South Pacific Air War Volume 3: Coral Sea & Aftermath, May - June 1942

This is an extremely interesting and thorough history of ground and air operations in the South Pacific area during the first three months of WWII. The action described occurs in Australia, New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, the Solomons, and nearby island groups. This campaign has been very sparsely documented in the US, being overshadowed by the initial Japanese attacks against Indochina, Malaya, Singapore, the Netherlands East Indies and the Philipines. Since the main Allied participants in the Soth Pacific theater until March/April 1942 were Australians, coverage in the US Army and US Navy official histories is limited, though there are some excellent Australian internet resouces. This is an aircraft aficionadoes dream, with detailed descriptions of missions, extensive photography coverage of little-seen aircraft and ships, detailed and accurate aircraft profiles, and extremely illuminating color maps and illustrations. Of particular interest is the attention paid to Japanese sources, both official and personal. The very important role played by Japanese floatplanes and flying boats in both reconnaissance and offensive operations is described in detail, information unavailable from other sources. The authors also make detailed comparisons of official records for aircraft losses on both sides, which highlight the chronic overclaiming by aircrew and AA gunners. It should be noted that this Volume 1 is the first of a trilogy, which in in combination covers the action in the South Pacific theater to the Battle of Coral Sea. This volume and those that follow will be essential resources for anyone interested in understanding how the Japanese tide progressed in lightning strokes in the South Pacific in early 1942, and was finally halted by their inability to capture Port Moresby in New Guinea.

This book as great illustrations and gives a detailed account of the battle and the day to day records of both the US and Japanese records to record actual aircraft losses and pilots names when those records are available. The book doesn’t go into detail about the commanders and leaders as many other books have done but gives a great overview of the actual events as related to the aircraft and ships involved. It is well documented. Highly recommended and an entertaining overview.

Volume 3 of this excellent series takes us from May 1 thru June 18, 1942. The slugging match between Rabaul/Lae and Port Morsby/Northern Australia continues, however this volume is dominated by the intervention and battle between the two large carrier fleets in the Battle of Coral Sea in early May 1942.At this point I don’t know what to say that I haven’t already said in my reviews of volumes 1 & 2. The authors continue the same winning formula of tracking each air mission, the movement of ships, and accounting for the loss of each individual plane & aircrew on both sides with their informative and easy to read style. Filled with maps for orientation, charts for additional information, and pictures for flavor this series of books simply can’t be beat.As a footnote I see the publisher is attempting to get the authors to write one more volume carrying the air campaign through the Battle of Milne Bay. I certainly hope the fourth volume becomes a reality!

South Pacific Air War Volume 3: Coral Sea & Aftermath May - June 1942by Michael John Claringbould (Author), Peter Ingman (Author)I found this a very interesting book about the aerial combat and operations between the I.J.N.A.S. and the U.S.A.A.F., U.S.N. and R.A.A.F. as the Imperial Japanese attempted to isolate Australia from its supply lines with the United States by moving forces south into the Solomon Islands, increasing aerial attacks on Port Moresby, coupled by a seaborne invasion of Port Moresby, which was eventually supported by IJN fleet aircraft carriers and this resulted in the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May 1942. The book deals with the build-up of U.S.A.A.F. forces in Australia both in equipment and manpower. The manpower, a mixture of experienced personnel from the Philippines and Java debacles, and virtually totally inexperienced aircrew. These Americans flew their new B-17E, A-24, B-25C and B-26A bombers with very mixed success against the advancing Imperial Japanese forces, while their P-40E Warhawk fighters of the 49th Fighter Group defended Darwin, and their P-400 and P-39D/F Airacobras of the 8th and then 35th Fighter Group fought over Port Moresby with the remnants of the R.A.A.F. 75 Squadron Kittyhawk IAs.However, the book is balanced and gives good details of the invading Japanese naval forces mostly in the air, however also on and under the ocean.Into this, south of Port Moresby in early May 1942, came the U.S. Navy fleet aircraft carriers U.S.S. Enterprise CV-5 and U.S.S. Lexington CV-2 with their escorts, and their air groups of F4F-3 Wildcats, TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers and their SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers supported by PBY-5 Catalina flying boats and land-based bombers from Australia.Against this was the I.J.N. light aircraft carrier H.I.J.M.S. Shoho, as part of the Port Moresby invasion force, and the 5th Imperial Japanese Division fleet aircraft carriers H.I.J.M.S. Shokaku and H.I.J.M.S. Zuikaku, with their escorts, and highly experienced aircrews flying A6M2 Zero fighters, D3A1 Val dive-bombers and B5N2 Kate Type 97 attack bombers (the Shoho also carried four A5M4 Claude fighters, with its Zeros and Kates). Supporting the attacking Imperial Japanese forces were G3M2 Nell and G4MI Betty bombers from Rabaul, plus E13A1 Jake, and E8N Dave floatplanes, plus Kawanishi H6K4 Navy Type 97 Mavis, flying boats mostly operating from the northern Solomon Islands.In the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942, the aircraft of both sides would meet resulting in the Battle of the Coral Sea which was the first time a major naval battle had been fought without ship to ship contact. This was aircraft to ship.I feel the book gives a good description of the Battle of the Coral Sea, however Page 26 indicates the Japanese JN-25B codename Operation MO after the first two letters of Moresby. I feel this is pure fantasy.The book continues with IJN operations in the South-Pacific including the midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour on the night 31 May – 1 June 1942. The IJN submarine shelling of Newcastle and Sydney, the I.J.N.A.S. bombing of Port Moresby Harbour including on 18 June 1942, the sinking of the M.V. Macdhui in the harbour (there is very good AWM documentary movie film of this incident filmed by the Australian Commonwealth Department of Information photographer Damien Parer), and mentions the R.N.Z.A.F. over Fiji.The book has a good array of photos, and the coloured illustrations of the Japanese and Allied aircraft in the rear of the book, I think are very good, them being a good reference source for historians and modellers.However, there is a photo on page 79 which indicates B5N2 Kate. I believe the authors will find this is a B5N1 Kate. Check with diagrams on page 230. There is a difference in the nose.As for Operation MO, the total operation was the occupation of Tulagi and Port Moresby. In early March 1942, the U.S. Navy radio intercept station HYPO in Hawaii, and the Australian Navy Station in Melbourne listening to IJN JN-25B signal traffic picked up references to an Operation MO. More and more IJN JN-25B radio traffic mentioned Operation MO. Additional IJN JN-25B radio traffic also mentioned what appeared to be a major multiple operation, mentioning Operation MI with targets AL and AF. Further JN-25B intercepts by HYPO, FRUMEL in Melbourne and F.E.C.B. in Colombo, with reference to Operation MO found JN-25B references to RZP and RXB. The Australian listing stations and F.E.C.B. were aware that RZP was Port Moresby and RXB was Tulagi. This information was passed to HYPO and OP-20-G in Washington.Earlier, and this could be mentioned in Volume 2, which I have not read, on 11 March 1942, the F.E.C.B. interception station in Colombo picked up IJN JN-25B radio traffic indicating a Japanese carrier raiding force was being assembled in Starling Bay in the Celebes with the intent of action in the Bay of Bengal. This was confirmed on 26 March 1942.Then 13 and 17 March 1942, HYPO, the Australian Navy Station in Melbourne and F.E.C.B. in Colombo intercepted IJN JN-25 MK II radio traffic indicating Japanese aircraft carriers were about to enter the Indian Ocean and attack DG. HYPO forwarded the information to F.E.C.B. in Colombo. F.E.C.B. were aware that the IJN were about to mount an operation in area D, the Indian Ocean, but were unsure whether DG was India or Ceylon. F.E.C.B. then intercepted another IJN JN-25B signal indicating DG would be subject to an air raid on 1 or 2 April 1942. Then on 28 March 1942, a Japanese operator referred to DG as Colombo. This signal was picked up by HYPO, the Australian Navy Station in Melbourne and F.E.C.B..At 16.00hrs on 4 April 1942, an R.A.F. Catalina flying boat of 413 Squadron R.A.F. spotted the main IJN fleet 350 miles south-east of Ceylon, and radioed Colombo. On 5 April (Easter Sunday) 1942, a strike force of 127 IJN aircraft, comprising 38 D3A Val dive-bombers, 53 B5N Kate bombers, armed with bombs and 36 A6M2 Zero fighters was launched from the IJN carriers 120 miles out to sea at 06.00hrs to attack Colombo. The defences were fully alert and ready to engage the enemy.There was no invasion, like Darwin on 19 February 1942, this was raid. On leaving the Indian Ocean the 1st and 2nd Carrier Divisions returned to Japan, possibly to restock with aircraft, while the 5th Carrier Division would go to Truk. With the Bay of Bengal raid over on 13 April 1942, the British F.E.C.B. Station at Colombo deciphered an IJN message informing Vice-Admiral Inoue that the Fifth Carrier Division, consisting of the fleet carriers H.I.J.M.S. Shokaku and H.I.J.M.S. Zuikahu, was en route to his command from Formosa via the main IJN base at Truk. The British passed the message to the Americans, along with their conclusion that Port Moresby was the likely target for MO.With Tulagi a small administrative base in the Solomon Islands the main target was Port Moresby.With reference to the midget submarine raid on Sydney Harbour 31 May – 1 June 1942, on PP 159 and 160 the authors mention both IJN submarines I-29 and I-21 launched an I.J.N.A.S. biplane Watanabe E9W1 Navy Type 96 small reconnaissance seaplane Slim. This specifically includes the flight over the Sydney area on the night 29 May 1942This is the first time I have ever read this. It may be correct, I don’t know. The authors may know something? Every other account I have read of this flight from I-21 indicate that the aircraft that flew over Sydney that night, and on previous occasions was an I.J.N.A.S. Yokosuka E14Y1 Navy Type 0 reconnaissance seaplane GlenThe little floatplane flew over Sydney Harbour as far west as Cockatoo Island, which it circled twice. About 04.20hrs on 29 May 1942, there was a report of a Curtiss-type biplane single-float aircraft, burning navigation lights, flying over the Man-of-War anchorage in Sydney Harbour. U.S.S. Chicago CA-29 was sighted lying at No. 2 buoy, the floatplane then departed due east. The aircraft was heard and seen from Garden Island, and a duty officer there, Lieutenant Wilson was sent to U.S.S. Chicago to ask if they knew anything about it. He saw Chicago’s Officer of the Watch, who replied that it was an American cruiser’s aircraft. It was a conclusion that called for consideration when it was pointed out that there were no other American cruisers in the area except Chicago – and the aircraft was not hers, as Chicago’s four Curtiss SOC-3 Seagull aircraft could all be seen on their catapults.At the time little significance appears to have been attached to the sighting. The Man-of-War sighting does not appear to have inspired any apprehension of a submarine – or any other sea – delivered – attack on the harbour, or to have initiated any special defence measures.The IJN Floatplane that flew over Sydney Harbour is described as a monoplane floatplane, an I.J.N.A.S. Yokosuka E14Y1 Glen, painted overall matt dark green with a black engine cowling, and came from I-21. Piloted by Lieutenant Susumo Ito, it took off from a choppy sea in a rising wind from a position 35 miles northeast of Sydney’s North Head at around 03.00hrs on 30 May. Cloud ceiling was at 2,000 feet.In the darkness Ito flew up the harbour at about 600 feet, the sound of the motor was identified as foreign by a 14year old observer on top of a Manly hotel, although he could not see it as the aircraft lights were obscured by North Head. However, his Officer dismissed his concern. Ito was observed by Australian AA gunners as the Glen passed Lower George's Heights Fort, them thinking the aircraft to be American. Then Ito and his observer saw U.S.S. Chicago and “four destroyers” in Man-of-War anchorage, and H.M.A.S. Canberra in the adjacent Farm Cove. Then they flew back to land in the sea alongside I-21. The sea was rough, and in landing the aircraft capsized and was damaged. It was sunk by the submarine crew, but Ito and his observer reached the submarine with their report of “battleships and cruisers” in the harbour.The midget submarine attack followed.Then in the Conclusion on Page 194 there is mention of the “elephant in the room”, however with little details.This being Operation MI. With reference to the operations discussed in this book this being the United States considerations in getting TF-17 built around the damaged U.S.S. Yorktown CV-5, its aircraft and its escorts back to Pearl Harbor as quickly as possible as Admiral Nimitz on the advice of his radio listening interception station HYPO at Hawaii struggled to convince the U.S. Navy Communications Security Section of the Office of Naval Communications OP-20-G in Washington that Operation MI had as its prime objective AF, this being Midway Islands, and not Hawaii, Johnson Island or the American west coast as Washington was possibly suggesting.A wounded U.S.S. Yorktown trailing a large oil slick from her damage left the Coral Sea and with the oil slick visible for miles reached her home at Pearl Harbor on 27 May 1942, entering dry dock the following day.I find these books good reference sources for the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Midget Submarine attack on Sydney Harbour.Ref: THE FIRST TEAM Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway ISBN 1-59114-471-X HISTORY OF UNITED STATES NAVAL OPERATIONS IN WORLD WAR II Volume Four CORAL SEA, MIDWAY AND SUBMARINE ACTIONS MAY 1942 - AUGUST 1942ISBN 0-252-06995-1A VERY RUDE AWAKENING The night the Japanese Midget Subs came to Sydney Harbour ISBN 978 1 74175 219 9

your books are some of the best books i have ever read.

I had ordered this book for my brother on Friday, February 28, 2020, which arrived on Thursday, March 5, 2020. My brother wishes to thank you for this book as he has a great interest on the Pacific air wars of World War II. Thank you so much for providing this historical book about the turbulent times that our military had suffered through to win the war for the sake of future generations. Thank you again!

Reference & research for WWII Pacific air war.

Purchased all books in this series covering specific time frame in this theater of operation

Another excellent book from Michael Claringbould and Peter Ingman devoted to the air war in the South Pacific during WW2; this volume devoted to the battle of Coral Sea and its aftermath in May & June of 1942. Again, the authors have produced a thoroughly researched and well put together history of their chosen subject with many fine photographs, maps & illustrations, as well as an informative, well-written and very readable narrative. I can't recommend these books highly enough, and if the subject matter interests you, do give them a try; I daresay you won't be disappointed!

Comme les 2 autres volumes de cette série qui l'ont précédé ce livre est formidable, je le recommande sans réserve à tous ceux qui s'intéressent aux opérations opérations aériennes conduites dans le Pacifique sud , vivement la suite !