050 PHILIPPINES 1944: Third Fleet's First Victory Over Japanese Land-Based Airpower

1-968050

The US Navy's 1944 Philippines raids had US naval aircraft challenge and defeat the Japanese land-based air force. Draws upon after-action reports and other primary sources to explain how these strikes impacted the reeling forces of Imperial Japan. Soon overshadowed by the invasion of Leyte and the enormous Battle of Leyte Gulf, few detailed accounts of this campaign exist, but it was an important stage in the Pacific War. The relative ease of these raids prompted the planned invasion of Leyte to be brought forwards by two months. Illustrated with 65 archive photos, original artwork, maps, 3D diagrams, and 15 pages of color illustrations.