Zero!

by Martin Caiden, Masatake Okumiya, Jiro Hirokoshi

“This is the thrilling saga of war in the air in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II told from the Japanese point of view. It is the story of the men who created, led, and fought in the deadly Zero fighter plane. In their own words, Jiro Horikoshi (who designed the Zero), Masatake Okumiya (leader of many Zero squadrons), and Saburo Sakai (Japan's leading surviving fighter ace) as well as many other men, tell the inside story of developing the Zero and Japan's air force. They tell what it felt like to bomb American ships and to shoot down American airplanes - and then of their shock when the myth of invincibility was shattered by the new Lightning, Hellcat, and Corsair fighters. They tell of the fight against the growing strength of a remorseless American enemy; and how, in desperation the Japanese High Command ordered the creation of deadly suicide squadrons, the Kamikaze. And finally they reveal their reaction to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”-Print ed.

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2014

Reviews

[Sudip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this book after watching 'The wind rises' which by the way is a must watch. Since Jiro Horikoshi is the co-author and also the engineer behind the famed 'Zero' fighter, I was expecting to hear his voice. I started with the expectation to read about the design and engineering of the Zero fighter. Instead, the book is mostly about the use of Zero in the pacific war. It also goes in great length in describing Japan's Naval strength, which until the war began was completely unknown (or intentionally hidden from the west). And, then starting from Pearl Harbour the book provides an overview of the use of naval arm in attacking and later defending the chain of islands which Japan had occupied.
Unlike 'Unbroken' where you read the personal account of the American athlete and later captured POW 'Louis Zamperini', this book feels dry. Masatake Okumiya provides more of an academic point of view, injecting sometimes his personal view on certain events. Apart from some diary excerpts in the last pages from Jiro Horikoshi, you do not hear much from him. You will certainly get the sense of how the Japanese naval command prepared and executed the war plan, of the resource difficulties faced by Japan.

Two Stars to the Kindle edition. It contains numerous typos and formatting issues. It is readable but still irritating to see how these missed the basic pre-inspection before release.

[Ron Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed. A great account.

The Zero was the premier fighter at the beginning of the Pacific war. It outclassed the performance of its foes by a considerable margin but in all war, technological advances must be continual. Unfortunately for Japan , a long series of blunders by politicians and military high command prevented a timely replacement for a brilliant but aging fighter design. Allied plane designs however, were replaced and refined at an astonishing pace. At the same time, the loss of most of Japan's experienced pilots and fledgling replacements compared to the thousands of pilots trained by the allied forces, spelled doom for the rising sun. This is the story of the scales of fate tilting full swing in the span of a few short years from victor to vanquished. The story which hinged for a large part, on the Zero.

[ronald huenefeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book .

Was very factual as the writer saw the action. Would like to have more info on the plans of the upper level officers. There inability to see there poor tactics does seem off.

[William J Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written

A wEalth of unknown happenings and events recommended reading for all world war two students
sad but true and very descritive

[Richard Braley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Great and informative book. I never realized how successful the Japanese were in the beginning of the war and how quickly the US recovered after Pearl Harbor.

[Dale W. Basham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perspective from the other side

What a wonderful read about a fantastic fighter plane of WWII.
A Japanese view of the terrible destruction of the Atom.