Customer Reviews

Beyond Pearl Harbor: The Untold Stories of Japan's Naval Airmen

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As a long-time student of the Pacific War, I consider myself privileged to have this book on my shelf. It's beautifully produced, and is packed with first-rate interviews that have never been seen in print before, as well as superb photographs. I was delighted to be learning new details on Japanese carrier operations on the very first page I cracked open. Not only will this book remain a treasure trove for researchers for years to come, it powerfully conveys the human element of our opponents during WWII. A "must-have" for students of the Pacific War in general, and aficionados of the Imperial Navy's aviation force in particular.

-jon parshall-
Co-Author, "Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway"

Finally, someone has taken the time to do it right! "Beyond Pearl Harbor," is an amazing book. Chuck full of incredible personal accounts never before read by readers in the west. Not to mention several never before seen B&W pictures of the men and their machines. If you are a student of the Great Pacific War this book is a must have. Very well written and easy to read I could not put it down. For years I have looked for a book like this, one that captures the perspectives and mindset of the Japanese Naval Pilots, crewmen and mechanics and this book is it. "Samurai'" times a thousand!
I highly reccomend this book for both the scholar and the military scale modeler.

Having just finished Beyond Pearl Harbor, I turned straight to this site in order to craft a glowing five-star review, and find that there's not a whole lot I can say about the book's content that the previous six reviewers haven't already said. So with that, I happily add my own set of stars and will comment instead on how the author managed to craft this masterpiece, which could be the subject of another book.

The amazing thing to me about Werneth is that he had no particular credentials or experience with Japanese culture or even history in general. He was simply a young man in Chicago who noted the abundant tales of U.S. WWII veterans and the dearth of same regarding the Japanese. Somehow, he managed the courage to quit his job and literally move to Japan, resolved to stay there until he could accomplish one-on-one interviews with every Imperial Japanese Navy vet who would talk to him. That turned out to be a three-year tour worthy of the most ambitious of expatriates, especially one like Werneth who had no organizational backing for his venture. I came up short trying to think of any other author/researcher who has gone to such extremes to perfect his work; hence the title of my review.

With the able help of many in Japan (including the unexpected bonus of meeting his wife there), Werneth was able to create a growing network of IJN vets who opened up to him on a level never expected with a foreigner. The result is insight into the mind of the former enemy that has rarely been seen in the west, if ever. Very highly recommended.

After years of reading Military theme books on a variety of subjects I found Werneth's work to be refreshing and insightful. He shares his intimate personal experience with these truly rare veterans in a first hand, matter of fact approach that could only be accomplished by utilizing the words of the veteran's themselves. Then and now photos, artifacts and in depth research result in something very special for historians, aviation fans, military buffs and researchers in the Western world! Drive on Ron Werneth - I look forward to more from you soon!

For decades, our knowledge of the life and times of Imperial Japanese Navy pilots was pretty much limited to the Saburo Sakai story. In recent years authors like Henry Sakaida, Osamu Tagaya, Christopher Shores, Ikuhiko Hata and Yasuho Izawa have redressed that deficiency through authoritative books detailing the combats of IJN pilots and units. A brand new addition to that short list is Ron Werneth's impressive BEYOND PEARL HARBOR, fresh off the Schiffer presses. This is one impressive book, folks! Anyone interested in the Pacific air war will want to pick up a copy!

BEYOND PEARL HARBOR relates the firsthand experiences of 17 IJN pilots and/or maintenance personnel. Six flew or serviced Val dive-bombers; eight, Kate torpedo bombers; and three, the fabled Zero fighter. Several saw combat prior to 7 December 1941. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, almost all took part in the early carrier battles (Coral Sea, Midway, etc.). Subsequently they were transferred to new units, served as instructors, etc. The most famous of the 17 is probably Val pilot Zenji Abe.

Having said that, Werneth's book deserves six stars for a whole buncha reasons. First and foremost, it offers an unparalled insider's look at a little-known subject. Werneth's depth of IJN knowledge and skill as a writer are everywhere evident in the book. He interweaves authoritative historical commentary within each individual's account, setting the stage for that person's war story and supplementing their comments with "what-actually-happened-when" details. Another plus: those Japanese-to-English translations are first rate; kudos to Keigo Nakahama. Photo coverage is superb; dozens of nicely reproduced black & white and color photographs, maps and aircraft profiles.

Short and sweet: BEYOND PEARL HARBOR is military aviation history/research at its best. This book is worth every cent of its $59.95 price-tag. Highly recommended.
******

P.S. Great job, Mr. Werneth!

It is hard to find primary source material regarding the Pacific War from the Japanese perspective. This book fills the gap magnificently with regards to Japanese naval aviators. It consists of 17 verbatim transcripts of interviews with Japanese veterans, in a beautifully-produced book. The editor, Ron Werneth, is wise enough to let the veterans tell their own stories with imposing on the dialog. Reading the veteran's accounts is moving and informative. There are none of the irritating glitches and historical inaccuracies found in many books of this type. I highly recommend this book.

Ron Werneth's "Beyond Pearl Harbor" gives his readers access to the thoughts of Japanese air crews and pilots, many who speak about their experiences during the war for the first time. We are also treated to some never before published photographs from the personal albums of these men. Mr. Werneth's personal sacrifice and research in doing this book is to be commended and we are rewarded with insights and details into the daily lives of these warriors as they took part in some of the defining events of the twentieth century.

"Beyond Pearl Harbor"; The Untold Stories of Japan's Naval Airmen by Ron Werneth is a breath of fresh air to the student of contemporary history, specifically the Pacific Campaign as viewed from ..."the other side."

Some ten years of research with total cultural and academic emersion went into the development of this very unusual and unique piece of work. This is a masterful collection of combined oral histories, supported by photographic and historical evidence from both American and Imperial Japanese Navy archives.

Until rather recently, most readers had to rely strictly on Gordon Prange's works for any real historical information regarding Japan and the pacific theater. For some reason, the events and the men who lived them (American and Japanese) were basically ignored or, at very best, given a second place status in publications about WWII.

Now, thanks to such authors as, Ron Werneth, that is no longer the case.

"Beyond Pearl Harbor "is an excellent source of history and exciting reading. It is also, a treasure chest of previously unpublished stories of human drama, and one of the best collections of rare and personal family photographs that... I, have ever seen.

One must remember that in the short span of about 50 years, Japan leaped from ancient history directly into the modern 20th century and brought with it a military force so powerful... that it was truly...our countries greatest advisory!

This then, is the accumulation of remembrances' as seen through the eyes of the Naval Pilots who fought as bravely for their country, as we did... for ours.

This is a large book, and somewhat heavy, compared to most books. The cover design is intriguing in itself, but nowhere as intriguing as the information and photos that lie within the pages behind that cover! Although this book is somewhat expensive, I can only say... It's well worth the extra cost!!

Ron Werneth is to be commended!

Thanks to Ron Werneth's unparalleled efforts, which include three years in Japan while collecting oral history interviews, photographs, and multiple layers of documentation, Beyond Pearl Harbor is a treasure trove of information and insight. I consider this groundbreaking work, especially among Western authors. The result is a beautifully produced book filled with rare photographs and the recollections of seventeen Japanese naval aviators. As the title promises, their accounts extend beyond the events at Pearl Harbor. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Pacific war. It is worth every penny.

I purchased this as a gift for my father, who served during WWII as a USMC aviator in the Pacific theater. In the last ~40 years he became extremely well-read on WWII Pacific Naval aviation and operations, and was always fascinated by different perspectives on major events and activities. I always knew when he really, REALLY liked a book, because he would tell me about it just about every day...and I heard a lot about this one. He enthusuastically recommended "Beyond Pearl Harbor" to those with whom he shared books. From my father's comments I know this to be a unique project and an important historical work...and I plan to read it someday soon.