Mushroom Model Publications

Japanese Special Attack Aircraft & Flying Bombs; White Series #1

by  Ryusuke Ishiguro and Tadeusz Januszewski

Reviewed By  Hub Plott, IPMS #31328

MSRP: 24.99 (GBP) ISBN: 978-8389450128 Website: www.mmpbooks.biz/ This larger format book (8 ¼ inches x 12 inches) covers all aircraft and flying bombs used by the Japanese Navy and Army Air Forces in WWII. The book is broken down into sections covering the history and culture of Kamikaze. The effectiveness of the kamikaze program and the various aircraft and flying bombs by type and service are also covered. The first 60 pages cover the reasoning behind the development of kamikaze special attack squadrons. The high-ranking officials who came up with and implemented the concept as well as their ultimate fates are also covered. There is a good description of the ceremony performed by both Navy and Army squadrons prior to missions and more in-depth coverage of Kamikaze attacks in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa and in defense of the home islands. There is a good assessment of the effectiveness and futility of the Kamikaze attacks. In 1944-45 there were 106 Kamikaze attack missions that destroyed 56 Allied ships and damaged 368 at the cost of 3913 Japanese pilots of both services. Their greatest effect was the "shock value" of the suicide attacks on Allied psyche as materially they were not very significant. The bulk of the remainder of the book deals with the individual aircraft types used for kamikaze attacks by both services. Not only are descriptions and performance information given but also details of each types use as a Kamikaze aircraft in the various battles. There are many photos included that enhance this section as well as scale drawings, too. It was here that I discovered one small problem that has more to do with the printing than anything else, the drawings on page 202 covering the Maru-ke models 101,106 and 109 are printed so lightly as to be almost invisible. This can hopefully be corrected with the next printing. Coverage is also given to the balloon bombs set adrift to drop on the US mainland as well as remote controlled flying bombs and piloted flying bombs like the "Baka". The book finishes off with 23 pages of color profiles of all the aircraft and bomb types mentioned in the book. Each is of the superb quality we have come to expect from MMP. This book provides a wealth of information, much of which was not available before to those of us outside of Japan. The previously unpublished photographs also add to the appeal of this book. There is much here in this well researched volume for the aviation historian, WWII historian and Japanese aviation buff alike more so than the modeler. There is still a good bit of info in the drawings and profiles that modelers will find useful, but at 24.99 GBP I really feel that the former rather than the latter is this books target audience. Our thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for this review copy.