Duel

Name: Duel
Brand: Bloomsbury Publishing (AUS)
Price: 44.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder

Solomon Islands 1942-43

By: Michael John Claringbould, Gareth Hector (Illustrator), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

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Paperback | 25 August 2026

At a Glance

Format
Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
24.8 x 18.4

Paperback

$44.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $11.25 with

Available: 25th August 2026

Preorder. Will ship when available.

An illustrated study of the oft-overlooked engagements between the iconic F4F Wildcat and Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force's 6M2-N "Rufe" floatplane during the Solomon Islands campaign.

A number of unique confrontations took place between floatplanes and land-based fighters during the fierce aerial battles fought above the Solomon Islands throughout 1942â"43. Whilst the most famous Battle of Guadalcanal "slugfests" saw US Marine Corps/US Navy F4F Wildcats engage the Zero-sens of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force, the pugnacious Wildcats also came up against the A6M2-N "Rufe" floatplane â" termed the âZero on floatsâ by American pilots. Such encounters have gone under-explored and misrepresented in Western histories, with the elusive capabilities of the âRufeâ and its role combatting raids against Guadalcanal receiving only scant attention.

In this revelatory study, Pacific War expert Michael John Claringbould uncovers an aspect of the Pacific air war that has, until now, remained largely unknown. Operational documents, combat reports and firsthand accounts from both Wildcat and "Rufe" pilots are combined to help align adversaries, in some cases one-on-one, for the first time in print, while archive photographs, formation diagrams and newly commissioned artwork brings the action to life.

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