Japanese Air Strength Burma 1942

[Carl Schwamberger]

Am looking for detailed information on Japanese air strength during 1942 over Burma/indian Ocean. Both a fast summary & any books or other good sources that can be recommended.

Thanks

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The books by Shores and co (Bloody Shambles I and II, covering early Japanese campaigns and so covering Burma from Dec 41 to end May 42, and their sequel, Air War over Burma, covering Burma front only (with some action over Sumatra too) from June 42 to the end of war, will provide you with a good start.

[Carl Schwamberger]

Thanks. Ideally hope to have a grasp of the monthly or quarterly number that were operational & a ideal of total sent each period. The second & third hand sources I'm lookng at suggest the total was under 300, but its vague.

[Buckeye30]

Carl the Hikoki book by Peter Scott " Emblems of the Rising Sun" has orders of battle for the following periods ............
1. 3rd Air Army (plus IJNAF) Malayan campaign Dec. 1941--Feb. 1942. Total 354 aircraft incl. 56 Zekes.
2. 5th Air Divn. (IJAAF) Burma-Malaya-Thailand March 1942. Total approx. 414 fighters/recce/bombers. HQ. Rangoon.
3. 3rd. Air Army Burma--NEI July 1942. ( IJAAF). Total 11 Sentai plus 2 Independent Chutai. HQ. Singapore.

Includes aircraft types and bases.
Nick

[Carl Schwamberger]

Thanks. The more good titles on my list the greater the odds of the librarys here having something I'm looking for. Ultimately I hope to be able to compare the number of operational aircraft on each side over 1942 & early 43.