MacArthur's Air Force: American Airpower over the Pacific and the Far East, 1941-51

During World War II, General Douglas MacArthur led the USAAF's second-largest air force, which possessed 4004 combat aircraft, 433 reconnaissance aircraft, and 922 transports. After being humbled by the Japanese, he and General George Kenney rebuilt the US aerial presence in the Pacific, helping Allied naval and ground forces push back the Japanese Air Force and re-take the Philippines. MacArthur was the highest military and political authority in Japan and named Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command at the outbreak of the Korean War.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

General Douglas MacArthur, a towering figure in World War II and indeed in the twentieth century, is often overlooked when it comes to his leadership of the second-largest air force in the United States Air Force (USAAF). After the end of World War II, the three numbered air forces under his command, namely the Fifth, Thirteenth, and Seventh, boasted a combined strength of 4004 combat aircraft, 433 reconnaissance aircraft, and 922 transports. However, MacArthur's leadership during the war is often overshadowed by his subsequent role in Japan.

Following his defeat by the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942, MacArthur and his air chief, General George Kenney, worked tirelessly to rebuild the US aerial presence in the Pacific. Their efforts played a crucial role in helping Allied naval and ground forces push back the Japanese Air Force, re-take the Philippines, and carry the war northward toward the Home Islands.

MacArthur's influence extended beyond the battlefield. After the end of World War II, he was appointed as the highest military and political authority in Japan. When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, he was named Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command. In the ten months of his command, his Far East Air Forces experienced significant growth, witnessing the first aerial combat between jet fighters.

This captivating and widely acclaimed book, written by award-winning aviation historian Bill Yenne, delves into the journey of American air forces in the Pacific under General MacArthur's command. It traces their humble beginnings from their initial deployment to the Pacific theater to their eventual triumph over Imperial Japan. The book also highlights their transition into the jet age, as they took to the skies over Korea.

General Douglas MacArthur's leadership and the remarkable achievements of his air forces in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean War are a testament to his enduring legacy. This book provides a valuable insight into the critical role played by American air power in shaping the course of these conflicts and the subsequent geopolitical landscape.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 153 x 233 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472833242