Last week, Rick had the pleasure of sitting down with Paul, the host of WW2TV, for a thoughtful conversation about his book, South Pacific Air War. Together, they explore the story behind the book, what drew Rick into researching this often-misunderstood corner of World War II, and the insights uncovered along the way.

Rick walks through the major themes of South Pacific Air War, offering context, commentary, and a clearer view of the air war in a region where two related Allied fronts were, from the Japanese perspective, a single unified theater. He also answers questions from Paul and viewers, bringing depth and nuance to the discussion.

The book stands out for its balance and its reliance on primary sources from both sides—made possible in part by Rick’s extraordinary collection of translated Japanese documents, one of the largest in private hands.  

If you enjoy well-researched history told with curiosity and care, you’ll find this conversation worth your time.