World war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany, with the war in the pacific as an afterthought. List of books and articles about world war ii pacific theater online. But another year and a half elapsed before american forces began an offensive against japanese positions in the central pacific. There are many many books and movies covering the pacific war. World war ii in the pacific theater visit pearl harbor. The pacific ocean theater, during world war ii, was a major theater of the war between the.
The armys enormous contributions have tended to be obscured over time by the attention given to the u. Army s life and military actions in the pacific during world war ii. One of the biggest myths, hollywood generated falsehoods and errors in the collective knowledge of wwii is the us forces arrayed in the pacific war. National archives washington, dcsuitland, maryland. To what extent was the us army involved in the pacific. I know the european front was extremely brutal, but so was the pacific. Pacific theater during the world war ii library of congress. Books pacific theater books page 8 the national wwii museum. It is my opinion this is the finest single book i have read about the u. Browse and buy a vast selection of world war ii pacific theater books and.
The story of the uss houston, fdrs legendary lost cruiser, and the epic saga of her survi. A young american fighter pilot experienced a particularly tough day in combat against the japanese while flying his fighter over new guinea during world war ii. Crowl center of military history united states army, 1960. The war in the central pacific began with the japanese attack on pearl harbor on 7 december 1941. Pacific theater was a fine tribute to the cavalry troops, and it documented the start of their modernization in the ww2 era concisely. Books pacific theater books page 1 the national wwii museum. What they accomplished speaks for itself, but less spoken of is the fact that, in spite of the higher priorities that franklin roosevelt placed on the european theater, 37 percent of army personnel were involved in or contributing to operations throughout the pacific, in burma and in china. Vallejo us army air corps chinaburmaindia cbi pacific theater wwii air war color series set vj71184. Although marine battalions had fought on the western front during world war i as an attached component of the u.
The nature of the enemy and the terrain in the pto, and long distances that had to be covered, provided. Six months later an aaf task force took part in the battle of midway, in which a great japanese fleet was defeated. Why were infantry and marines both used in the pacific. National archives atabrine was not the only tool the army used to fight the spread of malaria in the pacific. A short history of the united states navy in the second world war by samuel eliot morison more times than i can count. The story of the uss houston, fdrs legendary lost cruiser, and the epic saga of her survivors hardcover. The reason the marines did not win world war ii in the pacific by themselves is 1. British submarines operating in wolf packs achieved success against the japanese in the pacific theater during world war ii. Operational command of allied forces including us forces in the cbi was officially the responsibility of the supreme commanders for south east asia or china. Pacific theater of operations the national wwii museum. The best fiction and nonfiction on the war between the allied forces and japan in the pacific theatre. Fast, powerful, and shortlived, the alaskaclass large cruisers of the us navy in world war ii were both state of the art and obsolete at the same time. Unable to obtain reinforcements and supplies, macarthur could do nothing more than fight a delaying action.
Pacific theater during the world war ii summary photographs show atomic and other bombing raids, helicopter, paratroop landing, airfield construction, enemy ships under attack, etc. Books pacific theater books page 1 the national wwii. As a young corporal, fraser found himself in as great a pickle as flash. Us world war ii amphibious tactics, army and marine corps, pacific theater. Us army equipment and uniform in the pacific theater, ww2. We were established in 1983 as a memberbased, charitable 501c3 nonprofit organization. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Pacific theater of operations, administrative and logistical commands, armies, corps, and divisions. Engineers in the pacific theater wwii engineers vi. The us army dedicated about 25% of its strength to the pacific, about 22 divisions and associated air forces. What are the best books on the pacific theater of wwii. In the pacific, the allies divided operational control of their forces between two supreme commands, known as pacific ocean areas and southwest pacific area. Us navy underwater demolition teams in the pacific. Order of battle of the united states army ground forces in.
Pacific war, major theatre of world war ii that covered a large portion of the pacific. See more ideas about books, world war ii and history books. Marines landed on peleliu, a volcanic island in the western pacific ocean measuring only 6 miles long and 2. Aug 19, 2015 world war ii is sometimes thought of as primarily a fight against nazi germany, with the war in the pacific as an afterthought. Shop world war ii pacific theater books and collectibles. Feb 4, 2016 explore bogusboggss board books on ww2. Discover librarianselected research resources on world war ii pacific theater from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. On 1 july 1939, the strength of the active army was approximately 174,000, three quarters of whom were scattered throughout the continental united states. Asiatic fleet in the east indies during world war ii by. Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. After the surprise attack, the united states declared war on japan and joined world war ii. World war iiasiaticpacific theater naval history and heritage.
List of books and articles about world war ii pacific theater. It was defined by the allied powers pacific ocean area command, which included most of the pacific ocean and its islands, while mainland asia was excluded, as were the philippines, the dutch east indies, borneo, australia, most of the territory of new guinea and the. Army in world war ii, the european theater of operations. Americais meager air power in the islands was soon destroyed. It is a must read for avid readers about the war as well as other historians who want a welldocumented and scholarly analysis of events from 19411943. Us world war ii amphibious tactics, army and marine corps, pacific theater by gordon rottman 19450902 usaffe, the loyal americans and faithful filipinos.
American bombers pilots in the pacific during world war ii, particularly. While not usually fatal, malaria infected thousands of american and allied troops in the pacific theater and took them out of action for prolonged periods of time. The army historical foundation is the designated official fundraisers for the national museum of the united states army. It inspired a fascination with the pacific theater that continues for me to this day. In world war ii, for the first time, the united states had to fight a war on two fronts. Also the use of flamethrowers in the pacific, it seems they were used more there than in europe. Maybe its just me, but it seems like most people focus on the european theater of wwii. Us sources refer to two theaters within the pacific war.
In the pacific ocean theater, japanese forces fought primarily against the united states navy, the u. Mar 01, 2016 battle orders in the ww2 pacific theater. During world war ii about 16,000,000 personnel served in the u. A few hours after the raid on pearl harbor on 7 december 1941, japanese aircraft attacked the philippines. Selected finding aids related to naras world war ii holdings african americans records of military agencies relating to african americans from the postworld war i period to the korean war, reference information paper casualty lists and missing missing air crew reports macrs world war ii honor list of dead and missing army and army air. Us world war ii amphibious tactics, army and marine corps, pacific theater rottman, gordon l. Among the units covered are the 12,000strong 11th airborne division. World war ii united states military records, 1941 to 1945. The remaining 75% was focused on the european and mediterranean theaters.
The light aircraft carrier survived three years of frantic combat in the pacific theater, where it weathered torpedo damage from enemy bombers and dueled with one of the imperial japanese navys. Books pacific theater books page 4 the national wwii. The oob order of battle in the pacific war can be researched in several websites, however, there are also some books and guides that explain with vivid illustrations the actions and evolution of fighting forces, and also describe their organisation, strength, command, deployment and evolution of forces for each side. Us world war ii amphibious tactics, army and marine corps. The pacific ocean theater, during world war ii, was a major theater of the war between the allies and the empire of japan. Us navy underwater demolition teams in the pacific the men of the underwater demolition teams in the pacific were born out of the necessity of the moment in world war ii, and blasted their way from one island to another to help achieve american victory over japan. During world war ii, the united states army air forces engaged in combat against the air, ground and naval forces of the empire of japan in the south west pacific theatre as defined by the united states department of war, the south west pacific theatre included the philippines, the dutch east indies excluding sumatra, borneo, australia, the australian territory of new guinea including the. Isby, an attorney and consultant on national security issues, investigates the most famous missions of the us army s special forces, the green berets, from the liberation of allied prisoners at the end of wwii to the rescue of us army private jessica lynch in 2003. Army in world war ii series the armys official history of world war ii commonly referred to as the green books are listed in the following sections. Sincerely, jon guttman research director world history. As defined by the united states department of war, the south west pacific theatre included the philippines, the dutch east indies excluding sumatra, borneo, australia, the australian territory of new guinea including the bismarck archipelago, the western part of the solomon islands and some neighbouring territories. He reveals why some missions were great successes while others ended in tragedy.
World war ii, 193945, worldwide conflict involving every major power in the. Us army paratrooper in the pacific theater 194345 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The authors specific purpose is to rehabilitate the reputation of the u. Selected fulltext books and articles world war ii in the north pacific. World war ii toolbox contains a list of repositories, online books. Army units stationed in the pacific theater world war. Armys life and military actions in the pacific during world war ii.
The pacific war, sometimes called the asiapacific war, was the theater of world war ii that was fought in the pacific and asia. Company b and it appears company c were at camp miles standish, mass. Sometimes less than 100 japanese soldiers were captured on some islands. As in other areas, army or navy hospitals near the bases afforded hospitalization to air transport command personnel. Before the start of the war in the pacific, japan attacked pearl harbor, the american military base located on the island of oahu, hawaii. Engineers in the pacific theater wwii engineers vi corps. Popular world war ii pacific theater books showing 150 of 315 ship of ghosts. The pacific theater was where a series of battles during world war ii took place. One of the costliest battles of world war ii began on september 15, 1944, when u. These japaneseamerican linguists became americas secret weapon during wwii. The oob order of battle in the pacific war can be researched in several websites, however, there are also some books and guides that explain with vivid illustrations the actions and evolution of fighting forces, and also describe their organisation, strength, command. May 03, 2019 these japaneseamerican linguists became americas secret weapon during wwii.
China burma india theater cbi was the united states military designation during world war ii for the china and southeast asian or indiaburma ibt theaters. Why were infantry and marines both used in the pacific theater. Army center of military history asiaticpacific theater. The introduction to the memorial on the website says, the memory of americas world war ii generation is preserved within the physical memorial and through the world war ii. Us airborne units in the pacific theater 194245 osprey. In february and march 1942 small carrier task forces of the pacific fleet. O ne of the most trenchant memoirs of world war ii is quartered safe out here, written by george macdonald fraser, author of the flashman novels. Why does the pacific theater of wwii seem under covered. Fortunately, there is no shortage of worthwhile books about the. The vital core of the american military effort was the contest for control of the seas, from which.