Customer Reviews

Japanese Army Air Force Aces 1937-1945 (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 13)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many historians still operate under the assumption that there was a single Japanese Air Force instead of two separate services, each with its own planes, mission, and tactics. Sakaida is an American of Japanese heritage who learned the language in order to research and write about WWII air battles, using material from both sides. Here he applies his language and research skills to tell the story of the Japanese Army Air Force that fought in China and Southeast Asia, and that for much of the war had the prime responsibility for home defense. An excellent book in the tradition of the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series.

Japanese Army Air Force aces is a great book! Osprey made another great book of it's long line of 'Aircraft of the aces'. This book has 81 pages of information, color plates of planes and pilots, and black and white photos. Being a fan of WWII airplanes, aces and air battles, I found this book a must have for any WWII airplane and aces fan. The color plates of the pilots and airplanes are wonderfully drawn, another plus if you a modeler like me.
The book starts at the China and Nomahan Incident in the mid to later 1930's, to the Home Defence of Japan in the middle of 1944 to the end of the war. With lots of information on Japanese pilots who fough valiantly against the Americans, British, Australians, Chinese and others.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the brave JAAF pilots who fought from China to Japan.
There are a few typos, but only a word here or there. I give this book a 5 star rating for the information and photos that it brings. A truly good book!

This old book has fairly recently been combined with "Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45", and the combination book (Aces of the Rising Sun 1937-45) is twice as long for roughly the same price as this one. So now you can buy that volume and get everything here with the Navy air aces as well. Available here at Amazon.

This book gives a very good overview of the Japanese Army piliots who became aces in World War II. An essential book if you are interested in this subject.

Japanese oriented oriented Glory and Destruction
of japanese Army Air Force during WW11.

This book mainly oriented from important epics rather than chronological orders.
I think this content of involved army pilot and meticulous personal records
which involved case by case based on oriental philosophy.
after 7,Dec,1945,Army Ki-43 Hayabusa("oscar"),308mph, and Navy A6M Zero,331mph, were
outstanding Japanese Fighters over Wrstern fighters at that time.
smaller, lighter, supermaneuverbile,Army Oscar over A6M Navy fighter was outstanding "Dogfighter"
than Hawker Hurricane 11B,F2A Buffalo and including "Flying Tiger"'s P-40Bs. improved version,
Ki-43(using 7.7mm macine guns)--> K-143-II-Otsu(using more heavier 12.7mm) improved more destructive
fire power. KI-45-KAI-Ottsu("Nick:) is twin enginned fighter(8X0.303 inch machine guns) favoured destrying
Hurricaine and Bufflo. From "Nick"-->kI-45-kai-C Yoryu Night Fighter-most favorable twin enginned,
long range, most famous !X20mm or 37mmcannon and 2X12.7mm machine gun in the nose+ 2X12.7mm 30 degre oblique
machine guns in the cockpit, B-29 contender in midnight.N1K1 Shiden ("Geerge") developed floatplane.
Ki-61 Hien("Tony"),only one of Germay designed liquid cooling engine equpied fighter.
At New Guinea,There were no avilable army air fieild due to contiuous defeat of Japanese Army.
US best Air Ace, 2 Lt.s.Richard Bong destroyed his ist victory over a Zero and a Val.at that time.
"Tony"had Kawasaki Ha-40 inline engine(a licenced-built derivative of the Dimler-Benz DB601A), armour protected,
and self-sealing fuel tanks Ki-61-I was armed with 2X nose mounted 12.7mm machine guns 2X20mm cannon in the wing.
new Ki-61 tip the balance favour to Japan fight with P-38,P-51, and P-47's. Most of units suffering from
spare part and skilled mechanics due to contiuous bombing with B-24 snd B-25,mass starvation and diseases.
On the 15,16,June,B-29A attacked Kyusu in midnight from China.Ki-45 Toryu night fighter attacked B-29A and
shot down 7 B-29's.Japanese pilot's impression of B-29,Completly useless all machine guns. even 20mm cannn is not effective
With the at least 37mm anti tank gun, "One shot-One hit"is our philosophy !(same opinion with Russian pilot-
quoted from NOVA:Missing in Mig alley.DVD,2007).20,,Aug,1944, first intentional air "Ramming" against B-29 with
Ki-45-KAI-ottsu("Nick") was made( quoted from B-29 Hunters of the JAAF. by Koji TaKaKi,2001)
All of the "Ramming" were made by JAAF only. Ki-43 Hayabsa was Ist looker of B-29. iwo Jima was very important
island located between Saipan B-29 air bases and Japanese Mainland.After falling IwoJima, P-51 and P-47 escorted
B-29 routinly bombed Kyusu where the all of the "kamikaze"oriented airplane was concentrated for attacking Okinawa
US fleet.Strong intercepter to B-29WAS kI-84 Hayate,later developed to like p-51. Ki-45 Toryu 2 engined, 2 seater
day and night fighter,and J2M3 Raiden(Navy version. Quoted from 'japanese Navy Air Force Aces 1937-45.)
Principal improved versions of army fighter which mainly used "Home Defence were Ki-43-II-kos"OscarII",kI-44-ii
"Shoki",Ki-61-1b-Kais,Ki-44 improved version,,Ki-44'Shoki",Ki-100-1-Otsu,Ki-43-I-Heis,Ki-45-KAI-Hei,Ki-45-KAI-Hei,
Ki-84 Hayate,Ki-100 Goshikisen.