New Guinea 1942–43

Halting the last Japanese advance

Mark Stille (Author), John Rogers, Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Osprey
06 January 2026

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

Series: Air Campaign

Lavishly illustrated, this book studies the role of airpower in the New Guinea battles of 1942–43, as the Allies checked and halted Japan's last significant offensives.

Mark Stille and John Rogers offer a new history of a previously neglected part of the South Pacific air war - the battles over New Guinea and the waters around it. The first of two books on the subject, drawing on Japanese, American and Australian sources, it details operations from February 1942 until April 1943, which saw the Allies stop the last Japanese efforts to expand their faltering empire.

Allied air operations focused on denying the Japanese the use of the sea to send reinforcements to New Guinea, during the battles for Buna and Gona, the unsuccessful and little-known Japanese invasion at Milne Bay, and the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in which a major Japanese effort to move troops to New Guinea was crushed by air power. While the Japanese had over-extended and lost operational focus, the Allies were successful in interdicting sea movement of Japanese forces to New Guinea. However, immature tactics meant air power was largely ineffective supporting their ground campaign.

Packed with photos, superb original battlescenes, 3D diagrams and maps, this book explains the roles of Japanese and Allied air power in the crucial battle of New Guinea.

By: Mark Stille (Author), John Rogers
Illustrated by: Jim Laurier (Illustrator)
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 56
Dimensions: Height: 248mm, Width: 184mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 300g
ISBN: 9781472866554
ISBN 10: 147286655X
Series: Air Campaign
Pages: 96
Publication Date: 06 January 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Mark Stille is the author of numerous books on the Pacific War. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in intelligence, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff, and on US Navy ships. John Rogers is a retired US Navy captain who saw operational service in the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. He is also a retired senior intelligence analyst with the DoD. Jim Laurier is a renowned aviation artist with paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Reviews for New Guinea 1942–43: Halting the last Japanese advance

New Guinea 1942-43 is an action-packed and informative introduction to the air war in that part of the Pacific theatre during a crucial phase in the war. * Neil Smith * New Guinea 1942-43 provides a richly detailed and valuable analysis of Japanese and Allied operations in and around New Guinea in 1942-43. * The Naval Review *