Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II by Ikuhito Hata & Yasuho Izawa soon to be presented for sale on the terrific BookLovers of Bath web site!
Published: Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1990, Hardback in dust wrapper.
Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Black & White Drawings; Tables; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;
From the cover: The Pacific War was an air war, yet, until now, Western readers have had little chance to learn about Japans naval fighter pilots and their World War II air groups. This English translation of a classic Japanese work finally lifts the cloak of anonymity that has hidden their identities from the West for so long. Within these pages the reader gains an intimate and unprecedented view of the men, their aircraft, and their victories and defeats.
Divided into three parts, the book opens with rare photos and brief descriptions of the principal Japanese naval aircraft. The second part offers concise histories of the air groups, including every carrier-and land-based fighter unit in the Imperial Navy from the China Incident in the early 1930s to the end of the Pacific War in September 1945. Dates of organization and disbanding, key movements and action results, brief summaries of important battles, and anecdotes about leaders and aces are all provided. The third part captures Japans leading naval aces in photos and individual biographical sketches.
This translation the only one available in English is based on the revised and enlarged 1975 edition of Nihon Kaigun Sentoki-tai, the definitive work on the subject in Japan. To produce this unique record Ikuhiko Hata, an internationally known military historian, and his highly regarded researcher Yasuho Izawa spent years tracking down information and conducting interviews with surviving aces and the families of those killed in the war. Their Japanese perspective adds a significant new dimension to the annals of World War II.
Nearly 350 photographs of aces and aircraft many new to this edition supplement the text. Some 100 line-drawings of aircraft show unit markings and paint colours. To aid the Western reader this edition adds a section on Japanese naval terminology. Appendix tables chronicle naval fighter aces by record, pilots killed in action, pilots by training class, and major air battles. Indexes by name and unit and end maps of the entire Pacific theatre provide excellent references.
Very Good+ in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.
Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XVI] 442 pages. Index. 10¼” x 7″.
Of course, if you don’t like this one, may I excite you with my selection hither or maybe further, hand picked, books in my Military Air Force catalogue?
BookLovers of Bath 