P-40 Warhawk Aces of the Pacific
Carl Molesworth (Author), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)
"The first US Army fighter to engage the Japanese in World War 2, a handful of P-40s rose to defend Pearl Harbor from attack on the morning of 7 December 1941. Warhawk units were also heavily involved in the ill-fated fight to stem invading Japanese forces in the Philippines and Java between December 1941 and April 1942. Indeed, in the latter theatre Boyd Wagner became the USAAF's first ace in a P-40 whilst flying with the 17th PS (P) over Java. Later in 1942, the P-40 took the fight to the Japanese firstly during the defence of northern Australia and New Guinea, and then in the Solomons following the US invasion of Guadalcanal. The Warhawk saw further action in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands between January 1943 and March 1944, with 11 pilots claiming ace status during this period - including 'aces-in-a-day' Elmer Wheadon and Joseph Lesicka. All these campaigns are detailed in this volume, as is the key role played by the P-40 in the Aleutians, when the USAAF battled not only the Japanese but also extreme weather conditions." --Back cover
Print Book, English, 2003
Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2003