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Old 6th April 2005, 01:55
Don Clark
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Re: War over SE Asia part deux

You're welcome. Further to your remarks:

"But many seem likely to be from strictly an Allied perspective"
As stated, firmly so: "primarily focussed on the RAF and RAAF".

"Which ones on the list by the way extensively use Japanese sources?"
Virtually none. Most are individual or collected accounts of participants. Unsung Heroes calls in part on the TNA/PRO collection of Japanese PoW cards.

"none seem to be Japanese works"
None. Not intended as an exhaustive list, but selective from the perspective as stated.

"At least as reliable as Shores"
Shores' account of RAF and RAAF activities calls on some primary and secondary published material and upon on later recall of participants. Flaws in detail are too many to enumerate. One example will have to suffice: the account of the Tung Song evacuation of 200+ RAF and RAAF personnel ex-Tjilatjap 2 March 1942. For a correct account of this and other vessels in the RAF evacuation see So Long Singapore. Shores is never-the-less (and as stated) fundamental, however, but expect errors and with some frequency.

"what are the well documented problems in primary sources related to Shores' book and where are they documented?"
For Malaya and NEI Air Operations 1941/1942, much primary source material (casualty signals and original operational etc records of Squadrons, individual personnel logs, letters, photos and diaries) was lost in the field. See Shores' own Preface; Maltby; and Jefford's Introduction to his RAF Squadrons: A comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment... (his notes on Formation and Disbandment, and on Movements, are instructive).

I aimed to offer a reading list for interest, rather than a critique of each cited work.
Don Clark

Last edited by Don Clark; 6th April 2005 at 09:56.
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