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ORIGINAL: pws1225

Homage to DivePac who posted in this thread. The Emu lives!

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And for Harry Erwin, who started the thread.

From both sides, very interesting stuff:-

Bloody Shambles - The First Comprehensive Account of Air Operations over South East Asia Dec 1941 - April 1942. Vol 1 The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore.

There's more than one volume, I've only got the first.

By Christopher Shores & Brian Cull with Yasuho Izawa.

Publisher - Grub Street.

ISBN 0-948817-50.

My copy is from 1992 - it's says on the back cover - distributed in USA by Seven Hills, 49 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and in Canada by Fortress Publications, PO Box 9241, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8G 3Xp.

Grub Street has a website:-

http://grubstreet.co.uk/product-category/aviation/ww2/

I used it to plan my invasion as the Japanese of Guadalcanal, trying to be as historically accurate as possible, in WITPAE:)

ORIGINAL: ram_971

If you are interested in books from the perspective of the Japanese people try Japan at War: An Oral History by Haruko Taya Cook. This book is a must reading.

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I am reading it now. There is a short interview with Saburo Sakai (mentioned above) and he vents about the caste system of pilots (Officer Class vs the NCO Pilots).
Lots of other good stories.

Also very highly recommended for those interested in the Japanese side are:

Japan 1941 by Eri Hotta
Really gives a good picture of the 'public face' and 'private face' of some of the main players who allowed pride and social pressure let their government stumble toward a war that many knew they could not win.

Sea of Thunder by Evan Thomas
Mainly following 4 Commanders upto and thru the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Harp of Burma by Michio Takeyama
Very personal writing of a soldier on the ground fighting in Burma

Blossoms in the Wing: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze by M.G. Sheftall
Stories from Kamikaze unit survivors including the famous girls who were photographed waving Cherry Blossom branches as planes took off to attack Okinawa.

(and I also echo the recommendation for Shattered Sword)

Don’t miss Fire InThe Sky:
http://www.amazon.com/Fire-In-The-Sky-P ... 0813338697

800 pages of joy for anyone interested in the Pacific War.

The strategic analysis is what stands out as well as the comments from the veterans.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned 'The Last Zero Fighter' yet.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Zero-Fighter-Firsthand/dp/1468178806

ORIGINAL: AndyG1


My copy is from 1992 - it's says on the back cover - distributed in USA by Seven Hills, 49 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 and in Canada by Fortress Publications, PO Box 9241, Stoney Creek, Ontario, L8G 3Xp.

Grub Street has a website:-

http://grubstreet.co.uk/product-category/aviation/ww2/

I used it to plan my invasion as the Japanese of Guadalcanal, trying to be as historically accurate as possible, in WITPAE:)

Lol Stoney Creek Canada is where I live. Will see if fortress publications are still around

Need to mention the diaries of admiral matome Ugaki, edited by Gordon Prange. Ugaki was yamammoto's chief of staff.

Also would recommend 'Japanese cruisers of the Pacific war' and 'build the Musashi!' But cannot remember their authors as at work currently.

Any opinions on Ian Toll's Pacific Crucible? I have that and Eagle Against the Sun. Should I put down Toll and read Spector first?

ORIGINAL: Delaware

Any opinions on Ian Toll's Pacific Crucible? I have that and Eagle Against the Sun. Should I put down Toll and read Spector first?

I really enjoyed Pacific Crucible. It is focused on the planning for the war and the early months, but gives a good description of how the commanders on both sides appraised the situation. I especially liked the section describing Nimitz' initial assessment, his train ride across the country on his way to Pearl, reading reports but not yet in charge. I've thought about trying a game where I make minimal changes for the first two weeks, to get a feel for how Nimitz walked in.

'Afternoon of the Rising Sun - The Battle of Leyte Gulf ' by Kenneth Friedman is a good summer read.
Enough details to be interesting, but not so voluminous that it overburdens your summer.

ORIGINAL: Justus2

ORIGINAL: Delaware

Any opinions on Ian Toll's Pacific Crucible? I have that and Eagle Against the Sun. Should I put down Toll and read Spector first?

I really enjoyed Pacific Crucible. It is focused on the planning for the war and the early months, but gives a good description of how the commanders on both sides appraised the situation. I especially liked the section describing Nimitz' initial assessment, his train ride across the country on his way to Pearl, reading reports but not yet in charge. I've thought about trying a game where I make minimal changes for the first two weeks, to get a feel for how Nimitz walked in.

I am enjoying it a lot also. I preordered vol 2 which comes in September and covers 1942-44

ORIGINAL: Delaware

ORIGINAL: Justus2

ORIGINAL: Delaware

Any opinions on Ian Toll's Pacific Crucible? I have that and Eagle Against the Sun. Should I put down Toll and read Spector first?

I really enjoyed Pacific Crucible. It is focused on the planning for the war and the early months, but gives a good description of how the commanders on both sides appraised the situation. I especially liked the section describing Nimitz' initial assessment, his train ride across the country on his way to Pearl, reading reports but not yet in charge. I've thought about trying a game where I make minimal changes for the first two weeks, to get a feel for how Nimitz walked in.

I am enjoying it a lot also. I preordered vol 2 which comes in September and covers 1942-44

I didn't know he was writing another volume. Do you know the title? I didn't see it on Amazon.

The Conquering Tide

http://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Tide-P ... s=Ian+toll

Sweet!

Cool, added to my wishlist, so my wife can buy it for me when it comes out!