New Guinea 1943–44: The Allies assume the offensive (Air Campaign, 63) - Softcover

Stille, Mark; Rogers, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1472870352 ISBN 13: 9781472870353

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2026

Synopsis

Fully illustrated, this is a history of airpower in the decisive stage of the New Guinea campaign, when the Allies could finally go on the offensive to shatter Japanese forces.

In mid-1943, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) took over responsibility for New Guinea air operations from the Imperial Japanese Navy. In its first large-scale contest against the USAAF, the IJAAF was challenged to defend its bases, defend the sea lanes supporting numerous Japanese outposts along the coast, and influence ground operations.

In this book, the second of two on the New Guinea campaign, Pacific War scholars Mark Stille and John Rogers draw upon years of research and Japanese, American and Australian sources to explain how the New Guinea air war turned against the Japanese between June 1943 and 1944. The over-extended IJAAF gradually lost combat strength in the face of vastly improved Allied airpower, leaving the Japanese unable to contend. One prong of the Allies' air offensive targeted Japanese shipping to isolate its forces, while the other supported the ground offensives and landings that smashed Japanese forces and left most of them isolated for the rest of the war.

Packed with artwork, maps, and archive photos, this book explains how the lessons learned and the forces built up during the harsh struggle for Papua in 1942–43 transformed the Allies' airpower into a decisive element in MacArthur's 1943–44 campaign.

About this title

About the Authors

Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in the intelligence community, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College.

John Rogers is a retired Captain, US Navy, who saw operational service in the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. He is also a retired senior intelligence analyst with the US Department of Defense, focused primarily on East Asia. He has a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University and an MA in National Security Studies from Georgetown University (DC). He lives near Washington, DC.

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: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1472870352
• ISBN 13: 9781472870353
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Laurier Jim
• Number of pages: 96