Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War

Perusing through my local book store, I stumbled onto this little gem. Osprey publishing’s Aviation Elite Units series titled “Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War”. My first thought was that was a Very Long title for a book! As I pulled it from the shelf I was impressed by the wonderful art on the front cover by Mark Postlethwaite. Another long title for an artist to go with the theme of this book.

First published in 2006, author Carl Molesworth comes through again as one of the workhorses Osprey hires. He has done many fantastic books for the publishing company over the years. Carl has been an editor and writer for over 25 years now, specializing in World War Two aircraft subjects such as P-40 Warhawk Aces of the CBI, P-40 Warhawk Aces of the MTO, and P-40 Warhawk Aces of the Pacific. All are on my shelf as I write this.

The color profiles are done very skillfully by Jim Laurier and do a very nice job of covering a good sampling of all the different color schemes in that theater of operation. He has a very nice rendering of a pinup girl at the end of the color plates that all fans of nose art will enjoy.

The book begins with the long road to Tokyo. The island hopping campaign that led to accessible runways allowing long range escort and strike missions to be done by P-51’s and P-47’s. There is a mix of other aircraft spattered throughout the beginning of the book when the USAAF took what they could get their hands on and held out until new and faster aircraft could replace the old and worn out.

There is a good mix of equipment, places and personalities that occupied the Pacific Theater during the closing year of the war. The photos collected are very well done. Some of the photos are new and some show the tragic cost of war and some show the wonderful flyers and maintenance personnel miles away from home.

I found the information to be very readable and easy to follow. Well documented in a chronological series of battles leading up to the end of the war. The appendices are full of lots of great information. The book should be liked by both historians and model builders alike. I highly recommend this book to all.