Central Pacific 1943–45

Seventh Air Force's island-hopping war

Brian Lane Herder, Gareth Hector (Illustrator)

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Osprey
03 February 2026

History; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Second World War; Air forces & warfare

Series: Air Campaign

The little-known history of the Hawaii-based Seventh Air Force's war as it fought in all the major island campaigns from the Gilberts and Marshalls to the Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

Rebuilt after being shattered at Pearl Harbor, the Hawaii-based Seventh Air Force was assigned responsibility for the new Central Pacific Area, which (bar Midway) was then very quiet. But when the Navy began its counteroffensive in late 1943, Seventh Air Force was sent into action as the USAAF's contribution to the Central Pacific.

In this book, military historian Brian Lane Herder details Seventh Air Force’s part in the Pacific War, actions long overshadowed by the Navy’s carrier war. He explains how Seventh Air Force fought in all the major 1943–45 Central Pacific campaigns – the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. As each island fell, and sometimes with the airfield still under Japanese fire, a detachment flew ashore to provide organic air defense and to start attacking the next targets. The Seventh provided a major part of the airpower at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and as the end of the war approached, its P-51s and P-47s then flew ultra-long-range B-29 escort missions.

Researched almost entirely from primary sources, this book is spectacularly illustrated with many unpublished photos, original artwork, maps and 3D diagrams. It is a long-overdue account of Seventh Air Force's unjustly overlooked Pacific War campaign.

By: Brian Lane Herder
Illustrated by: Gareth Hector (Illustrator)
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 57
Dimensions: Height: 252mm, Width: 182mm, Spine: 6mm
Weight: 300g
ISBN: 9781472864871
ISBN 10: 1472864875
Series: Air Campaign
Pages: 96
Publication Date: 03 February 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Brian Lane Herder graduated with a BA in History from the University of Kansas in 2003, and a Masters of Library Science from Emporia State University in 2009. He is a legislative librarian for the Kansas state government and his historical research interests include the US military, naval warfare, and World War II. His books for Osprey include Operation Torch 1942 and The Naval Siege of Japan 1945. Gareth Hector is an internationally acclaimed aviation artist.

Reviews for Central Pacific 1943–45: Seventh Air Force's island-hopping war

In Central Pacific 1943-45, Brian Lane Herder has provided a well-written, highly detailed yet readable account of the Seven Air Force’s contribution to the Central Pacific campaign, which will certainly appeal to those with an interest in the Pacific War or airpower. * The Naval Review * This reasonably priced and concise account of this little-known campaign is well worth owning. * Flypast Magazine *