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Complete Set of U.S. Military Aviation Charts from 1944 Covering Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Aleutians, etc.
This collection consists of 50 aviation charts produced in the summer of 1944 by the U.S. Hydrographic Office on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy. The complete set, at a scale of 1:218,880, highlights critical locations and features across Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and smaller neighboring islands, during a pivotal moment in the war in the Pacific and the ramping-up of strategic bombing of the home islands.
The charts are categorized by regions and include specific titles such as Tokyo Area (V3-21), Osaka-Kobe Area (V3-23), and Nagasaki Area (V3-50).
Each chart includes detailed legends and notations indicating features such as landplane bases, seaplane bases, airports, coastal defense batteries, and more. Soundings in fathoms and heights in feet are color-coded for easy reference, along with a gradient of elevations. The legend provides symbols and terms in both Japanese and English, facilitating accurate interpretation of geographic features.
Historical Context
By mid-1944, the Allies had made substantial progress in the Pacific, capturing key islands such as Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Peleliu. These victories enabled the establishment of bases closer to Japan, providing a strategic advantage for launching more frequent and effective bombing raids on the Japanese home islands. These charts were instrumental in these operations, offering detailed and accurate navigational information for pilots and planners.
These charts played a vital role in the planning and execution of bombing raids, reconnaissance missions, and other aerial operations. They helped Allied forces navigate and target critical infrastructure and military installations, contributing to the overall strategy to weaken Japan's war capability. The precise and comprehensive nature of these charts underscored the importance of accurate intelligence and planning in the success of military operations.
Rarity
While OCLC shows diverse institutional holdings, determining the completeness of the listed sets is difficult.
The set is very rare in commerce; none are listed in RBH nor in OldMaps.com, and this is the first time we have seen a complete group. Individual sheets are scarce.
Provenance
Partially canceled and erased stamps of the Civil Affairs Training School, University of Chicago.
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