World War II Pacific Carrier Warfare History 500

World War II Pacific Carrier Warfare 500

GRN#23773

(in addition to WWII Pacific 390)

5 credits

Spring 2008

Ryan Evans

Dr. Louis Truschel

Western Washington University

Syllabus

This 500 level independent study is going to focus on both American and Japanese Aircraft Carrier Warfare during 1941-1945, examining numerous aspects of the use of military technology and the decisions of both sides in the main battles including the battles of Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, the Solomons, the Philippine Sea, and Leyte Gulf. While I intend to read the books listed here in their entirety or in part, I will also read relevant professional journal articles. Based on my readings, I will discuss these sources with Professor Truschel and write a historiographic essay, of approximately twenty pages, based on these readings. I will also write short three page overview analysis of five of the battles and post it onto a website that the class History 390 The Pacific War can view for additional information. There also will be a few lecture opportunities in addition to the research paper.

It is in addition to the regular course in that it goes beyond to cover aircraft carriers and to satisfy the 500 level.

The course will be evaluated by the essay of approximately twenty pages, the short three page overview analysis of the five battles.

Reading List

1. Murray, Williamson and Allan R Millet. A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 2000.

2. Keegan, John. Collins Atlas of World War II. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2006.

3. Hornfischer, James D. The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Final Hour. New York: Batam Books 2004.

4. Morison Samuel Elliot. The Two Ocean War A Short History Of the United States Navy in the Second World War. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press 1963. (Multi-Volume)

5. Tillman Barrett Clash of the Carriers: The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II New York: Calibir 2005.

6. Willmott H.P. The Battle Of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2005.

7. Dull Paul S. A Battle History of The Imperial Japanese Navy 1941-1945 Annapolis: Naval Institute Press 1978.

8. Stille, Mark. Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers 1921-1945. New York: Osprey Publishing 2005.

9. Prange, Gordon W. December 7th 1941: The Day The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor. New York: Warner Books, 1988.

10. Millot, Bernard A. The Battle Of the Coral Sea. Annapolis: Navel Institute Press,1974.

11. Stewart Adrian. The Battle of Leyte Gulf. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons,1979.

12. Thomas J Cutter, The Battle of Leyte Gulf. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1994.

14. Bradley, James. Flyboys: A True Story of Courage. Boston: Back Bay Books, 1992.

15. Okumon Masatak Zero The Story of Japan's Air War in the Pacific 1941-1945.

16. Burns Ken and Geoffrey C. Ward. The War an Intimate History 1941-1945. New York Alfred A Knopf, 2007.

17. Cawthorne, Nigel. History's Greatest Battles Masterstrokes of War. New York: Barnes and Nobel 2005.

18. Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya. Midway, the Battle that Doomed Japan; the Japanese Navy's Story, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press: 1955.

19. Prange William Gordon. Miracle at Midway. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982.

20. Bishop, Chris The Encyclpedia Of Weapons of World War II The comprehensive Guide to over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines. New York: Metro Books,1998

I. Pearl Harbor

Dull

Morrison 46-49

Prange, Gordon W. December 7th 1941: The Day The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor

Emily S. Rosenberg A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

II. Coral Sea

Millot The Battle of Coral Sea

Dull 123

Morison 137-160

Millot, Bernard A. The Battle Of the Coral Sea

III. Midway

Dull 137-147

Morison 147-166

Prange William Gordon. Miracle at Midway.

IV. The Solomons

Dull 189-199

Morrison 275

Dan Van Der Vat 225

V. The Philippine Sea

Morrison 476

Dan Van Der Vat 343

VI. Marianas Turkey Shoot

Tilleman

Morrison 318-340

Dan Van Der Vat 316

VII. Leyte Gulf.

Dull 314

HP Willmott Battle Leyte Gulf

Adrian Stewart

Morrison 421-470

Thomas J Cutter, The Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Lecture: 1 hour elements on 2 of the battles which notes and structure of content will be put to review.

Resume

http://myweb.students.wwu.edu/evansr7/dreamweaver1/