Pacific Adversaries - Volume Two

This Volume Two of Pacific Adversaries conveys detailed stories of aerial warfare in the South Pacific, chosen because both Japanese and Allied records can be matched for an accurate accounting. Often the actual outcomes are very different to the exaggerated claims made by both sides upon which many traditional histories have relied to date. Further, for each of the chosen stories photographic or other evidence enables an accurate depiction of the aircraft involved. Through these chosen snapshots Pacific Adversaries portrays the South Pacific conflict to a level of accuracy not previously available. This second volume focuses on confrontations between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Allied aircraft in the New Guinea and Solomons theatres. Already extant in the mid-Pacific pre-war, land-based IJN units first arrived in the South Pacific in February 1942 and remained until their effective withdrawal to Truk in April 1944. Theirs is a rich and colourful history about which many myths persist: this volume has an opportunity to correct many. Although the Allies ratcheted up a grueling, coordinated and unrelenting offensive aerial campaign, in reality the Japanese held their own in the "South Seas" until the end of 1943. The assault against Rabaul did not diminish Japanese air power as much as claimed. Rather, it was overwhelming logistics which eventually overpowered the Japanese. Never before have detailed accounts matched up adversaries so closely and in doing so shine light on key events in Pacific skies so many years ago.