Meatballs and Dead Birds: A Photo Gallery of Destroyed Japanese Aircraft in World War II

Meatballs and Dead Birds: A Photo Gallery of Destroyed Japanese Aircraft in World War II | James P. Gallagher | A Superb Pictorial of Late-war Japanese Warplanes

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Meatballs and Dead...

	Meatballs and Dead Birds: A Photo Gallery of Destroyed Japanese Aircraft in World War II James P. Gallagher Stackpole Books, 2004 - 168 pages average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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This book presents a collection of photographs of downed Japanese aircraft that chronicles the final days of World War II through the lens of an American serviceman. Snapped by the author, a communications officer with the Fifth Air Force in the Pacific islands, these stunning photos cover all manner of aircraft, from the infamous 'Zero' carrier fighter to the 'Betty' bomber. Also listed are specifications and technical data for a number of planes, making the book a valuable addition to the air or military enthusiast's library.

A unique and refreshing reference

Any aviation buff that reads through this book will come away with a haunted sense of loss, and a feeling of relief that someone took the time to snap these photographs. The author documents the state of Japanese war birds immediately following the end of the war, as they were being literally shoved aside to make way for the occupation. Aircraft that would be priceless if they still existed today are shown in their last moments - battered, worn, and beautiful. Don't expect a comprehensive review of every type, but do expect some rare glimpses of these mysterious birds on the eve of their extinction.

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A Superb Pictorial of Late-war Japanese Warplanes

Meatballs and Dead Birds by James B. Gallagher: I missed getting a copy of this book the first time it was published in (I think) the mid-seventies. After waiting for decades, I must say that the wait was worth it. It is crammed with superb unpublished photos of WW2 Japanese warplane, plus a few Americans planes thrown in too. If you forced me to find areas needing improvement, there would be two. First, I think that the rarity and uniqueness of Mr. Gallagher's photos would have been better served if they were reproduced on glossy stock. Any comparison between the sharpness and details visible in the photos on the glossy cover stock vs. that of the body photos will illustrate this. Second (and really an adjunct to the first), additional text documenting tail codes and markings of aircraft in the background of the photos would be most welcome. This added text might be less necessary if the photos were printed on a glossy stock, which tends to show much more details. Please note that even with the above said this book is a great buy and a must-have for theWW2 historian, modeler or airplane nut.

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Unique Photographs

I purchased this book after viewing - and liking - a previous book by James P. Gallagher that presented unique photographs of his Southwest Pacific USAAF experience(s) in WW II. This book is still about the authors experience in the SWPA USAAF up to the end of the war, but it provides an entirely different perspective.

The emphasis is strictly on aircraft - and on Japanese aircraft at that. The aircraft photographed are in the condition the author found them: abandoned, damaged, semi-destroyed. However, the photos are unique in that they give a real glimpse into real Japanese aitrcraft. Gallagher used his "amateur" camera and technique widely, and wisely. He has captured a wonderfully wide spectrum of JAAF and IJN aircraft for us to view.

This volume was originally printed in the early '70's, and has been reprinted in softcover using 8" x 11" landscape format. All pictures are black and white (as are the originals). One could only wish that the publisher had utilized a better quality paper than it did, because that's the only downcheck I can give on the content of ths book.

For the military historian, researcher, enthusiast or casually interested party this is a unique volume of historical value because it records actual aircraft in their wartime setting, in their real colors (as described), with exterior, interior structure, and other detail where appropriate. One might truly state that this book is really of unique historical value. The military modeler of Japanese aircraft would also benefit from the book, I believe.

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