[Jim P.]

Definitely new material - I think I doubled or tripled my list of A6M5 aces and markings alone, but I have the Japanese version which is in 2 volumes. Not sure the markings are always correct, i.e command striping, since its obvious that much of this came from text rosters versus actual photos. I suspect some of the color drawings were derived from logbooks as well, since, for instance, supposedly the surviving records for the 3rd Ku I've heard only list pilots as assigned to formations (Buntai/Chutai/Shotai), but no codes, yet there are several new aircraft ids associated with pilots, for example, Hashiguchi in 'X-101' along with 'X-183'. Many of the color drawings in the Japanese versions are culled from previously published sources - 'X-183' or some of the PH stuff for example. A friend of mine got the English version from the UK, along with the Japanese volumes, and said that the aircraft drawings in the English publication didn't compare with the Japanese volumes - i.e. no color. Since I don't have the English version, I can't comment on that other than what my friend told me, but what he usually tells me is spot on. The Japanese versions have a lot lists, some which equate to the unit rosters from the original book, but many more of them. In the aces piece, which is Vol.2 in the edition from Japan, some appear to be claims lists, but many others I haven't figured out yet. My Japanese is pretty much limited to being able to pick out names and dates. There are additional bios of pilots not included in the original version, including some Rufe and Pete guys. Presumably the bios would be included in the English edition. One of the more interesting bits, beyond the new guys and markings, is the 'alphabetical' listing of pilots in the index - all the Yamas, Tas, Nakas, etc. are listed in order, which, if one is willing to do a little work, allows you to figure out names of most of these guys (the ace names are in English with the bios).