is sweeping across Spain. Lieutenant Richard Sharpe is newly in command of the demoralized, distrustful men of the 95th Rifles. He must lead them to safety-and the only way of escape is a treacherous trek through the enemy-infested mountains of Spain.

ISBN: 0061098620

ListPrice: CDN$ 14.95

Edition: Reprint

Summary: Ensign Richard Sharpe is back in "Sharpe's Trafalgar", the 17th in Bernard Cornwell's remarkable series of Sharpe novels. Sharpe is at the thick of things again, but this time not on the battlefield, but on the high seas.
The year is 1805 and Sharpe is stuck in Bombay, waiting passage back to England on the Calliope. He soon discovers that his fellow passengers include the aged patrician Lord William Hale and his "breathtakingly, achingly, untouchably beautiful" young wife, Lady Grace. The scene is set for a romantic but eventful passage, which becomes even more entangled as the Calliope is surprised by the rogue French warship the Revenant. The ensuing maritime adventures sail Sharpe right into one of the most momentous naval battles of all time, off Cape Trafalgar, on the 21st of October 1805, as the massed fleets of Spain and France face the might of Admiral Horatio Nelson's English navy.
Sharpe's Trafalgar is one of Cornwell's most ambitious Sharpe novels to date. Filled with the Cornwell trademarks of heroism, graphic violence, romance and vivid evocation of the period, its portrayal of Sharpe at sea is convincingly done and Sharpe's encounter with Nelson himself, alongside his previous encounters with historical figures such as Wellington, is particularly effective--the frail Admiral characterised as asking "nothing from life except to be seated with his good friends Chase, Blackwood and Richard Sharpe". Sharpe's Trafalgar finds Bernard Cornwell on top form; Sharpe fans will not be disappointed. --"Jerry Brotton"

ISBN: 0060748044

ListPrice: $7.99

Edition: Repack

Summary: "E-book Extras: Bernard Cornwell On: The Origin of Richard Sharpe; Sharpe's Adventures; Sharpe's Trafalgar.
The next installment in Bernard Cornwell's wildly popular Sharpe series. India, 1803. Richard Sharpe has been enjoying his sergeant's stripes for four years when he witnesses a murderous act of treachery by an English officer and a mercenary army commanded by his nemesis, Anthony Pohlman. Now he must find the traitor and defeat the army -- if he can survive the white heat of the battle of Assaye.
Richard Sharpe and the Battle of Assaye,
September 1803
It is India, 1803.In the four years since he earned his sergeant's stripes, young Richard Sharpe has led a relatively peaceful existence. But Sharpe's reverie ends when he barely survives a murderous act of treason by a bitter English officer who has joined the mercenary forces of the Mahratta confederation, determined to drive the British from the continent. Vowing to hunt down the turncoat, Sharpe plunges headlong into the white-hot battle of Assaye alongside Sir Arthur Wellesley -- the future of Duke of Wellington -- in the fiercest fight of his career. "Sharpe's Triumph" is a riveting story of betrayal and revenge that showcases the deft blend of suspenseful military adventure and sweeping historical detail that has made Bernard Corwell's books bestsellers around the world."

ISBN: 9780671242770

ListPrice: $29.95

Summary:

ISBN: 0553239198

ListPrice: $3.95

Edition: Reprint

Summary: The author Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood commanded the U.S. submarine force in the Pacific. This book examines how the strategy was formed ad implemented. He does this through his own diaries and by reports made by submarines. This book is an important document for anyone interested in how the submarine force won thier part of the Pacfic campaign.

ISBN: 9780970167873

ListPrice: $39.95

Summary: FROM THE BACK COVER
THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGNS, Volume 2 in William L. McGee's three-part series, AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC IN WWII, follows the new landing craft crews featured in Volume 1, THE AMPHIBIANS ARE COMING!, as they move up the Slot with each new campaign. All the Solomons Campaigns, from Guadalcanal to Bougainville, are described.
THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGNS - The Major Turning Point in the Pacific War. The U.S. halted the Japanese advance at Midway and the Coral Sea. But in the Solomons, the U.S. not only stopped them, they began pushing them back!
Part I, The Southern Solomons covers the bloody six-month struggle for Guadalcanal. The relationship between ground fighting, naval warfare and air combat is described in considerable detail as first one side and then the other gains the advantage. Seven major naval engagements are recounted.
Part II, The Central Solomons chronicles the amphibious operations in the New Georgia Islands group including the five separate landings at Rendova, Segi Point, Viru Harbor, Wickham Anchorage, and Rice Anchorage, plus three more significant naval battles and the occupation of Vella Lavella.
Part III, The Northern Solomons recounts the seizure of the Treasuries, the Choiseul Diversion and the Bougainville campaign, plus two more significant naval battles.
Lessons Learned, Finally, the many valuable lessons learned during the Solomons Campaigns are summarized, ranging from logistic support and force requirements to offshore toeholds and leapfrogging. Most became doctrine in later Pacific campaigns.

ISBN: 0898391032

ListPrice: $49.95

Edition: 11th

Summary: A new reprint if this excellent and detailed history of the 5th U.S. Marine Division during the campaigns in the Pacific during WW 2. Their major operation was in the invasion of Iwo Jima and the subsequent occupation of Japan. 2001 reprint of 1950 edition, new hard cover, no dj as issued. division patch embossed in color on front cover, 8 1/2 x 11, prof. illustrated, maps, many appendices include lists of all killed, wounded and gallantry medal recipients. new hard bound , no dj as issued,

ISBN: 9781557500328

ListPrice: $32.95

Summary: This book is one of the absolutely best works ever written about the US Marine Corps amphibious operations in the Pacific during World War II. It contains a multitude of details and it was really a revelation to learn that the landings of 1943-45 were made mostly on amtracks and not on Higgins boats as the Hollywood movies imply. The chapter about Operation "Olympic" (which fortunately was never executed) is a real gem of professional analysis. This book is not ideal for the casual reader or someone who adores personal stories and first hand accounts but it surely is for the specialist and the military history buff.

ISBN: 0306807858

ListPrice: $23.50

Edition: 1st Da Capo Press Ed

Summary: Robert Leckie's vivid account of WWll Marine Corps history is a must read for any military enthusiast. Reading this gripping tale of Leathernecks fighting their way through the steamy jungles of the far east isles with such distant names as; Guadacanal, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, will leave you with an unequvical respect for the valient men who sacrificed their lives for our country. As a former Marine I have a greater appreciation for the price that was paid in the Pacific Theater. This book will never let me forget the cost in blood and lives my beloved countrymen paid, so that we may have our freedom. Leckie's book memorializes our fighting Marines: Men like, Manila John Bastilone, Chesty Puller, Red Mike Edson, and countless others who,"went above and beyond the call of duty", for the love of our country, God, and Corps. STRONG MEN ARMED, should be read by every boot, NCO, and Commissioned Officer of the United States Marine Corps as a reminder of the heroic and gallant sacrifice our Marines paid for our way of life. May the Marine Corps live forever!

ISBN: 0785813063

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Volume Five-the third on the war in the Pacific-is devoted entirely to the Guadalcanal campaign, in which the United States Navy experienced more fighting than in any three previous wars. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN: 0785813160

ListPrice: $12.99

Edition: New Ed

Summary: This spectacular fifteen-volume series that charts the U.S. Naval operations during World War II with an insider's perspective. Morison, a Harvard professor, was given a special rank and writing post by FDR. He had active duty aboard eleven different ships, allowing him to witness many crucial battles in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This supplemental volume to Professor Morison's series includes the story of postwar operations of the Navy in the Pacific, a list of all named ships in the U.S. Navy during World War II, a list of important errata discovered in Volumes I-XIV and a general index to Volume I-XIV. Filled with many maps and file photographs.

ISBN:

Summary:

ISBN: 9781841761022

ListPrice: $18.95

Illustrator: Howard Gerrard

Summary: The island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll was defended by the elite troops of the Special Naval Landing Force, whose commander, Admiral Shibasaki, boasted that "the Americans could not take Tarawa with a million men in a hundred years". In a pioneering amphibious invasion, the Marines of the 2nd Division set out to prove him wrong, overcoming serious planning errors to fight a 76-hour battle of unprecedented savagery. The cost would be more than 3000 Marine casualties at the hands of a garrison of some 3700. The lessons learned would dispel forever any illusions that Americans had about the fighting quality of the Japanese.

ISBN: 1861264763

ListPrice: $24.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: Tarawa Atoll in the Central Pacific was the November, 1943 testing ground for America's ability to take heavily defended Japanese-held islands. The trial lasted three and a half days and would cost more than 3,000 USMC casualties at the hands of a Japanese garrison of some 4,700 men -- of whom just 17 would allow themselves to be taken alive. This compelling account of one of the most savage battles of World War II draws upon the vivid memories of Marine veterans of those 76 terrible hours of close-quarter fighting. It is supported by striking photographs, by the poignant drawings of a war artist who landed with the Marines, and by detailed maps and appendices.

ISBN:

Summary:

ISBN: 0898391458

ListPrice: US$ 38.50

Summary:

ISBN: 9780898391107

Summary:

ISBN: 0817352813

ListPrice: $19.95

Edition: 1

Summary: A poignant account and analysis of the bloody battle in the Pacific.
"
To the Far Side of Hell" is the story of the World War II battle for the Pacific island of Peleliu in the autumn of 1944. Although this battle is far less well known--even among U.S. Marine Corps veterans--than Tarawa, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa, the savagery of the fighting, the courage and determination displayed, and the casualty rate suffered by the units of the 1st Marine Division can claim equal significance.

Peleliu was a troubled operation from the start. Since the fast-moving situation in the Central Pacific seemed to have removed any pressing need to occupy the Palau Islands, it is arguable that the battle was not necessary. For the planners of the island-hopping campaign, the operation was a distraction from a more important goal--the Marianas.

The 1st Marine Division, weary from earlier campaigns, was not given needed resources prior to the invasion, and there were damaging tensions within the senior ranks. When the Marines landed, they came up against Japan’s new defensive technique--a garrison determined to die where they stood, fortified in deep, complex bunker systems. In searing heat, and exposed to the dug-in Japanese guns amidst the ridges and gulches of an unsuspected labyrinth of concrete-hard coral, the Marines found the predicted short conflict turned into a protracted, bloody 71-day battle.

Derrick Wright is an independent scholar and author of "Tarawa--A Hell of a Way to Die" and "Iwo Jima 1945: The Marines Raise the Flag on Mount Suribachi""."

ISBN: 9780345283047

ListPrice: $1.95

Summary: Caidin's book focuses on the dramatic air raid of March 1945 on Tokyo. Sixteen square miles of densely-populated area were completely burnt out, and some 80,000 people (some say as many as 250,000 people) were killed. The area destroyed and possibly the death toll exceed that of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima months later.



The morality of carpet bombing has often been questioned, but Martin Caidin makes it clear that virtually every Japanese home in Tokyo had some form of war-related industry in the form of lathes, workshops, etc. The attack is graphically described. The wood-and-paper homes caught fire and burned out of control in no time. The crowding of these tinderboxes enabled the fire to spread catastrophically, thus rendering any manner of fire-fighting out of the question.



The account includes some Japanese eyewitnesses. One of them describes the early stages of the attack. A B-29 flew overhead, and some little specks (incendiary bombs) fell out of it. A short time later, a glow could be seen in the sky over the spot where the specks had landed. Within a minute, open flame could be seen in that area. But this was miles away. That Japanese eyewitness could not imagine that the fire would spread to the location of his home, and that he would barely escape with his own life. The area destroyed included Honjo ward. Some Japanese civilians sought refuge in the Sumida River.

ISBN: 9780140246964

ListPrice: $18.00

Summary: The South Pacific campaign of World War II set new standards for savagery in modern warfare. The ground fighting reached a peak of intensity when the U.S. Marines landed at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands while the Australians repulsed the Japanese advance across New Guinea. Battling jungle rot and malaria, the Australian Army teamed with the U.S. against the Japanese, whose battle ethos demanded they fight until victory or extermination. In "Touched by Fire", Eric Bergerud, a professor of military and American history at Lincoln University in San Francisco, restores the campaign to its rightful place of importance as a diabolical struggle for survival in World War II's most heartless terrain.

ISBN: 1557509921

ListPrice: $18.95

Edition: New Ed

Summary: The author-Stephen Bower Young-served as a gunner on one of the main turrets of the battleship U.S.S. Oklahoma. He was aboard the ship when she was torpeodoed during the surprise Japanese attack. This story is about his personal experiences during the December 7, 1941 attack and the escape from the ship when it rolled over.
Young offers recollections about the life aboard the battleship and the sailors he served with. Many of these sailors would not survive the attack (448 died).
The majority of the book was about the attack and the subsequent escape. I was most interested in Young's successful escape, when other sailors drilled holes into the bottom of the ship so those trapped could escape. A most interesting read.

ISBN: 9780313319068

ListPrice: $131.95

Summary: Including extensive information only found in scattered sources or official documents and archives, this book provides detailed coverage of all organizational aspects of the Marine Corps units in World War II's Pacific Theater. It gives in-depth background information on the units' functions, evolution, designation practices, tactical organization of combat units, and extensive statistical and technical data including 21 maps. It covers atypical subjects such as Marines in China, and female and African American marines. Extensive additional data on weapons, U.S. Navy and Army backgrounds, Japanese Army and Navy backgrounds, code names, and comparative ranks of U.S. forces appear in the appendices. The book is a valuable one-stop resource for researchers, historians, military history enthusiasts, and war gamers. As a complete reference source on the Marine Corps, the book provides an evolutionary study of the Marine Corps' wartime expansion and organization. It closely examines the prewar and wartime growth of the Marine Corps as well as its postwar reduction while providing complete background information on all ground and air units in the Pacific and their evolution. Information on each Marine Corps unit includes: dates in combat, location and code name of landing beaches, time of landing, island operation code names, date the island was declared secure, task organization for combat order of battle of the opposing Japanese units and their casualties, attached U.S. Army and U.S. Navy units, and much more. The book is the definitive source of organizational information.

ISBN: 0743292464

ListPrice: $27.00

Edition: 1st Simon & Schuster Hardcover Ed

Summary: "The Ultimate Battle" is the full story of the last great clash of World War II as it has never before been told. With the same "grunt's-eye-view" narrative style that distinguished his Brotherhood of Heroes (on the Battle of Peleliu), Bill Sloan presents a gripping and uniquely personal saga of heroism and sacrifice in which at least 115,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen from both sides were killed, as were nearly 150,000 civilians caught in the crossfire or encouraged to commit suicide by Japanese troops.

It is a story set against a panorama of more than 1,500 American ships, nearly two thousand Japanese kamikazes sworn to sink those ships, and two huge armies locked in a no-quarter struggle to the death -- the 541,000 GIs and Marines of the U.S. Tenth Army, and Japan's 110,000-man 32nd Army. Woven into the broader narrative, in "Band of Brothers" style, are the personal stories of men who endured this epic battle and were interviewed by the author. In many cases, their experiences are told here in print for the first time.

A few days after Japanese defenders surprised American assault troops by allowing them to land virtually unopposed on April 1, 1945, scouts of the 96th Division stumbled onto the outerworks of formidable Japanese defenses near Kakazu Ridge, where fierce fighting erupted. It would continue without respite for nearly three months as American forces used every weapon and strategy at their disposal to break through three cunningly designed Japanese lines of defense, each anchored by commanding high ground, intricate underground installations, and massed artillery. When one line was about to be breached, the Japanese would slip away to the next one, forcing the Americans to repeat the same exhausting and deadly "corkscrew and blowtorch" assaults all over again.

Much of the action in "The Ultimate Battle" unfolds among men pinned down under relentless fire on disputed hillsides, in the ruins of shell-blasted villages, and inside stricken tanks and armored cars. Sloan also takes readers aboard flaming ships and into the cockpits of night-fighter aircraft to capture the horror and heroism of men and vessels besieged by kamikazes.

When the battle was over, most of the GIs, Marines, and sailors who survived it were too worn out to celebrate. More than 49,000 of their comrades had been killed or wounded, and they knew that the even more brutal invasion of Japan's home islands loomed just ahead. But as Sloan makes clear, the slaughter at Okinawa helped to convince President Truman to use the atomic bomb against Japanese cities in the hope of shortening the war and averting a far more horrific loss of life.

"The Ultimate Battle" is a searing and unforgettable recreation of the Okinawa campaign as it was experienced by men who were there. It is filled with fresh insights that only those men can provide.

ISBN: 9781884452345

ListPrice: $29.95

Summary: The world's most complete guide and reference on American military patches . . .
Covers World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Bosnia, Afghanistan to present.
Over 3,100 color patches and tabs coverings: History of Patches, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Army Air Force, U.S. Air Force, National Guard, Special Forces and Elite Units, and Civil Air Patrol.

ISBN: 9781841763309

ListPrice: $17.95

Illustrator: Elizabeth Sharp

Summary: This title deals with the experiences of the American soldiers who fought the Japanese across the Pacific islands, and the specific nature of this combat environment. It follows a hypothetical soldier, ‘Michael’, through his enlistment into and training with the 165th Infantry Regiment (New York National Guard). It takes him through the 1941 maneuvers the 27th Infantry Division participated in, the transfer to Oahu, and into the reality of daily life and combat in the Pacific theater from 1942 to 1945, including Makin, Saipan and Okinawa. It also looks at the PTO administrative procedures for replacements, and medical and psychiatric care of the ordinary soldier. Whilst the focus is on one individual, the experiences of the many are examined and woven into an intricate and meticulous narrative.

ISBN: 9781855324978

ListPrice: $17.95

Illustrator: Mike Chappell

Summary: While the US Marine Corps was one of the smallest of American armed services in World War II, its contribution to the final victory cannot be overstated. The US Marine Corps may have only comprised 5 percent of America’s armed forces, but it suffered 10 percent of all World War II combat casualties. Above all, he amphibious nature of the war in the Pacific imposed on the Marine Corps greater tasks than any it had ever before been called upon to perform. This title details the organization, weapons and equipment of the US Marines of World War II.

ISBN: 9781841765181

ListPrice: $23.95

Summary: The outbreak of World War II set in motion a massive expansion of the United States Marine Corps, leading to a 24-fold increase in size by August 1945. This book is the first of several volumes to examine the Corps's meteoric wartime expansion and the evolution of its units. It covers the immediate pre-war period, the rush to deploy defense forces in the war's early months, and the Marines' first combat operations on Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. It focuses on the 1st, 2d, and 3d Marine Divisions (MarDivs) and the provisional 1st, 2d, and 3d Marine Brigades (MarBdes).

ISBN: 9781841766515

ListPrice: $23.95

Summary: By January 1944 the US Marine Corps had grown to a total of 405,169 personnel, comprising 28,193 officers, 10,723 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted men. The Fleet Marine Force now had two amphibious corps, four divisions, a separate infantry regiment, 19 defense battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1: USMC in the Pacific Theater of Operations 1941–43, this book examines the continuing development of the Corps's organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure, as well as the battles fought in the Southwest Pacific on New Britain, and in the Central Pacific on Tarawa, Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, Saipan, and Tinian. The organization of the 4th Marine Division (MarDiv) and III and V Amphibious Corps (IIIAC, VAC) is also discussed along with smaller, new units.

ISBN: 9781841766591

ListPrice: $25.95

Summary: In late1944 the US Marine Corps prepared for the toughest battles of the war. It had grown to 35,598 officers, 5,384 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted Marines, totaling 431,573 personnel, and now comprised of two amphibious corps, six divisions, 26 non-divisional artillery battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1 and 7, this book examines the continuing development of the Corps' organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure. It details the formation of the 5th and 6th Marine Divisions and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and examines the Corps' performance in the brutal battles on Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and its deployment as an occupation force.

ISBN: 9781841767079

ListPrice: $23.95

Summary: The bitter fighting in the Pacific Theater required new forms of warfare, and the gathering of detailed intelligence information on the remote and varied islands and their determined defenders. As a result, new scout, raider and reconnaissance units were formed‹the pioneers of today's special forces. Some units were small, while others comprised thousands of men. All contributed significantly to the war effort. This book examines a wide range of PTO special-warfare units, including the Alaskan and Alamo scouts, 5217th/1st Recon Battalion, Marine Amphibious Recon and Raider units, Amphibious Scouts, and 6th Ranger Battalion.

ISBN: 9781841768410

ListPrice: $17.95

Illustrator: Peter Dennis

Summary: The US armed forces were responsible for many tactical innovations during the years 1941–45, but in no field was US mastery more complete than amphibious warfare. In the vast, almost empty battlefield of the Pacific the US Navy and Marine Corps were obliged to develop every aspect of the amphibious assault landing in painstaking detail, from the design of many new types of vessel, down to the tactics of the rifle platoon hitting the beach, and the logistic system without which they could not have fought their way inland. This fascinating study offers a clear, succinct explanation of every phase of these operations as they evolved during the war years, illustrated with detailed color plates and photographs.

ISBN: 9780804115599

ListPrice: $7.99

Summary: "The first complete and definitive account of the Battle of Tarawa."

--Maj. Gen. Mike Ryan, USMC (Ret.)

Navy Cross recipient

Green Beach, Tarawa



On November 20, l943, in the first trial by fire of America's fledgling amphibious assault doctrine, five thousand men stormed the beaches of Tarawa, a seemingly invincible Japanese island fortress barely the size of the Pentagon parking lots (three-hundred acres!). Before the first day ended, one third of the Marines who had crossed Tarawa's deadly reef under murderous fire were killed, wounded, or missing. In three days of fighting, four Americans would win the Medal of Honor. And six-thousand combatants would die.



Now, Col. Joseph Alexander, a combat Marine himself, presents the full story of Tarawa in all its horror and glory: the extreme risks, the horrific combat, and the heroic breakthroughs. Based on exhaustive research, never-before-published accounts from Marine survivors, and new evidence from Japanese sources, Colonel Alexander captures the grit, guts, and relentless courage of United States Marines overcoming outrageous odds to deliver victory for their country.



"Without a doubt the best narrative of the struggle ever produced."

--Richard B. Frank, Author of Guadalcanal



A MAIN SELECTION OF THE MILITARY BOOK CLUB



Winner of the 1995 General Wallace M. Greene, Jr., Award, awarded to the year's best nonfiction book pertinent to Marine Corps History



Winner of the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Outstanding Writer of the Year, presented by the Navy League of the United States



Winner of the Roosevelt Naval History Prize, awarded by the Naval War College

ISBN: 9780553279610

ListPrice: $3.50

Summary: Devereux's account of the events leading up to and beyond the American experience at Wake during the early part of WWII bring invaluable insight for any researcher. This book defined much of the historical accounts recorded in subsequent Wake related literature. An excellent first-hand narrative with both shocking and humerous anecdotes of the battle for the defense of Wake Island.

ISBN: 9781574887365

ListPrice: $8.95

Summary: "Wake Island Pilot" is the story of John F. Kinney - hero, POW escapee, and aviation pioneer. It contains the first full-length account of a successful escape by a Marine captured in one of the great battles of World War II. Within hours of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese struck the small U.S. garrison on Wake Island. As his squadron's engineering officer, young pilot John F. Kinney used all his considerable ingenuity to oversee the cannibalization of crippled planes for spare parts when he himself was not in the air fighting off the Japanese assault. His gallant efforts helped enable the desperate Marine and Navy defenders to hold out for an incredible two weeks, a truly epic struggle. After the island's inevitable surrender, Kinney was a Japanese prisoner in China for the next three and a half years. During this time, he put his amazingly inventive mechanical skills to work, creating from scratch numerous items, including a radio, to improve his fellow POWs' situation. Toward the end of the war, Kinney escaped from a prison train and, with the assistance of both Nationalist and Communist Chinese troops, made his way to an American airfield. He was thus one of the few Americans to escape from Japanese captivity outside the Philippines. General Kinney's subsequent Marine Corps career was equally distinguished: He flew fighters in the Korean War and helped develop the classic A4-D Skyhawk.

ISBN: 9780060838560

ListPrice: $17.95

Summary:
The first aircraft flew in 1903 and within ten years had been developed into military weapons.From World War I to World War II, pilots became exalted national heroes, gallant knights astride their iron steeds high above the skies of Europe. Far from the heroic fantasy, however, most pilots and aircrews struggled against grim odds, fighting out their frequently short lives with bravado and recklessness. This vivid account explores the conditions in which these pilots fought and the rise of air warfare to preeminence, culminating in the Enola Gay's fateful drop of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The early flying machines of World War I and the pilots who braved hostile skies The rise of airplane technology in the 1930s -- radar, blind-bombing devices, radio control, and the increased speed of new monoplane designs The contribution of Allied air power to the defeat of Nazi Germany, Raids on Japan, the drop of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and the beginning of a new era of warfare

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Summary:

ISBN: 9780891419198

ListPrice: $7.99

Summary: In "The Wall Street Journal", Victor Davis Hanson named "With the Old Breed" one of the top five books on epic twentieth-century battles. Studs Terkel interviewed the author for his definitive oral history, "The Good War". Now E. B. Sledge’s acclaimed first-person account of fighting at Peleliu and Okinawa returns to thrill, edify, and inspire a new generation.

An Alabama boy steeped in American history and enamored of such heroes as George Washington and Daniel Boone, Eugene B. Sledge became part of the war’s famous 1st Marine Division–3d Battalion, 5th Marines. Even after intense training, he was shocked to be thrown into the battle of Peleliu, where “the world was a nightmare of flashes, explosions, and snapping bullets.” By the time Sledge hit the hell of Okinawa, he was a combat vet, still filled with fear but no longer with panic.

Based on notes Sledge secretly kept in a copy of the New Testament, With the Old Breed captures with utter simplicity and searing honesty the experience of a soldier in the fierce Pacific Theater. Here is what saved, threatened, and changed his life. Here, too, is the story of how he learned to hate and kill–and came to love–his fellow man.


"From the Trade Paperback edition."

ISBN: 0815318839

ListPrice: $230.00

Edition: 1

Summary: All levels of this world-altering conflict are comprehensively treated
Word War Ii in the Pacific lasted forty-five months and caused tens of thousands of battle casualties. This reference features a sweeping array of topics that go beyond battles and hardware and address everything from high policy-making, grand strategy, and the significant persons and battles in the conflict to the organization of Allied and Japanese divisions, aircraft, armor, artillery, psychological warfare, warships, and the home fronts. The audience for the book will vary greatly as well: from younger students who need information about the conflict to military buffs and historians.

Encompasses the complete history of the war
Conflicts of great magnitude are by no means self-contained, either historically or in their outcomes. Recognizing this fact, the volume covers not only the actual course of this vast war, but the factors involved in its inception, as well as the consequence of the war and the occupation of Japan itself.

A reading experience unparalleled by other reference works
Although the work covers scores of varying topics, it weaves them together and evokes their intersections, providing an overall view that enables the reader to grasp the true nature of such a widespread conflict. Terms that may be unfamiliar to the non-expert are explained.
Special features
*The only encyclopedia specifically devoted to World War II in the Pacific.
*From policy-making to warships, every level of the war is covered.
*Comprehensive index of topics, weapons, and persons.
*Edited by a premiere military historian.
*More than 300 contributions by some 200 top scholars.

ISBN: 9780313313950

ListPrice: $131.95

Summary: Covering all Pacific islands involved in World War II military operations, this book is a detailed, single source of information on virtually every geo-military aspect of the Pacific Theater. Arranged regionally and, to the extent possible, chronologically according to when islands entered the war, entries provide complete background information. Along with island names, nicknames, Allied code names, location, and wartime time zones, the entries include such topics as the island's physical characteristics, weather, health hazards, historical background, native population, natural resources, and military value. Japanese and Allied strategies and operations, military problems caused by terrain, military installations, Japanese units and key commanders, Allied units and key commanders, and brief battle descriptions are also covered along with the island's postwar status. A valuable resource for researchers, historians, military history enthusiasts, and war gamers, the book provides complete background information on the geo-military aspects of the Pacific Ocean region, its islands, and the roles they played in the war. 108 maps provide specific information. Until now, geo-military information could only be found by searching four to ten publications on each island.

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Summary: I read this concise, short, correct and unbiased book, here in Brazil.Even the also short introduction, writen by japanese ace, Saburo Sakai, is excellent.As an introduction,about the Zero fighter, this book is excellent.If you want many details, there's better options to buy and read about the Zero fighter, even here in Amazon.

ISBN: 9780743479394

ListPrice: $7.99

Summary: This book covers the early succeses of the Japanes Navy from the early years in China to the fall of the empire and the decline of the zero fighter against the newer American aircraft. It is a detailed and interesting insight into the Navys dependence on air cover in all their land based and carrier operations in world war two. I found this book well written and very detailed. This is not a story to be read like a novel but as a student of Japanese operations in the second worl war.