Flying Buccaneers: The Illustrated Story of Kenney's Fifth Air Force

Author: Steve Birdsall
Publisher: Doubleday NY
Edition: First
Cover: Hardcover
ISBN: 0-385-03218-8
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Synopsis: Steve Birdsall's comprehensive chronicle of General George C. Kenney's Fifth Air Force presents a sweeping narrative of one of World War II's most innovative and effective air commands, operating across the vast Pacific theater from Australia to the Philippines. The book meticulously documents how Kenney transformed a demoralized and poorly equipped force into a formidable weapon that played a crucial role in MacArthur's island-hopping campaign against Japanese forces. Birdsall begins with Kenney's arrival in the Southwest Pacific in July 1942, when American air power in the region was at its lowest ebb following disasters at Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. The author details Kenney's immediate reforms: replacing ineffective commanders, implementing realistic training programs, and developing innovative tactics suited to Pacific warfare conditions. The book extensively covers the Fifth Air Force's pioneering use of skip-bombing techniques, where aircraft approached targets at extremely low altitude to ensure accuracy against Japanese shipping and installations. Birdsall's research draws from extensive interviews with pilots, crew members, and ground personnel, creating vivid portraits of legendary figures like Colonel Neel Kearby, the P-47 ace who developed effective fighter tactics against the maneuverable Japanese Zero. The narrative follows major campaigns chronologically, from the desperate defense of Port Moresby to the offensive operations against Rabaul, the "Gibraltar of the Pacific." The author provides detailed accounts of specific missions, including the devastating attacks on Japanese convoys in the Bismarck Sea and the systematic destruction of enemy airfields across New Guinea. The book examines Kenney's integration of different aircraft types - B-25 Mitchell bombers modified with additional forward-firing guns, P-38 Lightning fighters adapted for ground attack, and A-20 Havoc light bombers used for precision strikes. Birdsall also addresses the logistical challenges of operating across enormous distances with limited supply lines, showing how innovative maintenance and supply techniques kept aircraft operational in harsh tropical conditions. The narrative captures the multinational character of the Fifth Air Force, including Australian, Dutch, and Filipino personnel who served alongside Americans. The book concludes with the Philippines campaign and the Fifth Air Force's role in preparing for the planned invasion of Japan. Throughout, Birdsall maintains focus on the human elements of air warfare, describing both the triumphs and tragedies of a force that helped establish American air superiority in the Pacific. The illustrated format enhances the text with rare photographs, maps, and aircraft profiles.

Flying Buccaneers: The Illustrated Story of Kenney's Fifth Air Force, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.