Ghost Fleet of the Truk Lagoon: An Account of "Operation Hailstone", February, 1944

by William Herman Stewart (Author)

11 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0933126664

ISBN-10: 0933126662

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Ghost Fleet of the Truk Lagoon: An Account of "Operation Hailstone", February, 1944

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Trade paperback

Paperback: 132 pages
Publisher: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co. (February 1986)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0933126662
ISBN-13: 978-0933126664
Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 7.2 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
Average Customer Review: 11 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,092,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1600 in Books > History > Asia > Japan
- #2929 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military
- #9786 in Books > History > Military > World War II

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Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars

5 star		46%
4 star		18%
3 star		18%
2 star		9%
1 star		9%

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Recommend for those interested in WWII battle stories

BySam Clarkeon October 18, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Recommend for those interested in WWII battle stories. The Truk lagoon is in Micronesia and was an important location for part of the Japanese fleet. There were more Japanese on the key island than natives, demonstrating its strategic interest by Japan. Late in the War American power rapidly removed the Japanese. Very well written and researched.

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It helped me to feel like I knew more about the submerged ships i was ...

ByMarialice L. Novoon December 30, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Quite informative. Read it before actually going to Chuuk on a dive expedition. It helped me to feel like I knew more about the submerged ships i was diving.

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Three Stars

ByShelley Loringon August 8, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Good

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binding fell apart upon arrival

ByDavid Hopeon March 29, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I have a book full of loose pages as the binding was broken in the book when it arrived unfortunately

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Easy reading, chock full of history, photos and maps!

ByA customeron May 27, 1998

Format: Paperback

Stewart brings his first hand knowledge to show the what and why of the Japaneese build-up and demise at Truk (now called Chuuk) Lagoon. Prior to going there to dive, I ordered the book and read it cover to cover. While there are more detailed guides to the specific wrecks, none currrently available gives the detail to the background which Steward does. It was small enough to fit in my luggage so I had it with me to refer to during my trip. After the trip, while compiling the memories and photos into my web page, Stewart's book was a valuable reference.
For those who don't know, the US bombed, torpedoed, shot and sank about 60 Japaneese ships and hundreds of airplanes in Truk Lagoon during a 48 hour period in February, 1944. "Operation Hailstone" so devistated the supply and repair base that it was totally removed from strategic use by the Japaneese. There was no need for the US to invade. The supplies were cut off and the US forces advanced north and westward toward Guam, Saipan and Japan.
Usually historical and technical tomes are difficult to read. Stewart has walked a fine line, being easy and fun to read, while covering concepts like how to feed 50,000 Japaneese and 15,000 Chuukeese on an island group which only fed 15,000 in 1920! Not being one to leave a story, Stewart detals (in words and photos) the results of war-crimes trials against many Japaneese officers.
Interesting items include the photo and map of Eten Island (turned into a 3,283 foot long stationary "aircraft carrier" by forced labor), attack photos, damage assesment photos, copies of orders (including a photo of the August 15, 1945 cease-fire order.

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Truk's Ghost Fleet

ByPeter Wilsonon March 22, 2002

Format: Paperback

I have just read Ghost Fleet of the Truk Lagoon, Japanese Mandated Islands, An Account of Operation Hailstone - one of the great aerial battles of WWII.
I found this book fascinating and full of charts, photographs and drawings of this battle. I knew Bill Stewart when we were both working in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but I left the islands before he wrote this book.
This account was of particular interest to me for I headed up the Fisheries Programs for the Trust Territory (Palau, Yap, Saipan, Truk, Ponape, Kusaie and the Marshall Islands were included) and in the course of my work, I did a lot of diving and was probably the very first to dive on the ?Ghost Fleet of the Truk Lagoon?.
I spent a number of years, off and on, diving on these wrecks, but I was never able to get the information and background on this battle as Bill Stewart has done. He has included photographs taken during the attack and he has also prepared charts of the lagoon and all of Truk. His drawings or sketches of the ships in their sunken position are also accurate and his charts on the Japanese installations on Moen and Dublon are excellent. He has even included photographs of many of the ships before they were sunk and I found these of particular interest.
Other matters Bill covered in detail that I have found nowhere else include a chapter on the internment and torture and execution Americans on Dublon including some of crewmembers from the American submarine Sculpin. He also details how the Americans were transported to Japan to work in labor camps.
Another chapter I found of interest details the starvation problems facing the Japanese and Trukese after the attack was over and Truk was bypassed. The surrender of Truk is also covered as are many other subjects of historical interest I have never encountered elsewhere.
Anyone that has an interest in the Pacific war will certainly find this book of immense interest. Those that are interested in diving will find it even more fascinating and for those that are planning to go to Truk or have gone to Truk, this book is an absolute necessity.
Peter T. Wilson

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A curious book.

ByNed Middletonon December 22, 2008

Format: Paperback

This work needs a complete reorganisation. Written as though the author was drifting into and out of consciousness, I eventually reached the conclusion that, whilst the information is all there, the final product is so disjointed it makes reading the work - and thereby understanding the relevant events, most difficult.

If the reader is looking for a readable account of Operation Hailstone (at least this author "did" correctly call it Hailstone and not "Hailstorm" as some writers would have us believe the US attack on Truk was called) this is not the book for you. If, however, the reader is more interested in research and "detail," then there is much information in this rather poorly produced work which I have not seen included elsewhere and the book is worth purchasing for that alone.

The photographs are of equally poor quality with only two being of much interest.

NM