 Strike
and Return
American Air Power and the Fight for Iwo Jima
By Cory Graff
Specialty Press, ©2006
ISBN 1-58007-092-2
Hardbound, 160 Pages
Available from Specialty Press
for $29.95
The battle for Iwo Jima is one of the most famous battles
during the Pacific War, one which has been immortalized by many statues
of the soldiers raising the American flag on its soil. Located halfway
between the Marianas and Japan, Iwo Jima represented a threat to the bomber
fleets, while at the same time presented itself as an ideal location for
American escort fighters. With strategic value, the United States invaded
the island, and after losing nearly 7000 men, took possession of the tiny
rock in a vast ocean.
This book presents a very fascinating examination of the battle for
Iwo Jima and its use afterwards, in terms of air power. The usefulness
of the island quickly became apparent, as it was turned into an unsinkable
aircraft carrier for the United States. While the escort fighter mission
was a big part of this, other aspects were equally important. Operations
such as air-sea rescue from the island saved many a downed airman, and
the location gave many crippled bombers a place to land in safety, rather
than ditch in the Pacific. All of these missions are covered in the text,
which takes a roughly chronological approach.
For those looking for modeling inspiration, the photos presented here
are truly outstanding. While one would expect (and not be disappointed)
plenty of Mustangs and such, there are many other great subjects included.
These include Privateers, Black Widows, B-29s, Avengers, Wildcats, PBYs,
and B-17s, to name just a few. The anecdotes included provide some great
flavor and put you alongside these young fighting men on the island. The
research that went into this book is thorough, yet the text is easy to
read.
Overall, this is a great addition to a Pacific War reference library,
both for the history and for the photos. You would be hard pressed to
find a similar reference at a similar price. My thanks to Specialty
Press for the review copy. |
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