Kawanishi H6K ‘Mavis’ and H8K ‘Emily’ Units (Combat Aircraft, 153) - Softcover

Young, Edward M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1472860624 ISBN 13: 9781472860620

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2024

Synopsis

An illustrated account of the little-known operations of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force's flying boat units during World War 2.

Respectively codenamed the 'Mavis' and 'Emily' by the Allies, Japan's H6K and H8K flying boats outstripped their RAF and US Navy counterparts. The 1941 outbreak of war in the Pacific and Southeast Asia saw these remarkable aircraft carry out offensive missions across vast tracts of ocean and employ their unique capabilities to escort convoys and serve as transports between Japan's island bases. However, while the technical details of the H6K and H8K are well known in the West, this important new study marks the first English-language account of their wartime operations.

Utilizing newly translated Japanese war diaries, as well as Allied intelligence and combat reports, celebrated Pacific War expert Edward M. Young reveals the full story behind the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force's flying boat units. Contemporary photos and 22 colour profiles bring new dimensions to this fascinating area of Japanese military history, vividly illustrating the pivotal roles of 'Emily' and 'Mavis' in events including the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway and the fighting in the Aleutians and the Bismarck and Solomon Islands.

About this title

About the Authors

Edward M. Young is a retired financial executive with a BA degree in Political Science from Harvard University and an MA from the University of Washington. In 2015 he received an MA in the History of Warfare from King's College, London and in 2020 completed a PhD in History at King's College. During his career he had assignments in New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. He is the author of numerous books and articles on aviation history. He lives with his wife in Seattle, Washington.

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing and has also enjoyed a successful career in computer animation. He is an aviation history enthusiast and has contributed to numerous Osprey titles such as B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1992–2025
and RAF Lightning Units of the Cold War. He lives in Perthshire, Scotland.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Edition details

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1472860624
• ISBN 13: 9781472860620
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Hector Gareth, Laurier Jim
• Number of pages: 96