Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 26)

When you think of the Pacific theatre, you think of lots of water, Navy and Marine planes, ships and bad hand-to-hand fighting on the islands. But there were also ETO planes that fought in the Pacific. The Thunderbolt make it's existence known against the Japanese in 1943 (the P-51 was soon to follow).The Thunderbolt was not liked too much by it's pilots, who formerly flew the P-38 Lightning. The `Jug' lacked efficient range to escort bombers to Japanese bases. The `Jug' also lacked maneuverability against the Ki-43's and A6M's. But the P-47 had an advantage of deadly firepower of 8 50.cal machine guns and ruggedness. The P-47 was used well against the weak points of all the Japanese fighters-their lack of amour/self sealing fuel tanks.The P-51 was firstly used in Burma against the deadly Japanese fighters. `Oscars' and `Zeroes' ruled the skies over Asia from the beginning of the war to the later years. The only thing that opposed them was outdated P-40 Warhawks. The P-51B Mustang was a new breed of fighter (It's design originally was to be a better model of the P-40, but was changed to a whole new airframe. So the P-51's `father' was surprisingly the P-40!), with 4 50.cal machine guns and superb maneuverability, the P-51 was a great choice to oppose the Japanese in the CBI theatre.A book that has been out of print for a while, so I immediately jumped on the chance to buy it at $30.00, (I saw the book was $20.00 a few days later!!) this book has been the most expensive one I've bought of an Osprey book-and it's worth it!! The information on the aces are very well laid-out. John Stanaway has delivered a wonderful book. The color plates of P-51's, P-47's and pilots who flew them.Neel Kearby, Oscar Perdomo, Charles Older, Edward McComas and a LOT of other not-known aces. I enjoyed all 87 pages. Pictures of both aces and planes from Burma to New Guinea. In short, great book! (Buy soon or the price will go up to $60 bucks again!!)

It took a long time; however, the stories of the P-51 are finally coming out with its operational flights in Burma and China plus the P-51s andP-47s doing combat operations over Japan and Okinawa.

Very interesting book discussing the aces of these two popular warbirds in a theater most people still don't know they took part in. Definitely recommend!

Item in great shape.

thank you

Perfect!

the book was at my house ahead of time and was in great condition,this is a great online book store,it is five star.

Item as described, prompt shipping, hubby loves it!

A fantastic insight to U.S . AirPower in the CBI and the Pacific theatres of combat and in the last years of the Pacific conflict . Both the Mustang and the Thunderbolt are well known in The European and Italian Theatres, but are much less known for their contributions in the CBI and Pacific campaigns.

Das Buch ist selbstverständlich in der bewährten und gewohnten Qualität, dahin gehend also nix neues. Text, Photos und Farbtafeln sind (wie immer...) absolut einwandfrei!Einige Dinge verdienen aber doch angemerkt zu werden. Zum einen die fliegerischen Probleme der Piloten, beim Umsteigen auf P 47 von z.B. P 40, und das "Unglück" daß manche empfanden, wenn eine Staffel/Group von P 38 "Lightning" auf "Thunderbolt" umgerüstet wurde. Die angewendeten (neuen) Taktiken und Einsatzverfahren werden voll ausreichend beschrieben.Mit der vermehrten Einführung der P 51 "Mustang" wandelt sich dann recht schnell die Luftüberlegenheit in die Luftherrschaft.Dabei kommt sehr fein zum Ausdruck, welch überlegenes Fluggerät die Mustang über (fast) alle japanischen Baumuster war. Sehr spannende Schilderungen durch die Piloten untermauern das glaubwürdig! Auch die Langstrecken-Begleiteinsätze für B 29 von Le Shima und Iwo Jima aus kommen nicht zu kurz, ebenso der Einsatz von China aus.Alles, was im Pacific an P 47 und P 51 Piloten Rang und Namen hat, ist im Buch enthalten. Man darf natürlich keine Abschussrekorde erwarten. Mit 5 Abschüssen war man da schon "an Ace". Was auch sehr glaubwürdig rüberkommt, ist, daß bei nahendem Kriegsende die Chance zu Abschüssen zu kommen überaus mager war; einfach keine Japaner mehr in der Luft.....Okay, selber lesen, kann ich da nur sagen! Insgesamt uneingeschränkt empfehlenswert das Buch!!!!

Very interesting book