Aerial night fighting against the Japanese in
World War II demanded the merger of a special type of pilot and plane.
This is the story of those pilots who risked their lives night after
night flying P-38 Lightnings, P-70 Nighthawks, and P-61 Black Widows -
America's first purposely designed night fighter - for the 13th Air
Force in the South and Southwest Pacific between 1943 and 1945. Night
fighting included aerial intercepts of Japanese aircraft as well as
raids against Japanese installations. This book provides detailed
accounts of all these missions including the first solo night fighter
raid over the highly defended Japanese base at Rabaul, night aerial
combat against Japanese bombers and fighters, and harrowing night
attacks against Japanese ground targets. Coverage of American night
fighter tactics and Japanese counter-tactics add to the tale as 13th
Air Force pilots battled the Japanese for control of the night skies.