Warpath Across The Pacific: The Illustrated History Of The 345th Bombardment Group During WWII

Eagles Over the Pacific #1

by Lawrence J. Hickey

Brand New Laminated Hardcover - 448pp with Index and Photos

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Larry has been fascinated by aviation since his boyhood in Wichita, KS. After graduating with a degree in History, he spent 1966-67 living in Saigon in the household of a top-ranking Vietnamese royal family while working as a researcher for the Air Force’s Project CHECO, a branch of the Operations Analysis, 7th Air Force. After completing several highly acclaimed studies on air operations in SE Asia, he returned to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies at Georgetown. He soon accepted a job with the Defense Intelligence Agency where he became the first analyst for the South Vietnam Political Desk.

During most of his career with DIA, he also was a member of the Vietnam Special Studies Group, an inter-agency task force under Dr. Henry Kissinger that developed the exit strategy for ending the Vietnam War. Under direct orders from the President, he returned to Vietnam in 1970 to conduct research in the Mekong Delta for a major cease-fire planning study. As Political Analyst for North Vietnam, in January 1972, Larry was credited with providing the first warning of the forthcoming Communist spring offensive, and thereafter reported on it on a daily bases to the highest levels of the US Government, including as an advisor to the National Security Council Staff.

At the end of 1972, Larry left government service to become a private entrepreneur, pursuing interests in manufacturing, real estate, writing and publishing. A full time author and publisher with a focus on WWII aviation, he lives in Boulder, CO with his wife Sue. His first book, Warpath Across the Pacific, tells the story of the 345th Bomb Group in the SW Pacific, and is considered the gold standard for aviation unit histories. Larry followed this success with books on other units, including his most recent, Rampage of the Roarin' 20's. He is currently working on histories for the 3rd, 38th and 43rd Bomb Groups, and is overseeing a multi-volume series covering the first 16 months of the air war in Europe, 1939-40.

Reviews

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considered by some, the best military aviation book ever published.
Could very well be!!!

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I first read about the strafer units of the 5th Air Force in World War II, I have been fascinated by their stories. Flying in at treetop or masthead height, they decimated Japanese airfields, facilities and shipping from New Guinea, Rabaul and the Dutch East Indies through the Philippines, Formosa and the southern coast of Japan.

The 345th Bombardment Group, known as the "Air Apaches", was one of the premier strafer groups in the 5th Air Force. Flying B-25 Mitchell bombers, most of which were modified to carry extra .50 calibre machine guns in the nose, the Air Apaches earned a fearsome reputation as they carved a swath of destruction through Japanese defenses.

Covering nearly every mission flown by the group, this book is a comprehensive and extremely detailed account of the war fought by the Air Apaches. Loaded with pictures, including many in color, and a section of color profiles showcasing the very colorful markings of the various squadrons, you will never find another book which covers the group this well. The photos are fantastic and include hundreds you will not find anywhere else. The author has gone to great pains to identify each plane and/or person shown in the various pictures, most of which came from personal collections of members of the group itself. The narrative contains lots of details about what individual crews went through while attacking Japanese bases and shipping, as well as the aftermath of those who were shot down and ended up being rescued or subsequently captured.

This is without a doubt one of the best books on the air war versus the Japanese I have ever read, and it is the first in what looks to be a very extensive series about the 5th AF's bomb groups. Fans of the 5th AF, the B-25 and/or the War in the Pacific must add this book to their library--I can guarantee you'll never find a better book on the 345th.