Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific

by Eric M. Bergerud

Book Overview

In the first two years of the Pacific War of World War II, air forces from Japan, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand engaged in a ruthless struggle for superiority in the skies over the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Despite operating under primitive conditions in a largely unknown and malignant physical environment, both sides employed the most sophisticated technology available at the time in a strategically crucial war of aerial attrition...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813338697
• ISBN13: 9780813338699
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 752 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Masterpiece of Aviation History

Pros: Incredible narrative and detail, expert analysis, well documented. Cons: Not for the casual reader due to technical detail and length. The Bottom Line: Original analysis of factors not often addressed by other writers, engaging first person narratives. Recommended: Yes I recently attended a lecture by Dr. Robert Ballard touring for his new book "Graveyards of the Pacific War". He told us that the generation that fought World War 2 are disappearing fast. The veterans will soon all be gone. Along with the same concerns voiced by Stephen Ambrose, it's important to get the oral history recorded before these men and women are no longer with us. Eric M. Bergerud has achieved a readable approach to writing history by including such personal narratives collected from his countless interviews with veterans, and personal research. I find all of his books totally engaging. Unlike other writers, Bergerud examines all aspects of the subject: the technological development of the aircraft and design theory, the men and their training, the terrain and its effects on the men and machines, the evolution of combat in the war over the south Pacific. A good example of his narrative story telling comes from his chapter on the terrain of the battlefield. (I will add the exact quote in an update.) The south Pacific boasts some of the world's deepest jungles and most deadly shark infested waters. Pilots taking off from New Guinea could look down and see schools of sharks below them in the clear blue water. Yet if they were forced down and had a choice between landing in the water or the jungle, they always chose the water. The jungles were so impenetrable, if they landed there they were as good as dead. At least in the water, they might be spotted and picked up be a rescue plane. How would one assume this might affect battle? In Europe a downed aviator could at least expect a chance to escape with help from the resistance, find people (of his own race) who spoke English and possibly could help him, in a terrain that he was at least familiar with. At worst he could expect capture and internment, more or less by the rules of war. Not so in the Pacific. The terrain was (and remains) among the most hostile to human life in the world, distances were vast, some of the natives on New Guinea and in the Solomons still practiced head hunting, while others were allies with the Japanese. Those unlucky enough to fall into Japanese hands alive, were usually tortured for information, executed, or shipped off to slave labor camps in Japan and elsewhere. Thus, pilots were understandably very cautious about accepting battle unless circumstances gave them the advantage. As a student of the Pacific War and aviation history I can say this is the best historical work on the air war I have ever read. This is not simply a history of force x engaging force z on such and such a day. This is a story of two cultures, with different philosophies of training and technological design that came t

Fire in the Sky: A Major Contribution to Aviation History

This book written by Professor Eric Bergerud is excellent in every respect. The organization, technical accuracy and readability is the best I have read in over 30 years of aviation history study, teaching and writing. Compared to the air war in the European Theater of Operation there are relatively few books that cover the Pacific Air War and none that are so encompassing as this book. I especially like the many detail comparisons of the military organization structures the land air bases, the men and the machines (aircraft) as well as the importance logistics played in the overall out comes. The only fault I have with the book is that it is to hard to put down. The 690 + pages provide the reader not only with the subject matter being address but also the technical and aviation history leading up to those events. Therefore, in addition to the Pacific Air War the reader will learn many interesting, important and integrated aviation facts that give the reader a clear understanding of events that shaped not only the Pacific War but World War II in total. In my opinion the book without a doubt will become a classic in it's field.

Best of 1999

Having read dozens of books on the Pacific Theater of WW II in the past few years, I would rate this book as the best. Beautifully researched and written, Bergerud captures the essence of the air war in the South Pacific as he did in his book on the land war in the South Pacific (Touched by Fire...) a few years ago. Gives both the big picture and the details (including interviews with combatants) in a compelling and informative style. I was engrossed from page 1 to 670. Non fiction of this caliber is rare. A must read for anyone interested in the complete story and an in-depth analysis of this long and hard fought campaign. I enjoyed Fire is the Sky more than Touched by Fire.......can't wait for the third volume in this series (if he chooses to write it) a definitive account of the sea war in the South Pacific. I would be his first customer.

Eric Bergerud's Fire in the Sky is a triumph

With the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at PearlHarbor, a series of stinging military disasters would punish Americanand Allied forces, and push them back across the whole of the Pacific for the next six months. The strategic victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea, followed by the staggering beating suffered by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters northwest of Midway island finally halted the relentless military juggernaut of Japan.For the next two years one of the hardest fought battles raged in the South Pacific. Places like Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Bougainville and Rabaul would fill the headlines in American newspapers across the country. A great many books have been written about various aspects of this especially difficult theater of operations. However, few of these have addressed in depth the complex campaign waged by both sides for control the air. Eric Bergerud's newly released Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific, does exactly that. This is no small work of history. There was no doubt in my mind that this was going to take a great deal of time to wade through. In all likelihood, it probably would take weeks to finish.I finished the book within five days. Then, I read it again, cover to cover. I devoured Fire in the Sky in huge chunks, pouring over chapter after chapter for hours at a sitting.So, you may wonder; what is the attraction of this book?First and foremost, it is excellent history. Yet, there is no hint of the dry, colorless narration that hallmarks much of the work that attempts to encompass the breadth and scope that Mr. Bergerud has so ably captured in this remarkable volume. Nearly every page provides a revelation.Fire in the Sky is possibly the very best analysis of a major air campaign ever placed in print. Bergerud's consummate writing style is very entertaining, his skillful use of personal anecdote combined with the detachment of a historian, blend into compelling reading and a truly enjoyable experience.Warts? A few. I cannot imagine a 700 page monster such as this without any. Still, these are generally related to technical subject matter and in no way take away from the completeness of Bergerud's triumph, and a triumph it is. Having also read his wonderful Touched by Fire: The Land War in the South Pacific, I can say without hesitation that this new work not only complements Touched by Fire, it surpasses it.Destined to be the definitive history of the air war in the South Pacific, no serious student of World War Two or aviation can afford not to have this book in their personal library.Corey C. Jordan, EditorThe Planes and Pilots of WWII Internet Magazine

A tremendous book!

Like its predecessor "Touched With Fire : The Land War in the South Pacific", "Fire in the Sky" brings to light a wealth of little-known information concerning warfare in the South Pacific. This is truly a groundbreaking book on the subject. Unlike many other books that I have read on the airwar in the Pacific, Eric Bergerud's book goes beyond the romanticism of descriptions of famous Aces and the vaunted Japanese Zero. This book studies in great detail the (sometimes surprising) strengths and weaknesses of the opposing sides aircraft, doctrine, training and maintenance programs, etc... By covering details often omitted by other Authors, Mr. Bergerud shows us how in the space of a half year the outnumbered and poorly equipped Allied air-forces are able to achieve parity with the Japanese, and eventually turn the tide of the air battle. In addition to interviews with pilots and descriptions of tactics and combat, his attention to the war-winning effects of such neglected topics such as aircraft maintenance bring new understanding to this topic. I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is without a doubt the most interesting book that I have read on the airwar on the Pacific and indeed one of the better Military History books available.