December 8, 1941: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor (Texas A&M University Military History Series, 87.) |
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You Are Here: Home > History Books > Hawaii History > Item 204
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December 8, 1941: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor (Texas A&M University Military History Series, 87.)
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by William H. Bartsch
Sales Rank: 484086
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List Price: $40.00
$34.00
At Amazon
on 9-14-2008.
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Features
Cover Type: Hard Cover with 568 pages
Published by: Texas A&M University Press August 2003
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 1585442461
ISBN 13 Number: 978-1585442461
Book Dimensions:
9.3 x 6.3 x 2 inches
Weighs: 2.3 pounds
Reader Reviews
On December 8, 1941, a scant ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a large force of Japanese bombers and fighters crippled the largest force of four-engine B-17 bombers outside of the United States, as well as many of their P-40 support fighters. This sudden blow allowed the Japanese to rule the sky over the Philippines, removing the only effective fighting force that might have opposed them in Southeast Asia. How was this attack allowed to happen? Why didn't General Douglas MacArthur, commander of all military forces in the Philippines, have his planes in the air, or even better, why wasn't he launching an attack against the Japanese bases on Formosa? These questions have been asked almost as much as who was responsible for the Pearl Harbor attack, but what makes the Philippine disaster much worse is that MacArthur had ten hours' warning that the Japanese were probably going to strike but he failed to act! General Brereton, MacArthur's air chief tried repeatedly to get clearance from MacArthur to launch an attack against Formosa, but each time he was told by MacArthur's chief of staff General Sutherland to stand by and not to use the B-17s offensively or even for reconnaissence without first obtaining Sutherland's permission. By the time Brereton was finally allowed to mount a reconnaissence mission against Formosa, it was too late, the Japanese were already winging their way toward Clark Field. The B-17 attack against Formosa never occurred. What happened on December 8, 1941 can only be described as a huge derelection of duty by Sutherland and MacArthur. MacArthur should have sought out Brereton himself and devised a plan to attack Formoosa as soon as news of the Pearl Harbor attack was known, or, at the very least, Brereton should have been allowed to speak to MacArthur instead of receiving the run-around he got from Sutherland. The results of the Japanese attack were devastating. Almost half of the B-17 force in the Philippines was destroyed on the ground as well as many of the P-40 pursuit planes. The Japanese, as at Pearl Harbor, suffered only minor losses. I found this book to be a fascinating read. Mr. Bartsch describes American involvement in the Philippines from the build-up (and Washington's fatal decision to put their faith in a long-range bomber force as a deterrant to Japan) right through to the attack on Clark Field. Japanese and American viewpoints are presented, and the Epilogue solidifys Bartsch's case against MacArthur and Sutherland. I highly recommend this fine book. This subject has never really received the coverage it deserves, but this book describes in great detail one of the most destructive attacks against the United States. The ironic part is that it all could have been prevented if MacArthur and his staff had reacted differently.
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December 8, 1941: MacArthur's Pearl Harbor (Texas A&M University Military History Series, 87.)
Available from Amazon
Price: $34.00
Updated on 9-14-2008.
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NOTICE: All prices, availability, and specifications
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