In Pacific Air, author David Sears tells the tale of dauntless young naval aviators, innovative aeronautical engineers, and daring combat pilots, bringing an often-overlooked period of World War II to life. Sears, a Vietnam War veteran and former US Navy officer, lives in New Jersey. He is also the author of several novels, including the award-winning Inferno, which debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
Historical context
This trilogy explores the history of aerial warfare in the South Pacific during the years May and June 1942. The series covers the first six months of the Pacific War, culminating in the Battle of the Coral Sea. This event marks the first time that opposing fleet carriers engaged in combat. It resulted in the loss of the USS Lexington and the withdrawal of the last remaining American carrier. While this was a great victory for the United States, it also paved the way for the end of the Pacific War.
Mission
As part of the U.S. Pacific Command, the 13th Air Force is responsible for planning and executing operations. As such, it commands combined air components and joint task forces. It is the only Air Force-led standing joint task force. PACAF is also responsible for the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, a collaborative effort between the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation to provide support to the U.S. Antarctic Program.
History
A fascinating book about the navy’s air war in the Pacific during World War II, The History of the Pacfic Air Forces reveals the courage and skills of its young naval aviators, who fought alongside the Allies to defeat the superior Japanese air force and fleet. The aircraft in use during this era included the elegantly designed F4F Wildcat, the lethal F6F Hellcat, and the lethal TBF Avenger torpedo bomber.
Operations
Pacific Air Transport was an early US airline that began operations in 1926. It carried passengers and mail, and was acquired by Boeing Air Transport two years later. Today, the airline is known as Virgin America. Its aircraft have flown over 100 million passengers in more than 90 countries. Pacific Air operations spanned the western US. This article provides a brief history of the airline and its operations. You can also find more information about Pacific Air’s history on Wikipedia.
Flight training
If you’re planning to fly, you may want to consider flight training with Pacific Air. They offer excellent flight training and aircraft rentals. You can also purchase flight training aids from them. Check out their website to find out more. They’ve had 287 visitors and 709 likes. You’ll be glad you did. Learn more about their courses and how to register for them. They also have information about scheduling and pricing.
Photographs
Photographs of Pacific Air are part of a unique collection at the UCSB Library. The Teledyne Foundation recently donated a collection of PAI photographs. The gift contains several hundred photographs, including black and white paper prints and negative transparencies on roll film. The collection includes photos of Southern California as well as flights that were obliquely oriented. The collection is organized by roll number, with the majority of flight IDs ending in V.
Remaining units
The Pacific Air Force has a long and distinguished history. Its three Numbered Air Force units are located on the islands of Japan, Korea and the Pacific Ocean. Its other major units include the 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan, the 7th Air Force at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea and the 11th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Other notable units are the 3rd Wing at JBER, the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, ROK; the 15th Airlift Wing at JBER; the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan; and the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Field, Guam.