Genda's Blade: Japan's Squadron of Aces: 343 Kokutai - Hardcover

Henry Saikaida

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1903223253 ISBN 13: 9781903223253

Publisher: Classic Publications, 2003

Synopsis

Captain Minoru Genda was the mastermind behind the raid on Pearl Harbor. He was commander of the 343 Kokutai-an elite unit of handpicked pilots chosen to fly Japan's newest and most advanced fighter, the Shiden-Kai (George), in the bitter defensive air battles over the Japanese homeland during the first half of 1945. The authors have spent years tracing and interviewing former pilots of both the 343 Kokutai and the American carrier and bomber groups that they encountered, to piece together this dramatic story and tell it largely from the personal perspective. The narrative is spiced with 300 remarkable photographs, most of which are published for the first time in an English language book. Accompanied by color artwork and written by acknowledged experts on Japanese military aviation, this book will be an essential requirement for any student of the Pacific air war.

About this title

Review

Very good description of a desperate nation trying their best effort to use their best fighter aircraft(N1K2 "George" or Shiden Kai) and what was left of their elite pilots to defend their homeland. Didn't work too well! As a famous quote from a Japanese soldier "Japan had the best warriors, the enemy had the most warriors". Highly recommended for WW2 historians and hobbyists. --By wayne frolich

Henry Sakaida and Koji Takaki teamed together and put together an AMAZING book on the 343 Air Group. What is truly so incredible is that they have pulled together both sides of the story teaching us about the Japanese and their American and Allied counterparts to many of the air battles. Very useful for the WWII aviation buff or serious historian. I defer to Sakaida and Takaki on all matters regarding Japanese Naval aviation. Since 1990 I myself have personally interviewed (in their own language) 25 Japanese pilots & aviators and am preparing a book about their firsthand experiences. It won't focus on one particular unit, but will follow the aviators' experiences from the start of the war to the end. The reader will learn why they joined the Navy, their thoughts on the war, their experiences in basic training and their first combat. If you don't have this 343 Air Group book yet, do yourself a favor and order it now! --By Dan King, Pacific War Historian

Edition details

• Publisher: Classic Publications
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1903223253
• ISBN 13: 9781903223253
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208