Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces: 1931-1945 [Hardcover]

Ikuhiko Hata (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2002

Hitherto only available in Japanese text, this unique work is now published in English language format and provides an in-depth review of the fighter units of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force and their pilots.

This long-awaited translation is a companion volume to other Grub Street titles such as Aces High and Stars and Bars. Indispensable reference for the serious research student and historian.

Ikuhiko Hata is a past Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson Center and presently Professor of History at Nihon University. His previous works include A History of the Japanese-Chinese War, 19311941. Yasuho Izawa is an Opthalmic Optician whose past works include Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units (with Professor Hata) and Bloody Shambles Vols 1 and 2 (with Christopher Shores)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese

About the Author

Ikuhiko Hata is a past Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson Center and presently Professor of History at Nihon University. His previous works include A History of the Japanese-Chinese War, 1931-1941. Yasuho Izawa is an Opthalmic Optician whose past works include Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units (with Professor Hata) and Bloody Shambles Vols 1 and 2 (with Christopher Shores).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Grub Street the Basement; First edition (June 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902304896
• ISBN-13: 978-1902304892
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 60 years overdue!, December 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces: 1931-1945 (Hardcover)

This handsome, detailed book lifts the curtain on the Japanese army units that fought in China, Southeast Asia, and the home islands during World War II. It's based on a Japanese-language text by a noted historian and an aviation buff, and rendered into workable English by the British historian Christopher Shores. The result is a much more accessible book than the earlier one by the same Japanese authors about the larger Japanese navy air force. There are many photos, side-views of JAAF fighters, accounts of the major campaigns, biographies of the aces (happily arranged in alphabetical order so you can quickly look them up), and an appendix listing every major air combat and every JAAF pilot lost in 15 years of war. A solid book that belongs in the library of every serious student of the Pacific War. -- Dan Ford

8 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You'll be sorry!, July 23, 2003

By 

John P. Lannom (Sun Valley, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese Army Air Force Units and Their Aces: 1931-1945 (Hardcover)

The careful translation of the original text into a more nicely-flowing English; the influence of the master historian, Chris Shores; the decision to publish by the renowned Grub Street Press: this should be a much better book than the volume detailing the naval fighter units of Japan by the same authors.

But it's not.

If you spend the better part of forty dollars hoping for a book that is more like Mr. Shores' "Bloody Shambles", Mr. Ford's "Flying Tigers", or even Mr. Bergerud's "Fire in the Sky", then you'll be sorry.