Eagles of the Southern Sky (1 Viewer)

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lancer

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While doing searches for Japanese Naval Air Service stuff, I ran across a book that was completely unknown to me. It is titled "Eagles of the Southern Sky: The Tainan Air Group in WWII; Volume One: New Guinea". It is written by Luca Raffato (now deceased) and Michael Claringbould, published in 2012 by Tainan Research & Publishing. It is simply superb. I have never seen anything so well researched and written about a Japanese air unit in the English language. It is in oversized paperback format, 352 pages of double-column print and illustrated with hundreds of photos, color profiles of aircraft and color paintings of aircraft in action. The cost is a rather expensive $78.60 for a PB, but it is well worth it. The Tainan Air Group was Japan's most famous fighter unit of the war and included such personalities as Nishizawa, Sakai, Ota, Sasai, and many others. This book is a thourough history of the unit in the vicious air struggle over Rabaul and Port Moresby. I cannot stress enough the degree of research and detail the authors have achieved, down to specific aircraft and crew and their fates in any given action. If you have any interest in WW2 Japanese aviation, this book is a MUST HAVE. I only regret that it is not widely known/advertised and that it took me so long to run across it. The publishing website is www.tainanbooks.com or can be had through www.info@pacificwrecks.org, run by Justin Taylan. This is an incredible piece of work. -- Al
 
lancer said:
While doing searches for Japanese Naval Air Service stuff, I ran across a book that was completely unknown to me. It is titled "Eagles of the Southern Sky: The Tainan Air Group in WWII; Volume One: New Guinea". It is written by Luca Raffato (now deceased) and Michael Claringbould, published in 2012 by Tainan Research & Publishing. It is simply superb. I have never seen anything so well researched and written about a Japanese air unit in the English language. It is in oversized paperback format, 352 pages of double-column print and illustrated with hundreds of photos, color profiles of aircraft and color paintings of aircraft in action. The cost is a rather expensive $78.60 for a PB, but it is well worth it. The Tainan Air Group was Japan's most famous fighter unit of the war and included such personalities as Nishizawa, Sakai, Ota, Sasai, and many others. This book is a thourough history of the unit in the vicious air struggle over Rabaul and Port Moresby. I cannot stress enough the degree of research and detail the authors have achieved, down to specific aircraft and crew and their fates in any given action. If you have any interest in WW2 Japanese aviation, this book is a MUST HAVE. I only regret that it is not widely known/advertised and that it took me so long to run across it. The publishing website is www.tainanbooks.com or can be had through www.info@pacificwrecks.org, run by Justin Taylan. This is an incredible piece of work. -- Al
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A correction on the above Pacific Wrecks info. This is an E-mail, not a website. info@pacificwrecks.org is an e-mail. I think the website is simply www.pacificwrecks.com., which does not access the book. You can contact Mr. Taylan at the e-mail if you are interested in the book, or the Tainan Books website. -- Al
 
Unless you want to go through Australia, the best deal is to buy straight from the publisher. I ordered my copy and got it in 3 days from the west coast. For some reason, the stateside dealers on ABE, Amazon, and Biblio are price gouging. Justin Taylan is very easy to deal with and shipped free of charge. -- Al
 
You convinced me! :smile2: Ordered today, $55 including shipping, a fine/like new used copy. goes in the que behind The Flying Guns, an SBD pilot's story. Chris
 
Terp152 said:
You convinced me! :smile2: Ordered today, $55 including shipping, a fine/like new used copy. goes in the que behind The Flying Guns, an SBD pilot's story. Chris
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That's a great price, Chris. Did you get it from Down Under? It is a fantastic book. I can't believe the level of research that went into it. There were to be 2 other volumes but their status is unknown because of the passing of one of the co-authors. -- Al
 
lancer said:
That's a great price, Chris. Did you get it from Down Under? It is a fantastic book. I can't believe the level of research that went into it. There were to be 2 other volumes but their status is unknown because of the passing of one of the co-authors. -- Al
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Al, ordered it thru Alibris. The air war in that period and location is fascinating. Chris
 
I learned about the Tainan air group in Lundstrom's "First Team" series, especially the edition on the Guadalcanal campaign. It's interesting to know there is a book written specifically about the group and its combat record in the Solomons. Thanks for the links, Al!

Prost!
Brad
 
theBaron said:
I learned about the Tainan air group in Lundstrom's "First Team" series, especially the edition on the Guadalcanal campaign. It's interesting to know there is a book written specifically about the group and its combat record in the Solomons. Thanks for the links, Al!

Prost!
Brad
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Brad, there is, or was, a separate volume planned on the group's involvement in the Guadalcanal campaign but I don't know if it will ever appear because of the untimely passing of co-author Ruffato. I hope Claringbound completes the work, as it will be invaluable. Really interesting stuff. -- Al
 
lancer said:
Hey Chris, that's a great site. I put 3 of the titles on my 'to get' list, 2 of them about the air strikes on Darwin and Broome and the other on the air war over Kokoda. Don't know when I can get them, but it's nice to know they're out there. Thanks for posting the link. -- Al
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Hi Al, I may have to add 75 Squadron and the Fight For Australia. This book is mainly about New Guinea. SHould complement the Eagles book I think. I'm guessing you're looking at KoKOda Airstrikes and Zero HOur in Broome. Chris
 
Terp152 said:
Hi Al, I may have to add 75 Squadron and the Fight For Australia. This book is mainly about New Guinea. SHould complement the Eagles book I think. I'm guessing you're looking at KoKOda Airstrikes and Zero HOur in Broome. Chris
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Bingo! I was thinking about the same title, too.^&grin -- Al
 
My copy arrived from Australia at the stateside book dealer today. Should receive it by end of week. :smile2: It's number 2 "in the que to read." :wink2: Chris
 
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