Customer Reviews

The Siege of Rabaul

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is an interesting read. I finished it within 2 hours. Although the topic is heroic (and sometimes sad), i especially found the antics of one Japanese pilot in particular, Masajiro Kawato, funny. The author seems to share this same view, and never hesitates to aim barbs at (and debunk) Mr. Kawato's outlandish claims. I think the word "mentally unstable" was used numerous times to describe Mr. Kawato.

I especailly liked the voluminous photos that accompanied the book. Each page has on average 2 photos, and that helped tremendously to tie human faces to the characters the author is relating. The interviews that the author conducted with the survivors was especailly interesting. It is clear that Mr. Sakaida is a fan of Japanese aviation.

I would have given the book 5 stars except for the fact that the book did not have an index. This made it extremely difficult to refer back to the book and catch references to various persons. But given the brevity of the book, I suppose it would not be difficult to flip back and find the references I wanted.

This is a good book for anyone who wants to know details and insights into one of the most misunderstood operations of WWII. Loaded with pictures and personal accounts, Henry Sakaida has done a great job illustrating exactly how the aerial siege of one of Japan's mightiest bastions unfolded. The Japanese were convinced a ground assualt on New Britain was inevitable and fortified it in anticipation of the "coming of MacArthur." But it turned out to be a wasted effort as the Allies simply cutoff and bypassed Rabaul, leaving it to wither on the vine for the remainder of the war without an American having to wade ashore. It's unfortunate that Rabaul doesn't rank among the names of the easily recognizable spots in the Pacific like Tarawa, Gudalcanal or Midway. But this book helps remind you of how pivotal this place was to the war effort. An easy and informative read that will have you "Google-ing Rabaul" after you finish.

The Japanese port complex at Rabaul, New Britain was one of the most-famous Japanese bases in the Southwest Pacific Theater. Heavily fortified by the Japanese, Rabaul was a key element in the Allied drive to seize the Solomon Islands and would be the scene of ferocious air battles. Eventually the Allies decided to let Rabaul wither on the vine but it remained a hot target throughout the war. Noted historian Henry Sakaida relates the Rabaul story in this 1996 volume from Phalanx Publishing.

Rabaul was taken by the Japanese in January 1942 and, in turn, surrendered in September 1945. In the intervening years many Allied and Japanese air units equipped with a variety of aircraft would tangle over Rabaul's airfields and Simpson Harbor. Included in this smorgasbord of units were the Zero-equipped 253rd and 204th Air Groups; the IJAAF's 61st Fighter Regiment with Ki-61s; the 958th AG with Jake seaplanes; the P-38-equipped 39th and 80th Fighter Squadrons (5th AF); the 'Black Sheep' of VMF-214; the 'Jolly Rogers' of VF-17; Navy Avengers, Hellcats and Dauntlesses; 13th AF B-24s; 5th AF B-25s; VMF(N)-531 with its Ventura nightfighters; New Zealand Corsairs; and even VK-12, a little-known squadron that flew 2,000-lb. aerial drones against Rabaul. Rabaul was steadily ground down; some surviving pilots and aircrew were evacuated while many other personnel clung on with dwindling food supplies.

Sakaida does a wonderful job of relating the Rabaul saga, touching upon many of the different elements, units and personalities that were part of the experience. THE SIEGE OF RABAUL has it all: low-level air strikes; dogfights; nightfighter ops; famous aces like Boyington, Kepford, Blackburn, Sakai and Iwamoto; POW stories; etc. Sakaida tracked down and interviewed many surviving Japanese and Allied Rabaul vets. Their input makes Sakaida's book especially informative and valuable.

The book is illustrated with 100 photographs - some quite rare - of pilots, aircrews, aircraft, strike photos, camp life and shipping.

All in all, THE SIEGE OF RABAUL is a revealing, well-illustrated look at one of WWII's most famous air campaigns. Air war buffs will enjoy this one. Recommended.