During the early part of the Pacific War. The Japanese were concerned about the US operating out of the Aleutians to attack northern Japan. Much of this concern was due to the Doolittle raid, which made the Japanese realize that they were not safe from US attack. In order to stave off the US, it was decided to occupy some of the Aleutian Islands and so both Attu and Kiska were invaded and Japanese garrisons put in place. Due to the lack of airfields, the Japanese used float planes for air defense, however, the weather in the Aleutians is rarely good with the expected results.

This second volume begins where the other left off, with the Japanese working to stay in place and keep resupplied, despite much of their focus being in the south Pacific in general and Guadalcanal in particular. Meanwhile, the US kept building up its forces as much as it could with bombing raids carried out on Attu and Kiska whenever the weather permitted. Results were generally poor, but enough to cause concerns. Meanwhile an airfield was built on Amchitka as well as Adak to allow fighters to accompany the bombers, which helped reduce losses from the floatplanes, though flak was always a major issue and what damaged or destroyed the most US aircraft from enemy action.

This volume also has a very detailed account of the Battle of Komandorski Islands when a US task force intercepted a Japanese resupply convoy. As often happens, the Japanese failed to really take advantage of their superiority and though ships were damaged, none were sunk, resulting in a tactical draw. Strategically it was a win for the US as the resupply ships were forced to turn around. It was this as much as everything that made the Japanese realize that keeping these islands wasn't going to work. After losing most of the garrison on Attu in a US invasion, the Kiska garrison was safely removed, leaving no one to greet the US when that island was also invaded.

As is the norm with Helion books, it is superbly researched and well written. The Aleutians campaign is not one that is well known to most, yet it is part of the war effort and eventually provided bases to do just what the Japanese feared, and that is allow bombers to attack northern Japan. Filled with great photos, some interesting charts and tables along with the usual profiles and art work, it is another Helion book that I can highly recommend.

November 2024

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