Stone & Stone (USA) Editor’s Choice Awards:
Best Global WWII Books of 2018

2025 Revised Edition

This second volume chronicles aerial warfare in the South Pacific for the two crucial months of March and April 1942 when a deadly struggle for Port Moresby played out. It can be read alone or as part of a series that at the time of printing has reached six volumes.

The period begins with the stunning 10 March US Navy carrier strike against Lae and Salamaua, which caused the Japanese to pause their advance until their own carriers were available. Instead, they tried to grind the Allied forces at Port Moresby into submission through an unrelenting air assault by their Betty bombers and superlative Zero fighters.

After a long wait, Allied land-based fighters finally arrived in the form of Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawks. These were backed up by a growing collection of United States Army Air Force bombers, including A-24 Banshees, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders (the latter two types making their worldwide combat debut over the skies of New Guinea).

Together, this motley force took the fight to the Japanese, resulting in a complex aerial campaign that saw units from both sides reach exhaustion. Never before has such a detailed chronicle of this air war been published, and for the first time the authors match Allied accounts with Japanese records. The result is both thrilling and surprising, with the resulting dispositions of the air forces of both sides setting the scene for the Battle of the Coral Sea in May.

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Reviews:

“…another exemplary book…” Book review by Bill Stone, Stone & Stone Second World War Books, USA
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“…enthralling…” Book review by John Baxter, Hyland's Bookshop
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“…All in all, excellent…” Book review by Ben Dunnell, Aeroplane Monthly
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Named in list of
Top Global WWII Books of 2018

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Sample pages:

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 3, “Contents”

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 7, “Introduction”

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 13

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 24

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 33

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 50

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 54

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 85

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 91

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 109

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 123

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 137

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 154

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 192, “Devastator Profile”

South Pacific Air War Volumne 2 page 200, “Mavis Profile”