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Gary Nila is a former Los Angeles
Police Department police officer and FBI Special Agent who now works as an investigator with Northrop Grumman Corp. Air Combat
Systems. He has been a collector of World War II Japanese military uniforms and equipment for over 30 years, but specializes
in researching and collecting Japanese naval flight equipment and dress. He has interviewed many former IJN pilots including
Saburo Sakai, Sudamu Komaichi, and Masajiro Kawato.
Gary Nila is the co-author of Japanese
Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937-45 (Elite); Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces: Uniforms
and equipment 1937-45 (Men-at-Arms); and, I-400 Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine
- Objective Panama Canal.
According to the book description of I-400
Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine, “The I-400 'super submarine' was one of
the most monstrous creations to emerge from the Second World War and in its time it was the largest submarine ever built.
It was considered to have been one of Japan's most secret weapons - indeed the Allies remained unaware of its existence
until it surrendered in late August 1945. At more than 400 ft long, weighing 5,700 tons, carrying a crew of 200 and possessing
a range of over 50,000 miles, the I-400 carried three Seiran attack floatplanes in a hangar built on to its deck ahead of
the massive conning tower. The Imperial Japanese Navy tasked the I-400 with a secret mission to attack American cities and
to destroy the Panama Canal. This book is the result of many years of meticulous research. The authors have traced and interviewed
three of the original six pilots slated to fly the Seirans on their hazardous missions. They have revealed - for the first
time - the story their aircraft being painted in fake US markings for their final mission. The book contains hundreds of astonishing
photographs, many previously unpublished, showing the I-400 from both outside and inside as well as its hangars and aircraft.”
One
reader of I-400 Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine said, “I recently
purchased a copy of this book and it is simply superb. It covers an important part of Japanese navy history about the immense
I-400 class submarines and their mission to do suicide strikes on the Panama Canal. This book is loaded with rare photos,
excellent veteran accounts and drawings. I enjoyed reading it a great deal and would gladly read future works from authors
Henry Sakaida, Gary Nila and Koji Takaki.”
According
to the book description of Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937-45, “This
long awaited title provides a fantastic reference resource on the uniforms, dress, flight gear and personal weaponry of the
Imperial Japanese Navy airmen of World War II. It includes detailed descriptions of flight gear, including manufacture information,
and interviews with IJN pilots such as Sakai, Komachi, Tanimizu, Kawato and Saito regarding the use of a variety of equipment
are integrated into the text. Packed with great contemporary illustrations, photographs of original items, and colour pictures,
this title provides a meticulously detailed examination of the dress and equipment of the Imperial Japanese Navy's aviators
in World War II.”
One
reader of Japanese Naval Aviation Uniforms and Equipment 1937-45 said, “This is a book
I highly recommend to students of WWII, aviation historians and collectors of military/aviation memorabilia. It is not only
well researched, it is well written, concise and to the point. Whether a novice collector or a seasoned old hand, you will
find information in this book, both documentary and anecdotal, that you simply won't find elsewhere. One very pleasing
departure from Osprey's normal format is the use of color photographs for the centre layouts instead of illustrations.
Although Mr. Younghusband's graphics of the insignia are excellent, the colors photography, depicting authentic uniforms
and flight clothing being worn, provide excellent attention to detail. Osprey books are typically great value, almost always
useful and informative, but this one is a cut above. Mr. Nila has done great justice to the subject and although this is a
small book, it fills a big gap on the bookshelves of WWII uniform and equipment enthusiasts.”
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