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They fought with what they had: the story of the Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific, 1941-1942
They fought with what they had the story of the Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific 1941-1942 Author:Walter D. Edmonds This book is the history of the U.S. Army Air Forces in the Philippines and Javain the last days of 1941 and 1942. It is the story of defeat in the early months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Unable to replace the loss of planes suffered in the Japanese attack, the AAF fought on "with what they had" in the Philippines and the Dutch... more » Indies, subsequently becoming part of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM) under British General Sir Archibald P. Wavell, with AAF Major General George H. Brett.
Relying on interviews and diaries, Edmonds reconstructs a hold action - gaining time - as the badly outmanned and outgunned AAF modified planes and made innovations in fighter and bomber tactics that subsequently became standard practice in the Southwest Pacific. As Edmonds notes, the accomplishments of this small band of men probably prevented the Japanese from attempting to isolate Australia before the Allies were prepared to stop them. Thus, in the end this is the story of heroism, even in defeat, and of airmen who should not be forgotten.« less