Red Sun Setting: The Battle of the Philippine Sea by William T. Y’blood soon to be presented for sale on the excellent BookLovers of Bath web site!
Published: Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1989, Hardback in dust wrapper.
4th printing. [First Published: 1981] Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Maps; Tables; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;
From the cover: William T. YBlood has written the definitive account of what many regard as the most controversial conflict of the war in the Pacific, the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
The source of controversy, according to the author, is Admiral Raymond A. Spruances decision to allow U. S. forces to remain on the defensive, thereby letting the Japanese get in the first blow. As a result, the Americans were unable to get close enough to the Japanese fleet to do as much damage as could have been done.
Drawing on ten years of research, YBlood leads his reader through every stage of the battle. From the initial strategic plan that led to the invasion of the Marianas to the recriminations that followed, the action unfolds in gripping blow-by-blow detail.
Much of the book deals with the aerial aspects of this great naval conflict, from the dogfights, to the persistent attacks on the Japanese carriers, to the frantic efforts of the returning fliers to land on friendly carriers.
For example, YBlood relates the experience of Commander William I. Martin, who, after being shot down during Operation Forager, manages to escape from his sinking aircraft and swim underwater amidst Japanese strafing to the relative safety of a barrier reef. Once there he mentally records details of the beach terrain to ensure the success of a Marine landing scheduled for the following day.
YBloods dramatic description of the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot reveals several little-known aspects of that battle, including the fact that U. S. radio intelligence personnel on the Lexington had managed to tune in and monitor the Japanese air control radio frequency, thereby providing an invaluable flow of information on the disposition of enemy air groups throughout the battle.
Red Sun Setting satisfies the need for an intensive study of what many believe to be a major turning point in the Pacific War. It tells the story of that great battle from the viewpoint of the fliers and sailors who were there on the firing line.
Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently bruised at the lower corners of the boards with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.
Red boards with Black titling to the Spine. [XI] 257 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9¼” x 6¼”.
Of course, if you don’t like this one, may I woo you with the cream of my crop hither or maybe further, hand picked, books in my Military Naval catalogue?
BookLovers of Bath 