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Philippines 1941–42
America's disastrous start to the Pacific War
Series: Air Campaign
Brief Description
The weeks after Pearl Harbor saw Japan destroy the well-prepared US air forces in the Philippines. Fully illustrated, this study explores the Pacific War’s little-known first major air campaign. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese not only attacked Pearl Harbor but also struck at US and...
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See moreThe weeks after Pearl Harbor saw Japan destroy the well-prepared US air forces in the Philippines. Fully illustrated, this studies the Pacific War’s little-known first major air campaign.
The weeks after Pearl Harbor saw Japan destroy the well-prepared US air forces in the Philippines. Fully illustrated, this studies the Pacific War’s little-known first major air campaign.
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Description
The weeks after Pearl Harbor saw Japan destroy the well-prepared US air forces in the Philippines. Fully illustrated, this study explores the Pacific War’s little-known first major air campaign.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese not only attacked Pearl Harbor but also struck at US and allied bases throughout the Pacific, including the USA’s biggest overseas territory, the Philippines. However, that was an air battle the US was expecting. The USAAF had beefed up its assets in the Philippines, sending nearly a quarter of its available B-17s to the Far Eastern Air Force (FEAF). It could also call on the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC).
Aviation historian Mark Lardas explains how, despite these preparations, Japan’s air forces routed both the FEAF and the PAAC within a campaign that lasted barely a month. Japan gained air superiority, allowing Imperial Army troops undisturbed access to the Philippine coast. Within a week, Japan ruled the skies over Luzon. Two weeks later, it had air superiority over all the Philippines. After a month, its control was so complete that the Imperial Army felt confident to move its 5th Air Group back out of the Philippines. While desultory air combat would continue sporadically for the next three months, the issue was decided by 5 January 1942.
Packed with original artwork, 3D diagrams, maps, and photos, this is the history of how the first air campaign of the Pacific War turned into a humiliating defeat for the United States.
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Pre-order
Philippines 1941–42
The weeks after Pearl Harbor saw Japan destroy the well-prepared US air forces in the Philippines. Fully illustrated, this study explores the Pacific War’s little-known first major air campaign. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese not only attacked Pearl Harbor but also struck at US and allied bases throughout the Pacific, including the USA’s biggest overseas territory, the Philippines. However,...Paperback$3899Unit price /UnavailableOut 3 Nov 2026Pre-order
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781472870865
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 30 July 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Osprey Publishing
Illustration: Illustrated throughout with 65 photos and 16 pages of colour illustrations
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Gareth Hector
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 10.0mm
Width: 182.0mm
Height: 246.0mm
Weight: 307g
Pages: 96
About the Author
Mark Lardas has always been fascinated by things related to the sea and sky. From building models of ships and aircraft as a teen, he then studied Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, but his interest in aviation led him to take a job on the then-new Space Shuttle program, where he worked for the next 30 years as a navigation engineer. He has written numerous books on military, naval or maritime history.
Gareth Hector is an internationally renowned aviation artist who lives in Scotland.
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