by Michael Claringbould and Peter Ingman
Softcover (6.9×9.8 inches). 184 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: Operation Ke: The Evacuation of Guadalcanal January-February 1943
No other author has covered the WWII Pacific air war like Claringbould. He has consistently combined research from US, Australian, and Japanese sources with evocative illustrations and a knack for turning logbook entries and official reports into interesting reading.
Volume 4 covering the first two months of 1943 is another tour-de-force of the above, detailing what has to be every mission, every encounter, and every loss from both sides. Better yet, he and his researchers comb both archives to confirm air losses and ground and ship damage and losses. You can add in weather descriptions to account for some of those losses.
What is surprising about all this is that during the period covered by all four volumes, from August 1942 to February 1943, the Allies lost 638 aircraft to the Japanese 612 (p176). It is far from the perception that the Allies swept the Japanese from the air. What is true is that the US replacement system for aircraft, pilots, and aircrew was establishing a superiority that would dominate in the years to come.
The book contains 41 black and white photos, once color photo, four color maps, 16 color action illustrations, and 13 color camouflage profiles.
Another triumph.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
