JAPANESE SPECIAL ATTACK AIRCRAFT AND FLYING BOMBS (MMP: White) [Paperback]

Ryusuke Ishiguro (Author)

Book Description

Series: MMP: White | Publication Date: May 5, 2009

Japanese Special Attack (Kamikaze) aircraft are well know, but not well described in literature. This book is the first in English on this subject. Details are provided of a wide selection of historic machines and fascinating color schemes, as well as full technical details.

REVIEWS

" Many years of research in Japan and access to previously hidden material has allowed the authors to cover the history of this remarkable campaign in fascinating detail." Cybermodeler

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: MMP (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8389450127
• ISBN-13: 978-8389450128
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book with some spotty editing, October 31, 2009

By 

Jim Davis (St. Charles, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: JAPANESE SPECIAL ATTACK AIRCRAFT AND FLYING BOMBS (MMP: White) (Paperback)

This book is in Mushroom Model Publications White Series of which it is No. 9101. This makes it the first book in the series but it was not the first published. The White Series are full A4 sized (8-1/4" x 11-3/4") square bound card covers. The page count in this particular book is 264.

The book is concerned with all unconventional aerial weapons. This is mostly suicide aircraft and missiles but also the balloon bombs Japan used to attack the US mainland.

The first section of the book explains the historical and cultural context in which suicide operations arose, the organization of suicide operations, and the results obtained. This section has some questionable editing. The names of ships are sometimes italicized and sometimes not, even in the same sentence. The same ship (LSM/R-195) is sunk twice; once by by a Judy, once by a Zero. There are sentences like "The task force consisted of the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise, Franklin, Belleau Wood and Belleau Wood."

The next section describes the aircraft used for kamikaze attacks. It isn't explained exactly what the criteria for inclusion is. It seems to be aircraft designed for or heavily modified for such attacks and hence doesn't include such common types like the A6M or Ki-43. It isn't entirely clear what criteria was used to order the planes included either. It seems roughly alphabetical by manufacturer but then you have exceptions like first Nakajima Ki-49, then Mitsubishi To-Go and Ki-167, and back to Nakajima Ki-115.

The final section deals with the various unmanned missiles under development by the Japanese during the war including the aforementioned balloon bombs. This section contains much information completely new to me.

The line drawings are of very high quality throughout with the exception of the ones depicting the various Rikugun Maru-Ke models. The linework is so light as to be almost invisible.

Another baffling editorial decision is the inclusion of a page explaining US hull number classifications. Surely in an English language book a glossary of the many Japanese terms and phrases would have been more appropriate?

Finally, there are, in the classic Mushroom manner, 24 pages of color profiles depicting the various aircraft and missiles used or planned.

Editing glitches aside, this is a superb book with much new information not available elsewhere. I highly recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have on the Subject!, February 12, 2010

By 

Robert E. McElroy (Niceville, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JAPANESE SPECIAL ATTACK AIRCRAFT AND FLYING BOMBS (MMP: White) (Paperback)

What a great book. The research and material that is in this book is AWESOME. VEry well done. And the pictures are of great help too. Upon receiving this book in the mail, I was suprised at the size. It is "BIG" and full of information. It is a must have for the historian of the Pacific War, as well as the scale modeler. Well worth it's price .