Wings of the Rising Sun: Uncovering the Secrets of Japanese Fighters and Bombers of World War II

In the Pacific War's early years, Japanese air power was dominant. The only way for the Allies to defeat their enemy was to know it. This made the task of maintaining productive intelligence gathering efforts on Japan imperative. Establishing Technical Air Intelligence Units in the Pacific Theater and the Technical Air Intelligence Center in Washington D.C., the Allies were able to begin to reveal the secrets of Japanese air power through extensive flight testing and evaluation of captured enemy aircraft and equipment. This provided an illuminating perspective on Japanese aircraft and aerial weapon design philosophy and manufacturing practice.

Using previously unpublished contemporary sources and photographs, Mark Chambers explores Allied efforts to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Japanese air power during the war years, and how this intelligence helped them achieve victory in the Pacific.