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Osprey Warrior #55
Imperial Japanese Naval Aviator 1937–45
The fateful attack on Pearl Harbor forced the Western world to revise its opinion of Japan's airmen. Before World War II (1939-1945), Japanese aviators had been seen as figures of ridicule and disdain; yet the ruthless skill and efficiency of their performance in December 1941 and the months that followed won them a new reputation as a breed of oriental superman. This book explores the world of the Imperial Japanese Naval airman, from the zenith of his wartime career until the turning of the tide, when the skill and experience of the average Japanese airman declined. Cultural and social background, recruitment, training, daily life and combat experience are all covered.
- GenresMilitary History
64 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 14, 2018
I mainly got this book so I can learn more about the IJN flight training program, and that's exactly what I got (plus more!). Despite the book being about 60 pages long, about 20 pages was dedicated to flight training: it explained the different routes these Japanese boys were first recruited into the flight schools (either already enlisted in the navy and transferring to aviation, or recruited from the civilian world to either the ages 15-17 group or the 16-19 group, or recruited as a university student), what the studies included, how the program was broken down, the locations, and laid out how the original 3 year study plan (the first 2 years educating them to a 2nd year HS curriculum while teaching them the spirit and expectations of a navy men) was like.
I appreciated the statistics that was added in here, stating the difficulty of getting into these programs prior to the Pacific War - about 200 students nationwide got in per year until 1938 and didn't exceed 1000 until 1941, but by the end of 1943, 28,000 students were enrolled in a year with a much accelerated version. These boys (typically recruited as a civilian) came into flight schools with the rank of airman 4th class, but it didn't tell us what their rank was upon completion, though I am assuming they would be promoted to FPO c/2. It would have been nice if there was a mention about that. I liked how they explained the different places that the pilot cadets were taken to for advanced training, but I would have liked to read a more detailed account of what the training for each specialty aircraft was like, as well as information about the recon course (and where they were taken too...). After advanced training and before being deployed to their first unit, these men would have already accumulated 200 flight hours under their belt.
The explanation on how they were trained to land on aircraft carriers was great, although only a page long (I wished it was more in depth, but I can't complain much considering the book size, the plus of a photo attached to this section, and I can always read more about this somewhere else). Prior to 1938, only pilots with 500 or more flight hours were only allowed to land on carriers due to the difficulties of restricted landing. After 1938 that requirement was reduced to a little over 200 hours and pilots straight from advanced training were assigned immediately to aircraft carriers) Unfortunately by spring 0f 1944, pilots with less than 150 hours were made to land on these carriers, causing a large amount of fatalities.
After the explanation of the training, you get a very brief description on uniform, weapons, equipments, daily life, their belief system as it pertains to being "a warrior", front line duties, tactics, and the last chapter, a fictional example of a typical "day in the life" of a IJN pilot. I would have liked additional explanations on daily life, aircraft equipments, and once again, the advanced pilot/recon training rather than having that last chapter (which personally I think wasn't necessary to have in the first place).
The colored pictures of the plane formations and dive/torpedo bomber attacks (explanations are in the back of the book!) AND the explanation of the old (german-based) Japanese educational system in the beginning in the book were major pluses!
This is a great introductory book if you want to know how the Japanese youth became an IJN pilot in the first place. The first 20 pages explaining the flight school program alone is worth getting this. I plan on getting the books mentioned in the bibliography so I can hopefully learn more about the life of a IJN aviator (specifically more about their advanced and carrier training). But if you want short, sweet, and to the point, then this book is an absolute must.
I appreciated the statistics that was added in here, stating the difficulty of getting into these programs prior to the Pacific War - about 200 students nationwide got in per year until 1938 and didn't exceed 1000 until 1941, but by the end of 1943, 28,000 students were enrolled in a year with a much accelerated version. These boys (typically recruited as a civilian) came into flight schools with the rank of airman 4th class, but it didn't tell us what their rank was upon completion, though I am assuming they would be promoted to FPO c/2. It would have been nice if there was a mention about that. I liked how they explained the different places that the pilot cadets were taken to for advanced training, but I would have liked to read a more detailed account of what the training for each specialty aircraft was like, as well as information about the recon course (and where they were taken too...). After advanced training and before being deployed to their first unit, these men would have already accumulated 200 flight hours under their belt.
The explanation on how they were trained to land on aircraft carriers was great, although only a page long (I wished it was more in depth, but I can't complain much considering the book size, the plus of a photo attached to this section, and I can always read more about this somewhere else). Prior to 1938, only pilots with 500 or more flight hours were only allowed to land on carriers due to the difficulties of restricted landing. After 1938 that requirement was reduced to a little over 200 hours and pilots straight from advanced training were assigned immediately to aircraft carriers) Unfortunately by spring 0f 1944, pilots with less than 150 hours were made to land on these carriers, causing a large amount of fatalities.
After the explanation of the training, you get a very brief description on uniform, weapons, equipments, daily life, their belief system as it pertains to being "a warrior", front line duties, tactics, and the last chapter, a fictional example of a typical "day in the life" of a IJN pilot. I would have liked additional explanations on daily life, aircraft equipments, and once again, the advanced pilot/recon training rather than having that last chapter (which personally I think wasn't necessary to have in the first place).
The colored pictures of the plane formations and dive/torpedo bomber attacks (explanations are in the back of the book!) AND the explanation of the old (german-based) Japanese educational system in the beginning in the book were major pluses!
This is a great introductory book if you want to know how the Japanese youth became an IJN pilot in the first place. The first 20 pages explaining the flight school program alone is worth getting this. I plan on getting the books mentioned in the bibliography so I can hopefully learn more about the life of a IJN aviator (specifically more about their advanced and carrier training). But if you want short, sweet, and to the point, then this book is an absolute must.
February 1, 2016
This is an excellent little book on the subject of Japanese Imperial Naval Aviators during the 1937-1945 time period. It has lots of photos (that I have not seen elsewhere), and a lot of information. Topics covered include recruitment and training; flight training; carrier qualification; belief and belonging; spirit of the Imperial Japanese naval airman; dress and appearance; weapons and equipment; daily life and front-line duty; tactics; the Imperial Japanese naval airman in combat, a glossary, a bibliography, and various color plates depicting the clothing worn by the aviators, flight tactics and other things.
The book, some 64 pages long, reads well and is written in a very factual, straight manner without any particular points-of-view being taken. It contains a lot of information I have not read elsewhere, and I've covered quite a few books on Japan and the war. The book also leaves out the subject of kamikaze on purpose to concentrate totally on the life of the average IJN aviator.
Interestingly enough, I found this book at a local store that sells games, gaming supplies and models. There seems to be a series of books like this, and I plan to get others over time.
The book, some 64 pages long, reads well and is written in a very factual, straight manner without any particular points-of-view being taken. It contains a lot of information I have not read elsewhere, and I've covered quite a few books on Japan and the war. The book also leaves out the subject of kamikaze on purpose to concentrate totally on the life of the average IJN aviator.
Interestingly enough, I found this book at a local store that sells games, gaming supplies and models. There seems to be a series of books like this, and I plan to get others over time.
September 15, 2012
831 - 2012
October 7, 2017
Penerbang angkatan laut Jepang sangat disegani ketika meluluhlantakan Pearl Harbor pada 7 Desember 1941. Kejayaan demi kejayaan berhasil diperoleh terutama di daerah Tiongkok-Pasifik. Namun tidak selamanya kemenangan diperoleh. Perang tidak hanya melulu mengenai siapa yang lebih banyak menjatuhkan pesawat lawan, namun juga berkaitan dengan kemampuan berproduksi sumber daya manusia dan pesawat.
Buku ini menceritakan mengenai sejarah dan kisah penerbang angkatan laut Jepang dari tahun 1937-1945, mulai dari perekrutan, pendidikan dan penugasan. Dirgantara pada zaman itu menjadi primadona bagi warga Jepang karena menawarkan daya tarik berupa kebanggaan menjadi seorang penerbang. Dari 20000 pendaftar tiap tahun, hanya diterima 200 orang dengan nilai rata-rata ujian awal 85%. Pendidikan penerbang dimulai dari pukul 06.00 hinggaa pukul 22.00, dengan disiplin tingkat tinggi. Bagi remaja Jepang, ini merupakan suatu pembentukan karakter yang kuat sehingga pada awal-awal perang, penerbang Jepang memiliki keunggulan.
Kejayaan demi kejayaan terukit di medan Tiongkok dan Pasifik. Namun ceritanya menjadi berbeda ketika lawan yang dihadapi memiliki pasokan sumber daya yang lebih besat, serta kemampuan untuk belajar dari kesalahan. Ditambah lagi terdapat persaingan dengan Angkatan Darat. Jepang akhirnya menyerah di tangan negeri Paman Sam.
Hal yang patut dipelajari adalah bagaimana negara Jepang bisa membangun suatu tradisi penerbangan yang disegani, dalam waktu singkat. Kunci suksesnya adalah melalui seleksi yang ketat, pendidikan yang mumpuni serta karakter pembelajar dari orang Jepang itu sendiri.
Buku ini menceritakan mengenai sejarah dan kisah penerbang angkatan laut Jepang dari tahun 1937-1945, mulai dari perekrutan, pendidikan dan penugasan. Dirgantara pada zaman itu menjadi primadona bagi warga Jepang karena menawarkan daya tarik berupa kebanggaan menjadi seorang penerbang. Dari 20000 pendaftar tiap tahun, hanya diterima 200 orang dengan nilai rata-rata ujian awal 85%. Pendidikan penerbang dimulai dari pukul 06.00 hinggaa pukul 22.00, dengan disiplin tingkat tinggi. Bagi remaja Jepang, ini merupakan suatu pembentukan karakter yang kuat sehingga pada awal-awal perang, penerbang Jepang memiliki keunggulan.
Kejayaan demi kejayaan terukit di medan Tiongkok dan Pasifik. Namun ceritanya menjadi berbeda ketika lawan yang dihadapi memiliki pasokan sumber daya yang lebih besat, serta kemampuan untuk belajar dari kesalahan. Ditambah lagi terdapat persaingan dengan Angkatan Darat. Jepang akhirnya menyerah di tangan negeri Paman Sam.
Hal yang patut dipelajari adalah bagaimana negara Jepang bisa membangun suatu tradisi penerbangan yang disegani, dalam waktu singkat. Kunci suksesnya adalah melalui seleksi yang ketat, pendidikan yang mumpuni serta karakter pembelajar dari orang Jepang itu sendiri.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews