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Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 4:00 am
by Boba
...and, so much for spellcheck. It should read The Emperor's Codes by..., kana operators..., and Yamamoto isn't spelt Yamammoto!

Aaaaarrrggghh!

Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:45 am
by Alfred
reading the official Japanese war history for the second time, and the Maru Bessatsu series

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:13 pm
by richard rudd
Just completed "Zero Hour at Broome". One excellent read. Great history of that tragic event, and material on all the aircraft types at that time.
Pity no-one has yet found the wreckage of the B24, shot down off shore.

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:46 am
by peregrine
Just joined the forum. This thread has some great intros to some obviously interesting books.

Last books read are:

Fortress Rabaul by Bruce Gamble - great read about the taking of Rabaul by the Japanese, buildup as a base by the latter and the battles in the area.

This lead me to read the following:

Whispering Death - Australian Airmen in the Pacific War by Mark Johnston - great read with interesting detail whilst covering the expanse of the Pacific War for Australian airmen pretty well.

Kokoda by Paul Ham - an intriguing and detailed account of this campaign, viewed by combatants of both sides.

Storm over Kokoda by Peter Ewer - another good book covering the aerial campaign in New Guinea, drawn mostly from the anecdotes of Australian and Japanese aircrew. Covers a smaller timeframe and area.

I'm becoming fascinated by 75 Squadron RAAF, particularly their time based at Port Moresby flying P-40E Kittyhawks against great odds.

I'm part way into Baa Baa Black Sheep by Greg Boyington - good so far (only up to his early AVG service).

Next to read is probably Pacific Hawk by John Vader (one of the 1970's Purnell's/Ballantines soft cover series of History of the Second World War).

Cheers
Michael Heath
Adelaide, Australia

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:03 pm
by 121 Seabee
Black Shoe Carrier Admiral by John B. Lundstrom

Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal.

Very interesting in that the author spends a great deal of time defending ADM Fletcher and his decisions from his many detractors.

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 6:41 am
by Andy in West Oz
Finally started David Vincent's The RAAF Hudson Story - Book Two which will be an epic read. Only a few pages in so far and it's going to take a while to get through but very much looking forward to it! The photos are brilliant too.

http://www.vincentaviationpublications. ... books.html

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 2:31 am
by Trukdiver44
Japanese Merchant Ships at War: The Story of the Mitsui and O.S.K. Liners lost during the Pacific War, by Hisashi Noma. It's bilingual: both in kanji and English. It covers the Aikoku Maru and both her sister ships, and several other ships sunk in Truk Lagoon. Mr. Noma is still alive in Japan, and the book contains some fabulous photographs and paintings. This book is part of my research for the Truk biography I am writing about Kimiuo Aisek.

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 1:07 am
by Daniel Leahy
peregrine wrote:Just joined the forum.
First of all, welcome to the forum.
peregrine wrote:Storm over Kokoda by Peter Ewer - another good book covering the aerial campaign in New Guinea, drawn mostly from the anecdotes of Australian and Japanese aircrew. Covers a smaller timeframe and area.
I've had this book for a while, but have only just started it as I'm currently concentrating on losses in PNG during 1942. Quite a good read so far!

Cheers,

Daniel

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:27 pm
by Tambriej
Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. I want to get an idea of what life was like at Espiritu Santo when the ships were in port.

Tammi Johnson

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 1:23 am
by omachrison
Funnily enough, I'm reading a Bomber Command Pathfinder book at the moment but hope to start Black Cats in the near future.

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:44 pm
by Andy in West Oz
Reading Anthony Cooper's Kokoda Air Strikes at the moment. It is an overview of the Pacific air campaigns in 1942 and how they impacted the Japanese attempt to take Moresby. While concentrating on the RAAF and USAAF's operations, the USN is featured as well as its impact on Japanese shipping and carrier strength directly influenced how the enemy operated in and around New Guinea.

A good read and great overview of the year. Quite sobering to see the poor results from high altitude bombing (despite the claims) and the generally poor organisation and supply the Allies had to contend with early on. The Japanese were just as hamstrung and very stretched. Indeed, the continuing theme throughout the book is one of the Japanese letting off the pressure on, say, Moresby, as they had to throw their forces at something else (or recover from strafing raids which were certainly the most effective offensive ops flown by the land-based Allied aircraft).

I recommend buying this book from a bookstore if you can as it is a large paperback that is prone to getting damaged in the post if not packaged well enough.

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 12:25 am
by c marvel
Andy in West Oz wrote:Just thought this'd be a good post to keep going.

Funnily enough, I'm reading a Bomber Command Pathfinder book at the moment but hope to start Black Cats in the near future.

Over to you guys...
What is the exact title of the Black Cats book you mention? Many years ago I saw an ad for a book about the black cat planes of WWII. I did not record the title and have been unable to locate it since. One book I've been very tempted to buy is Squadron 13 and the Big Flying Boats by Mary Bracho.


Cap

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 8:44 pm
by msroby345
I just finished Flights of Passage: Reflections of a World War II Aviator. By Samuel Hynes. A compelling book with a lot of detail about training. Also, Black Sunday, by Michael Claringbould. It's the story of April 16, 1944 when 37 aircraft were lost to New Guinea weather, not enemy fire. One plane from the 500th Bomb Squadron, "Tinkie," with pilot James A Waggle, was lost near Madang, PNG. A fascinating book.

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:58 am
by Edward
Cap asked,
"What is the exact title of the Black Cats book you mention? Many years ago I saw an ad for a book about the black cat planes of WWII. I did not record the title and have been unable to locate it since."

There are at least three books on US Navy Catalina Squadrons which include "Black Cat" in their titles.

Black Cat Raiders of WWII (1981) by Richard C. Knott

Black Cats and Dumbos: WWII's Fighting PBY's (1987 & 2002) by Mel Crocker

Bless 'em all: The Adventures of a Navy "Black Cat" Squadron in World War II (1986) by Lt. Robert W. Hayes

Edward

Re: What Pacific based book are you reading at the moment?

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:32 pm
by oliver458
I am reading "Woodbine Red leader".