Foreword
New Guinea Eagles, Japan's 4th Air Army is expected to be published about mid 2026. For historians and modelers of Japan's South Seas air war, this is incredible news. For decades we have hoped that generations of conventional wisdom about Japanese records - that they don't exist - would be proved wrong. Author Mr. Claringbould has possession of extraordinary Japanese primary source material, the ability to decipher it, and passion to write about and illustrate it. These records have enabled the author to enrich his books with archival data previously unknown, and iconoclastic revelations.
This forthcoming work is reason to celebrate.
As Mr. Claringbould states about the primary records;
Many people say they don't exist for Japanese Army, but this is not true. I have all the primary documents for all units. Attached is sample page from 68th Air Regiment. Much written about the JAAF to date is inaccurate, with the exception of a few erudite researchers such as Rick Dunn.
Preface
Per the author;
It will be a two-volume series, the first (this one) will outline the Air Army campaign in New Guinea from when the first units arrived at Rabaul in October 1942 until the late September 1943 raids against Nadzab and Port Moresby. It will cover Wewak’s beginnings, guarding the major convoys, defending Wau, and then the two major forays into the Solomons. By mid-1943 the Allied air war gravitated towards the burgeoning JAAF airfield complexes spreading out along New Guinea’s northern coast. Two air divisions were combined to create the 4th Air Army in August 1943, and soon Air Army aircraft were venturing into the New Guinea highlands, and then defending Nassau Bay, Lae and Salamaua.
The Air Army introduced a wide variety of fighter, attack, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft types, operating under numerous air regiments and independent squadrons. Citing recently-release primary operational records in kanji, for the first time combats are aligned and accurate losses are given. The problematic introduction of the Ki-61 ‘Tony’ is described in detail. This volume is bolstered by rare photos published for the first time, and accurate profiles of all types which operated in the theatre.