Best book to read on Guadalcanal ?
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MIflyer
Captain
Oh, good Lord! That's about like asking what is the best book to read on the Bible.
The problem with people who were there was that they may have had a really good look at what was going on but that inevitably was a narrowly focused and not always accurate. Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis is the oldest but hardly the best.
Fact is, there were multiple Guadalcanals, Land, Sea, and Air. In fact Torpedo Squadron 8 ended up there. The ground troops had it hard but I think the airmen and the sailors had it even worse.
As far as an overview, the best book I know of I think is called The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal, done by the same people who went down and looked at the Titanic. It does a very good job of explaining the overall sweep of the battles. From there you can go on read about whatever aspect of it that intrigues you. Fighter Squadron at Guadalcanal, Islands of Fire, Neptune's Inferno. The book Islands of Destiny does a good job of showing how important the Solomans campaign was; the author argues that it was the real turning point in WW2, not the Battle of Midway. The IJN was still kicking A after Midway, but they slunk out of the Solomans knowing they had been beat, and beat thoroughly.
The problem with people who were there was that they may have had a really good look at what was going on but that inevitably was a narrowly focused and not always accurate. Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis is the oldest but hardly the best.
Fact is, there were multiple Guadalcanals, Land, Sea, and Air. In fact Torpedo Squadron 8 ended up there. The ground troops had it hard but I think the airmen and the sailors had it even worse.
As far as an overview, the best book I know of I think is called The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal, done by the same people who went down and looked at the Titanic. It does a very good job of explaining the overall sweep of the battles. From there you can go on read about whatever aspect of it that intrigues you. Fighter Squadron at Guadalcanal, Islands of Fire, Neptune's Inferno. The book Islands of Destiny does a good job of showing how important the Solomans campaign was; the author argues that it was the real turning point in WW2, not the Battle of Midway. The IJN was still kicking A after Midway, but they slunk out of the Solomans knowing they had been beat, and beat thoroughly.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you, i ordered Neptunes Inferno, i'm gonna start with that one.
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Boom
Airman
Such a vast subject, as MIflyer mentioned Guadalcanal had it all. Brutal land battles, fierce naval action and ruthless air combat. Impossible for one book to cover it all adequately.
For 'oral history' style books covering the air action over Guadalcanal I would second MIflyer's "Fighter Squadron At Guadalcanal". Covers VMF-212 deployment from September to November '42.
Also Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-121, by Thomas Doll. Deployed from October '42 to end January '43. And..
The Island Of Fire. Reflections of the 347th Fighter Group, by Robert Fergusan. And...
A Marine Dive Bomber Pilot At Gudalcanal, by John McEnriy
All have excellent first hand accounts, of both pilots and ground crew.
For more of an 'overview' of the air war (covering August to December) I recommend:
The Cactus Air Force by Thomas Miller. And...
The Cactus Air Force. Air War Over Guadalcanal by Eric Hammel and Thomas Cleaver
The First Team And The Guadalcanal Campaign, by John Lundstrom. An epic book.
For the ground war you cannot go past Richard B. Franks 'Guadalcanal'. Easily the best book on the subject, and there area a great many very good books on the land battles. But Franks detail is superb.
One of the best 'first person' books that I've found on the subject is 'Guadalcanal Marine' by Kerry L. Lane.
Another is 'The Island' by Herbert Laing Merillat.
Naval is a tough one. There is a multitude of books on the naval battles around Guadalcanal. Most deal with a single action, others the whole period. So depends on what your after. The most interesting books I have found covering the Guadalcanal period (s such) are:
Neptune's Inferno, by James D. Hornfischer. Wonderful book. Top of the list.
Morning Star Midnight Sun (August - October '42), and
Blazing Star Setting Sun (November '42 - March '43). Both by Jeffrey r. Cox.
For 'oral history' style books covering the air action over Guadalcanal I would second MIflyer's "Fighter Squadron At Guadalcanal". Covers VMF-212 deployment from September to November '42.
Also Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-121, by Thomas Doll. Deployed from October '42 to end January '43. And..
The Island Of Fire. Reflections of the 347th Fighter Group, by Robert Fergusan. And...
A Marine Dive Bomber Pilot At Gudalcanal, by John McEnriy
All have excellent first hand accounts, of both pilots and ground crew.
For more of an 'overview' of the air war (covering August to December) I recommend:
The Cactus Air Force by Thomas Miller. And...
The Cactus Air Force. Air War Over Guadalcanal by Eric Hammel and Thomas Cleaver
The First Team And The Guadalcanal Campaign, by John Lundstrom. An epic book.
For the ground war you cannot go past Richard B. Franks 'Guadalcanal'. Easily the best book on the subject, and there area a great many very good books on the land battles. But Franks detail is superb.
One of the best 'first person' books that I've found on the subject is 'Guadalcanal Marine' by Kerry L. Lane.
Another is 'The Island' by Herbert Laing Merillat.
Naval is a tough one. There is a multitude of books on the naval battles around Guadalcanal. Most deal with a single action, others the whole period. So depends on what your after. The most interesting books I have found covering the Guadalcanal period (s such) are:
Neptune's Inferno, by James D. Hornfischer. Wonderful book. Top of the list.
Morning Star Midnight Sun (August - October '42), and
Blazing Star Setting Sun (November '42 - March '43). Both by Jeffrey r. Cox.
MIflyer
Captain
I have it but have not read it.
Also I have but have on hand but have not yet read "Operation KE The Cactus Air Force and the Japanese Withdrawal From Guadalcanal"
A friend of mine wanted to read everything he could find about Guadalcanal and I went looking for books on the subject.
One book covered the build up in AUS before the invasion. The Aussies were to supply food for the US ground forces and had to admit they could not meet all the requirements, which were based on their own standards, specifically:
1. They could not provide as much mutton that normally would be required for a force of that size, and regretfully said they could substitute beef.
2. They did not have enough tea for a force that size.
The US responded that they would take one for the team and accept the beef rather than the mutton and not to worry about the tea.
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- #6
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,306
- Jun 25, 2013
I'd read Typee there. I've never been to Guadalcanal, so you may like something else better, but I like Melville.
For the battles on and around Guadalcanal, I'd have no clue.
For the battles on and around Guadalcanal, I'd have no clue.
MIflyer
Captain
Don Adams of Get Smart was there. He was wounded.
- Thread starter
- #9
Wonder if he had a phone in his boot heel??
MIflyer
Captain
Every see that movie, Kingsman? The older agent is showing the special shoes with the built in knife blade to the younger recruit and says, ''They used to contain a phone as well."
By the way, as I said, VT-8 ended up on Henderson Field and ended up building a TBF out of the pieces of several of them so they could attack Japanese ground forces that were basically inside their traffic pattern.
Neptune's Inferno (Hornfischer) and the Cactus Airforce (Miller) are both excellent.
While you're at it, read Hornfischer's Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.
Aren't you glad I simply gave you only the book titles instead of my self-proclaimed expertise on WWII?
While you're at it, read Hornfischer's Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors.
Aren't you glad I simply gave you only the book titles instead of my self-proclaimed expertise on WWII?
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- #12
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SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I'd love to hear it! I make stuff up all the time.
Perfect! You sound like a self-proclaimed expert yourself. Since I was just recently on a self-guided motorcycle tour of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes, I need you to tell me what the name of the river (actually a steep banked creek) was that, when the Americans blew the bridge in his face, Pieper exclaimed: "Dammed Engineers!" No internet cheating allowed!
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The River Kwai. D'uh.
MIflyer
Captain
Actually, I don't think you can really read about the 'Canal and ignore the rest of the Solomons. True, I am reading a book right now about the Japanese evacuation in Jan-Feb 1943, and I guess you could argue that was the "end" of the battle for the island (the IJN sure thought so and evacuated mainly because they feared losing the rest of the island chain). But then Henderson Field became an offensive base rather than a defensive one, which I guess would be The Battle From Guadalcanal rather than the Battle for Guadalcanal.
In "Islands of Destiny" the author argues that it was the battle for the Solomons that was the real turning point in the Pacific War. The IJN slunk out of the island chain with its tail between its legs. They did not just lose Guadalcanal; they also lost New Guinea, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, which really shattered their confidence, and Admiral Yamamoto.
And I just found another book I did not know I had. Victory at Guadalcanal by Robert E. Lee.
In "Islands of Destiny" the author argues that it was the battle for the Solomons that was the real turning point in the Pacific War. The IJN slunk out of the island chain with its tail between its legs. They did not just lose Guadalcanal; they also lost New Guinea, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, which really shattered their confidence, and Admiral Yamamoto.
And I just found another book I did not know I had. Victory at Guadalcanal by Robert E. Lee.
Flying Jeep
Recruit
- 1
- Mar 17, 2017
Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle. Amazing in the insight and overview from 10 years of research and the Japanese opening their records... Not "With the Old Breed" -very, very dry, but my friend who WAS there as a pilot in USMC SBD's read my copy and felt sympathy for the enemy's plight. They were hung out to dry and the logistic abandoning and whitewashing was criminal. Tough duty for either side.
For an overview of the effect of Guadalcanal on the war effort, How The War Was Won, by Phillips Payson O'Brien (esp chapter 10: The air and sea war against Japan).
He makes a persuasive case the main impact was the losses of IJN aircraft and pilots, mostly non-combat, and mainly after the initial battles. (And, unlike Midway and earlier, the inability to recover most of the downed aircrew.) The result was exhaustion of the core of superbly trained aviators who'd terrorized the Pacific with the Kido Butai, unacceptable losses in both veteran aces and recent pilot trainees, and degradation of skills to the point of combat ineffectiveness by the time of the Marianas turkey shoot.
I'd always thought Guadalcanal was a bit of a sideshow, and mostly relevant because of the naval battles nearby. This book persuaded me it was a decisive campaign, especially when coupled with other pilot training challenges. It barely touches on the battle itself, but is very good placing it in the larger picture.
He makes a persuasive case the main impact was the losses of IJN aircraft and pilots, mostly non-combat, and mainly after the initial battles. (And, unlike Midway and earlier, the inability to recover most of the downed aircrew.) The result was exhaustion of the core of superbly trained aviators who'd terrorized the Pacific with the Kido Butai, unacceptable losses in both veteran aces and recent pilot trainees, and degradation of skills to the point of combat ineffectiveness by the time of the Marianas turkey shoot.
I'd always thought Guadalcanal was a bit of a sideshow, and mostly relevant because of the naval battles nearby. This book persuaded me it was a decisive campaign, especially when coupled with other pilot training challenges. It barely touches on the battle itself, but is very good placing it in the larger picture.
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Boom
Airman
Another book that covers Guadalcanal and Solomons naval war is the outstanding book 'South Pacific Destroyer', by Russell Sydnor Crenshaw Jr. Crenshaw, upon graduating the US Naval Academy Class of 1941 in February, was posted to USS Maury in July 1941 and departed in March 1944. In that time he served in a variety of roles, from division officer through to Executive Officer.
The book itself covers the period from just after the Battle of Tassafaronga 1942 through to the Battle of Vella Gulf in August 1943. No major fleet battles here, both the Japanese and US fleets were basically exhausted and rebuilding from the nightmare of Coral Sea, Midway and the five naval fleet actions around Guadalcanal.
The book covers a grinding period of small unit actions by destroyers of both fleets, such as the Battles of Kula Gulf, Kolombangara, and Vella Gulf.
Plus escort, shore bombardments, air raids, patrol and the multitude of duties that befalls a destroyer in a highly contested combat zone. US destroyer losses in this period were very high, and the tension comes through strongly.
A wonderful read.
The book itself covers the period from just after the Battle of Tassafaronga 1942 through to the Battle of Vella Gulf in August 1943. No major fleet battles here, both the Japanese and US fleets were basically exhausted and rebuilding from the nightmare of Coral Sea, Midway and the five naval fleet actions around Guadalcanal.
The book covers a grinding period of small unit actions by destroyers of both fleets, such as the Battles of Kula Gulf, Kolombangara, and Vella Gulf.
Plus escort, shore bombardments, air raids, patrol and the multitude of duties that befalls a destroyer in a highly contested combat zone. US destroyer losses in this period were very high, and the tension comes through strongly.
A wonderful read.
