Review by Martin Koenigsberg
In 1943 in the Pacific War, the Japanese had already lost- they just did not realize it yet. Their Air Forces, both Army and Navy were still very potent weapons- still capable of tactical victories over Allied airmen. Late in the year, they moved several Carrier Air groups to their base at Rabaul, intent on disrupting Allied moves in the Solomon Islands. This was their chance to redress the balance in the Central Pacific- to close with the nascent Allied Air Weapon and nip it in the bud. Michael John Claringbould , a native of New Guinea and a leading Pacific Air War Historian tells a taut tale as the Imperial Japanese Air Staff aims to end the Solomons Campaign on Japanese terms. The other guys were on scholarship too. The Allies, mainly the US Navy, Marines and Army, with its Air Corps, but also Australians (RAN/RAAF) and New Zealanders (RNZN/RNZAF) were intent on Landing on Bougainville, and needed to begin neutralization of Rabaul/Truk. Thus both sides were launching constant raids on each other, and the Japanese found themselves on the defensive more than attack. While this is still a time when Japanese Pilots are generally better than Allied- these are the battles where the edge slipped. Newer Allied aircraft are better, late model P-40s that can fight well, and the Hellcats and Corsairs that will conquer the Pacific Sky in 1944. I read the Allies honing their craft in this book- the war still somewhat in the balance- but the material superiority the Allies enjoy beginning to tell heavily. While this is just one of the campaigns that accomplished that steady, and then precipitous attrition of the Japanese Naval Air weapon, it is often forgotten because the Carriers were not fully engaged, just their air wings. Most of the adult themes are political/logistical , so this is a good book for the Junior Reader over 12/13 with a historical or aviation interest. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, its core audience- this is a good read. The gamer gets the whole Campaign laid out- great for a wargaming recreation, or a series of cool scenarios. The Modeler gets all those great Osprey photos and illustrations of key episodes in the book- but will probably need a couple of other Claringbould books with colour silhouettes for optimal modeling. The Military enthusiast gets a complex, but little known air campaign explained in good detail, to help understand the real Pacific War as it was fought.
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