Fire in the Isles of Spice tell's the story of the various air campaigns fought over the Netherlands East Indies from the start of the Pacific war to the present day. The first book of this mini-series covers Imperial Japan's invasion of the Indies, a campaign which proved to be a masterful demonstration of air-sea battle against Allied forces which were unable to withstand the conquest of the Malay Barrier north of Australia. Fire in the Isles of Spice documents Dutch and Allied defensive efforts during Imperial Japan's conquest of the region and contrasts these responses against Imperial Japan's seizure of air superiority over the Indies. With Allied and Imperial Japanese air strength roughly equal, Imperial Japan's superior coordination and seizure of momentum during their offensive counter air campaign resulted in the conquest of the entire Indonesian Archipelago precisely three months from the start of the Pacific War.The first volume of Fire in the Isles of Spice also touches upon Imperial Japan's capture of Allied equipment at the conclusion of the campaign, the importance of Indonesia to Imperial Japan's war effort, use of the Indies as an offensive base against northern Australia, and Allied air interdiction efforts against the oil resources of the Indies. In addition, carrier strikes against the Indies in 1944?45 are also be covered. The Australian invasion of Tarakan and Balikpapan and controversies prior these operations are also discussed.This volume concludes with the Allied victory in the Pacific War, and Imperial Japanese efforts to maintain the Indies as base for the Imperial Navy and as a last ditch strategic redoubt in cooperation with Indonesian independence forces.
