Table Of ContentAIR WAR PACIFIC
CHRONOLOGY
AMERICA’S AIR WAR AGAINST JAPAN
IN EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
1941 – 1945
ERIC HAMMEL
Pacifica Military History
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Copyright © 1998 by Eric Hammel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publisher.
Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to:
Permissions, Pacifica Military History, 1149 Grand Teton Drive, Pacifica, California
94044.
Jacket design and maps by Carol Moody, Gladstone, Missouri
Books by Eric Hammel
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76 Hours: The Invasion of Tarawa (with John E. Lane)
Chosin: Heroic Ordeal of the Korean War
The Root: The Marines in Beirut
Ace!: A Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II (with R. Bruce Porter)
Duel for the Golan (with Jerry Asher)
Guadalcanal: Starvation Island
Guadalcanal: The Carrier Battles
Guadalcanal: Decision at Sea
Munda Trail: The New Georgia Campaign
The Jolly Rogers (with Tom Blackburn)
Khe Sanh: Siege in the Clouds
First Across the Rhine (with David E. Pergrin)
Lima-6: A Marine Company Commander in Vietnam (with Richard D. Camp)
Ambush Valley
Aces Against Japan
Aces Against Japan II
Aces Against Germany
Air War Europa: Chronology
Carrier Clash
Aces at War
Air War Pacific: Chronology
Aces in Combat
Bloody Tarawa
Marines at War
Carrier Strike
Pacific Warriors: The U.S. Marines in World War II
Iwo Jima: Portrait of a Battle
Marines in Hue City: Portrait of an Urban Battle
The U.S. Marines in World War II: Guadalcanal
The U.S. Marines in World War II: New Georgia, Bougainville, and Cape Gloucester
The U.S. Marines in World War II: Tarawa and the Marshalls
How America Saved the World
For All the American and Allied Airmen
Who Braved Those War-Torn Skies
Glossary & Guide to Abbreviations
1stLt First Lieutenant
2dLt Second Lieutenant
A5M IJN Mitsubishi Type 96 “Claude” fighter
A6M IJN Mitsubishi Type 0 “Zero” or “Zeke” fighter
A6M2-N IJN Navy Nakajima Type 2 “Rufe” floatplane fighter
AAF Army Air Forces
AAFPOA Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Area
ABDA American-British-Dutch-Australian Forces
ACV Auxiliary aircraft carrier
Adm Admral
ADVON Advance echelon
AFPAC U.S. Army Air Forces in the Pacific
AirNorSols Aircraft, Northern Solomons
AirPac Aircraft, Pacific
AirSols Aircraft, Solomon Islands
AirSoPac Aircraft, South Pacific
ANZAC Australia-New Zealand Army Corps
ATC Air Transport Command
Avenger RN U.S.-built carrier torpedo/light bomber (TBM variant)
AVG American Volunteer Group (Chinese Air Force)
Azon Azimuth remotely guided bomb
A-20 USAAF Douglas Havoc twin-engine light attack bomber
A-24 USAAF Douglas Dauntless single-engine dive-bomber
A-26 USAAF Douglas Invader twin-engine medium attack bomber
A-31 USAAF/RAF Vultee Vindicator single-engine dive-bomber
A-36 USAAF North American Apache single-engine fighter-bomber
B5N IJN Nakajima Type 97 “Kate” carrier torpedo/level bomber
B6N IJN Nakajima “Jill” carrier torpedo/light bomber
B7A IJN Aichi “Grace” carrier torpedo/light bomber
Beaufighter RAF Bristol 156 twin-engine fighter/night fighter
Beaufort RAF Bristol 152 twin-engine torpedo/light bomber
Black Cat USN night variant of Consolidated PBY twin-engine patrol bomber
Blenheim RAF Bristol 142/149/160 twin-engine light bomber
Boston RAF U.S.-built Douglas twin-engine light bomber (A-20 variant)
BriGen Brigadier General
Buffalo RAF U.S.-built Brewster fighter (F2A variant)
B-17 USAAF Boeing “Flying Fortress” four-engine heavy bomber
B-18 USAAC Douglas twin-engine medium bomber
B-24 USAAF Consolidated “Liberator” four-engine heavy bomber
B-25 USAAF North American “Mitchell” twin-engine medium bomber
B-26 USAAF Martin “Marauder” twin-engine medium bomber
B-29 USAAF Boeing “Super Fortress” four-engine very heavy bomber
B-32 USAAF Consolidated “Dominator” four-engine very heavy bomber
C6N IJN Nakajima “Myrt” carrier reconnaissance aircraft
Cactus Codename for Guadalcanal
Capt Captain
Catalina RAAF U.S.-built Consolidated twin-engine patrol bomber (same as PBY)
CACW Chinese-American Composite Wing
CATF China Air Task Force
CBI China-Burma-India Theater of Operations
CCS AlliedCombined Chiefs of Staff
Cdr Commander
CenCATS USMC Central Pacific Combat Air Transport Service
CinCPac Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Area
CNAC China National Aircraft Corporation
CNO Chief of Naval Operations
Col Colonel
ComAirCactus Commander, Aircraft, Cactus
ComAirForward Commander, Air Forces in the Forward Area
ComAirNorSols Commander, Aircraft, Northern Solomons
ComAirPac Commander Aircraft, Pacific
ComAirSols Commander, Aircraft, Solomon Islands
ComAirSoPac Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific
Comdr Commodore
ComGenSoPac Commanding General, South Pacific (U.S. Army)
Cominch Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
ComSoPac Commander, South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force
Corsair RN U.S.-built Vought carrier fighter (F4U variant)
CUB USN Base Construction Unit
CV Fleet Aircraft Carrier
CVE Escort Aircraft Carrier
CVL Light Aircraft Carrier
C-45 USAAF Beech twin-engine light transport plane
C-46 USAAF Curtiss “Commando” twin-engine cargo/transport plane
C-47 USAAF Douglas “Skytrain” twin-engine cargo/transport plane
C-53 USAAF Douglas “Skytrooper” paratrooper transport (C-47 variant)
C-54 USAAF Douglas “Skymaster” four-engine cargo/transport plane
C-87 USAAF Consolidated “Liberator” four-engine transport (B-24 variant)
D3A IJN Aichi Type 99 “Val” carrier dive-bomber
D4Y IJN Yokosuka Type 2 “Judy” carrier dive-bomber
DC-3 U.S.-built Douglas twin-engine airliner (C-47 civilian variant)
E8N IJN Nakajima Type 95 “Dave” reconnaissance floatplane
E13A IJN Aichi Type 0 “Jake” twin-float reconnaissance seaplane
E16A IJN Aichi “Paul” twin-float reconnaissance seaplane
EAC Allied Eastern Air Command
Ens Ensign
F1M IJN Mitsubishi Type 0 “Pete” observation float biplane
F2A USN/USMC Brewster “Buffalo” carrier fighter
F4F USN/USMC Grumman “Wildcat” carrier fighter
F4U USN/USMC Vought “Corsair” carrier fighter
F6F USN Grumman “Hellcat” carrier fighter
FAdm Fleet Admiral
FEAF Far East Air Force
Firefly RN Fairey two-seat reconnaissance-bomber/fighter-bomber
FM USN General Motors “Wildcat” carrier fighter (F4F variant)
FO USAAF Warrant Flight Officer
F-4 USAAF Lockheed “Lightning” twin-engine photo-reconnissance fighter (P-38 variant)
F-5 USAAF Lockheed “Lightning” twin-engine photo-reconnissance fighter (P-38 variant)
F-6 USAAF North American “Mustang” photo-reconnaissance fighter (P-51 variant)
F-7 USAAF Consolidated “Liberator” four-engine reconnaissance bomber (B-24 variant)
F-13 USAAF Boeing “Super Fortress” four-engine reconnaissance bomber (B-29 variant)
G3M IJN Mitsubishi Type 96 “Nell” twin-engine medium bomber
G4M IJN Mitsubishi Type 1 “Betty” twin-engine medium bomber
Gen General
H2X Allied blind-bombing radar system
H6K IJN Kawanishi “Mavis” four-engine long-range amphibian reconnaissance bomber
H8K IJN Kawanishi “Emily” four-engine long-range amphibian reconnaissance bomber
Hellcat RN U.S.-built Grumman carrier fighter (F6F export variant)
HIJMS His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Ship
HMS His Majesty’s Ship
Hudson RAF U.S.-built Lockheed twin-engine martime patrol bomber
IATF India Air Task Force
IJA Imperial Japanese Army
IJN Imperial Japanese Navy
J1N IJN Nakajima Type 2 “Irving” twin-engine night fighter
J2F USN/USMC Grumman “Duck” amphibian utility plane
J2M IJN Mitsubishi “Jack” high-altitude interceptor
JCS U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
K5Y IJN Yokosuka Type 93 “Wuillow” intermediate biplane trainer
Kittyhawk RAF/RCAF/RNZAF U.S.-built Curtiss fighter (P-40 variant)
Ki-21 IJA Mitsubishi Type 97 “Sally” twin-engine heavy bomber
Ki-27 IJA Nakajima Type 97 “Abdul” or “Nate” fighter
Ki-30 IJA Mitsubishi Type 97 “Ann” single-engine light bomber
Ki-32 IJA Kawasaki Type 98 “Mary” single-engine light bomber
Ki-43 IJA Nakajima Type 1 “Oscar” fighter/light attack bomber
Ki-44 IJA Nakajima Type 2 “Tojo” interceptor
Ki-45 IJA Nakajima Type 2 “Nick” twin-engine fighter
Ki-46 IJA Mitsubishi Type 100 “Dinah” twin-engine command/reconnaissace aircraft
Ki-48 IJA Kawasaki Type 99 “Lily” twin-engine light/dive-bomber
Ki-49 IJA Nakajima Type 100 “Helen” twin-engine heavy bomber
Ki-51 IJA Mitsubishi Type 99 “Sonia” ground-attack/reconnaissance aircraft
Ki-57 IJA Mitsubishi Type 100 “Topsy” twin-engine transport
Ki-61 IJA Kawasaki “Tony” fighter
Ki-67 IJA Mitsubishi Type 4 “Peggy” twin-engine heavy/torpedo bomber
Ki-84 IJA Nakajima “Frank” fighter-bomber/interceptor
LB-30 USAAF Consolidated “Liberator” transport aircraft (B-24 variant)
LCdr Lieutenant Commander
LCI Landing Craft, Infantry
Liberator RAF U.S.-built four-engine heavy/maritime-patrol bomber (B-24 variant)
LST Landing Ship, Tank
Lt Lieutenant
LtCol Lieutenant Colonel
LtGen Lieutenant General
Lt(jg) Lieutenant (junior grade)
L-1 USAAF Stinson “Vilgilant” two-seat liaison/observation aircraft
L-4 USAAF Piper “Grasshopper” two-seat liaison aircraft
L-5 USAAF Stinson “Sentinal” two-seat liaison aircraft
MAGSZAM Marine Air Groups, Zamboanga
Maj Major
MajGen Major General
MarFAirWest Marine Fleet Air, West Coast
MASP Marine Air, South Pacific
MAWPac Marine Air Wing, Pacific
MBDAW Marine Base Defense Air Wing
MXY7 IJNYokosuka Ohka rocket-propelled suicide attack aircraft
N1K IJN Kawanishi “George” or “Rex” land-based or floatplane high-altitude interceptor
NATS Naval Air Transport Service
NorPacFor Northern Pacific Force
OA-10 USAAF Consolidated “Catalina” twin-engine amphibious rescue aircraft (PBY variant)
OS2U USN Vought “Kingfisher” observation-scout floatplane
OY USMC Stinton “Sentinal” two-seat observation aircraft (same as L-5)
P1Y IJN Yokosuka “Frances” twin-engine medium bomber
PB4Y USN/USMC Consolidated “Liberator” or “Privateer” four-engine maritime patrol bomber (B-24 variant)
PBJ USMC North American “Mitchell” twin-engine medium bomber (same as B-25)
PBM USN Martin “Mariner” four-engine flying boat
PBY USN/USMC Consolidated “Catalina” twin-engine patrol bomber
POA Pacific Ocean Area
PTO Pacific Theater of Operations
PT-boat USN patrol-torpedo boat
PV USN/USMC “Ventura” or “Harpoon” twin-engine medium bomber (night-fighter “Ventura” variant also used by
USMC)
P-26 Philippine Air Force Boeing biplane fighter
P-35 USAAC Seversky/Republic fighter
P-36 USAAC Curtiss “Hawk” fighter
P-38 USAAF Lockheed “Lightning” twin-engine fighter
P-39 USAAF Bell “Airacobra” fighter/fighter-bomber
P-40 USAAF Curtiss “Warhawk” fighter
P-47 USAAF Republic “Thunderbolt” fighter/fighter-bomber
P-51 USAAF North American “Mustang” fighter
P-61 USAAF Northrop “Black Widow” twin-engine night fighter
P-70 USAAF Douglas “Havoc” twnin-engine night fighter (A-20 variant)
P-400 USAAF Bell “Airacobra” fighter (P-39 export variant)
R4D USN/USMC Douglas “Skytrain” twin engine cargo/transport aircraft (same as C-47)
R5D USN/USMC Douglas “Skymaster” four-engine cargo/transport aircraft (same as C-54)
RAAF Royal Australian Air Force
RAdm Rear Admiral
RAF Royal Air Force
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force
RN Royal Navy
RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force
SB2C USN Curtiss “Helldiver” carrier dive-bomber
SB2U USMC Vought “Vindicator” carrier dive-bomber
SBC USMC Curtiss “Helldiver” carrier biplane dive-bomber
SBD USN/USMC Douglas “Dauntless” carrier dive-bomber
SB-24 USAAF Consolidated “Liberator” four-engine radar-equipped “snooper” bomber (B-24 variant)
SCAT South Pacific Cargo Air Transport Command
Seabee USN construction battalion (derived from “CB”)
SEAC Allied Southeast Asia Command
Seafire RN Supermarine carrier fighter (Spitfire variant)
SOC USN Curtiss scout-observation floatplane
SoPac South Pacific (referring to South Pacific Area or South Pacific Force)
Spitfire RAF Supermarine fighter
SWPA Southwest Pacific Area
TAG Transport Air Group
TBD USN Douglas “Devestator” carrier torpedo/light bomber
TBF USN/USMC Grumman “Avenger” carrier torpedo/light bomber
TBM USN/USMC General Motors “Avenger” carrier torpedo/level bomber (same as TBF)
TSgt Technical Sergeant
USAAC United States Army Air Corps
USAAF United States Army Air Forces
USAFIA United States Army Force in Australia
USAFICPA United States Army Forces in the Central Pacific Area
USFIA United States Forces in Australia
USMC United States Marine Corps
USN United States Navy
USS United States Ship
VAdm Vice Admiral
VB SN bombing squadron
VBF USN fighter-bomber squadron
VC USN composite squadron
