Japanese aircraft losses in the 1942-1944 New Guineau, Solomons

[Felix C]

Is there a book which details Japanese losses in these areas during the years mentioned?

[Felix C]

Reading about the 5th Air Force's campaign in the region-NW and Upper Solomons and judging from the intelligence assessments the Japanese certainly where able to replenish aircraft throughout 1943 although Ferry Losses are listed as high.

Thought to look into this a bit more.

[Broncazonk]

As a start you need to acquire John B. Lundstrom's, The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign : Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942

Lundstrom read, tabulated and confirmed the Japanese primary source documents (after-action reports) for that entire (critical) part of the Guadalcanal campaign.

The book is superlative. The losses (attrition) of Japanese naval air assets from 7 August to the end of November 1942 was mind-boggling, and by late September 1942, Japanese commanders were complaining about the poor quality of replacement pilots. The incredible distance Japanese pilots were flying to engage Marine and navy F4F Wildcats, 560-miles ONE WAY (Lakunai airfield, Rabaul to Lunga Point) had and enormous impact. The Marines went ashore on 7 August, (Henderson Field became operational on 20 August,) and by 12 September, after only thirty-six (36) days of flying back and forth, Base Air Force Rabaul was down to 97 operational aircraft from a pre-invasion T.O. of 277 aircraft. (45 operational Zero fighters, out of 106 operational Zeros on 6 August, (BUT only 17 of these were Type 21's that could actual get to Guadalcanal, the rest were Type 32's,) and 30 operational Bettys out of 120.)

Bronc

[Richard Aigner]

"Eagles of the southern Sky", Ruffato & Claringbound, p.310f, has a loss list for the Tainan Air Group from 5/04 to 1/11/1942.
e.g.: "13/081942 Lt(jg) Murata Isao was lost to unspecified operational causes at Lae."

[Frank Olynyk]

LeLa Presse (Avions magazine) has published a two volume history in French of the Guadalcanal campaign, with a great deal of information on the losses of both sides. http://www.avions-bateaux.com/produi...viation?page=1
In addition, Model Graphix in Japan has published two volumes on losses in the Solomons, in Japanese. Victories and Losses for Zero over Solomon from Aug. to Nov. 1943 - vol.2 - (http://www.avions-bateaux.com/produi...ix-avions/2133) and Victories and Losses for Zero over Solomon from Feb. to July 1943 (http://www.avions-bateaux.com/produi...ix-avions/1693). I don't read Japanese so I can't comment on the content.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Frank Olynyk

Enjoy!

Frank.

Frank,

Thank you very much for mentioning titles that the rest of us could have easily missed! I don't read Japanese either, for those two books I shall have to wait for iPhone translation tools to improve

I have sent you a PM about a different issue concerning loses.

Warm regards,

Paul

[Juha]

There is also William Wolf's 13th Fighter Command in World War II. Air Combat over Gualdalcanal and the Salomons. Schiffer 2004