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How are the aerial claims/true losses treated?
Cheers
Stig
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The books concentrate on the air war with mention of naval and land fighting as it is relevant (attacks on shipping etc).
The author looks at claims and compares them to actual losses.
He uses extensive files from the JACR (Japan Center for Asian Historical Records) and the Ajia Rekishi Shiryo Sentaa which include war diaries for fleets, bases and squadrons. Action reports are also used. Over 50 Japanese records of this primary type are listed in the bibliography, used to match actual unit losses to claims.
The same is done on the American side.
Extensive tables are included in the text which detail aircraft that flew on missions, who flew them, results/claims and even take off time and landing.
For examples on page 40 there is a chart detailing the 2nd Kido Butai strike group's attack on Dutch Harbor, 4 June 1942.
The first column details the units who participated, next is the aircraft number, then the crew (pilot, then observer/RO/NAV if applicable) then notes (take off time, damage or if lost). Personnel details like KIA, WIA are provided too
All 32 Japanese aircraft have this level of detail on this table.
Level of detail and use of sources is of very high quality.