This latest volume of Pacific Profiles features an aircraft one doesn't normally associate with the Pacific war, the B-17 Flying Fortress. However, when it came to long range bombers, this was pretty much it as the B-24 was still under development. Those of you who watch war movies will recall that the B-17 was present during the Pearl Harbor raid and featured prominently in the early part of the raid. B-17s were also present in the Philippines with several able to make it out of the country and to Australia.

However, most of the early combat operations were during the Guadalcanal campaign with the planes mostly flying from bases on and around New Caledonia as there simply was not space for them at Guadalcanal until much later and into 1943. They were used as much for patrol work as for offensive bombing operations as their long range made them perfect for this role. When they were used for bombing, it was generally in fairly small numbers and their success rate was fairly low.

In addition to being used in the south Pacific, they were tasked with operations in New Guinea, with again, low numbers of aircraft due to space and the need to stockpile sufficient fuel prior to each mission. Operating out of northern Australia with just fuel stops at Port Moresby, the attacked Japanese positions in northern New Guinea as well as Rabaul on New Britain. By the end of 1943, most B-17s were replaced by longer ranged B-24s though several were kept for VIP transports or cargo aircraft. Though only four bomb groups operated in theater, three of them are still with the USAF with one flying B-52s and two others operating C-130s.

The book follows a standard format with each of the various units covered in greater or lesser detail, depending on how long they operated the aircraft. Each section shows the squadron's common markings and colors along with a number of great photos and profiles based on photos. Each full color profile provides information on that particular aircraft. This is where much of the information is derived. No lengthy pilot stories or background history on this as it concentrates on the aircraft and units involved in the conflict. In addition to photos and profiles, you are provided an introductory section on the theater of operations as well as some nice art work, the latter spread throughout the book.

It all makes for a superb reference book for the modeler and enthusiast and well worth the price of admission. I very much like this series and look forward to each new volume. Most highly recommended.

March 2025

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