American Aces against the Kamikaze (Aircraft of the Aces) Paperback – October 23, 2012

Good untold stories about VF-17 Jolly Rogers scoring against the Japanese in 1945 flying F6F Hellcats since most people think of VF-17 flying Corsairs in 1943/1944 in the South Pacific Campaign. Also a nice story about USMC VMF 311 scoring heavily against the Japanese aircraft while flying the 4 x 20 mm cannon F4U Corsairs. Also had stories about USN fighter and fighter-bomber outfits scoring against the Japanese while flying the F4U Corsair. Finally, there are untold stories of the United State Army Air Forces fighter units flying the P-47 Thunderbolt and scoring against the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank) and the Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden (George).

Though somewhat limited in scope- the title means exactly what it reads- Aces against the Japanese kamikazie attacks against US naval forces in the ending days of the Pacific War. It is based on actual combat reports, so it often comes out a bit dry and factual- and repetitive. But, don't let that stop you from buying this book. It belongs on any war historians shelf. When finished, you feel almost as if you had actually been there on the carriers and flying these dreadful missions.

Edward M. Young is a fabulous author/historian with Osprey Publishing and this book is one of the best I have encountered with regard to the Kamikaze attacks and the American pilots that protected the U, S. Navy's ships. As always, the research, photos, and artwork are superb! I highly recommend this or any other Edward M. Young title!

GREAT READ ALSO. I ENJOY ALL MILITARY BOOKS THAT COME OUT REGARDING THE GREAT AIR FORCE DURING THE WARS. MY COUSIN MAJ. RICHARD IRA BONG WAS THE WWII ACE OF ACES.

The book follows Ospreys standard format for all their publications. Short, concise anecdotal stories of the pilots who flew air cover for the US Navy in the last months of WWII in the Pacific against the Japanese Kamikaze pilots coupled with great color plates of the aircraft some of them flew.

I like all of the books in the Osprey Series, and this one is new and unusual, with handsome illustrations.

This book is for the collector simple and to the point. I would offer more but i will refer you to other Aircraft of the Aces

not very good

Excellent book.

Slightly more informative than most, artwork okay but not outstanding. It fills a hole if you are interested in this short period. Unfortunately Japanese records are so poor that there's no way of accurately estimating the "aces" performance against the IJN and JAAF. A good basis for other work.