From Library Journal
How significant could a single, three-day World War II air-sea battle be when considering the entire history of the war? McAulay succeeds in highlighting this battle in his exciting story set in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) of the war. McAulay first sets the stage for the battle and then vividly presents the action from the perspective of the American and Australian pilots and Japanese sailors who fought and died in the carnage. This contribution to military history reminds us that war in the air and on the sea is no less horrific than on the ground. The battle was a solid defeat for the Japanese and further entrenched Allied air power in the SWPA, speeding up the eventual successful end of the war. The role of Allied 5th Air Force Commander Kenney in this successful campaign is also a useful addition to the massive material on World War II. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries.
- Dale Farris, Groves, Tex.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Dale Farris, Groves, Tex.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Here, McAulay (Where the Buffalo Fight, 1987 paperback), a retired Australian officer, presents an arresting account of one of the decisive naval battles of WW II, and, despite somewhat awkward narration, does a good job of analyzing the human and strategic factors underlying this crucial Allied victory. By March 1943, defeats at Midway and Guadalcanal had checked the progress of the Japanese Imperial Navy after its dizzying victories over American, British, and Dutch naval forces in the early stages of the war. Nonetheless, the presence of Japanese forces in New Guinea stubbornly continued to threaten Australia. In particular, despite some reverses in New Guinea, the Imperial Army continued to hold Lae, a strategic position on the coast of northeast New Guinea, and planned to deliver a formidable armed force to Lae by convoy. As a result of American intercepts of Japanese coded messages (and inspired guesswork by American general George Kenney and Australian commander ``Blackjack'' Walker), the Allied air forces--a motley band of Australians and Americans flying a makeshift collection of aircraft--were able to attack and destroy the convoy without major losses. McAulay's narrative is largely a description of this destruction, from the point of view of both Allied fliers and Japanese soldiers and sailors (the author's extensive use of Japanese diaries is fascinating and effective). However, while McAulay's account is informative and forthright, his prose style becomes turgid at times; and he fails to discuss adequately the strategic importance of the battle (which represented the final defeat of the Japanese military in its drive toward Australia). Nonetheless, the inherent drama of the story makes for compelling reading about an important and oft-neglected naval engagement. (Twenty-four pages of b&w photographs--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
