quote:

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

A few more, some not so easy to find:

The Independence Class Light Aircraft Carriers - Andrew Faltum - ISBN 1-877853-62-3
Warship Losses of World War II - David Brown - ISBN 0-85368-802-8
US Merchant Vessel War Casualties of World War II - Robert M.Browning Jr. - ISBN 1-55750-087-8
US Coast Guard and Revenue Cutters 1790-1935 - Donald L Canney - ISBN 1-55750-101-7
Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 - Ross Gillett - ISBN 0-86824 095 8
Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 - G. Hermon Gill - Official History, no identifying number found
Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945 - G. Hermon Gill - Official History, National LIbrary of Australia Registry Number Aus 68-1798
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet 1939 - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-633-3
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Two Ocean Fleet Edition (1942) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-634-1
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, War Editon (1942) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-635-x
Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Victory Editon (1945) - James C Fahey - Reprint ISBN 0-87021-636-8
Navies of the Second World War: Royal Netherlands Navy - H.T. Lenton - Library of Congress Card Number 66-13603
Ugly Ducklings, Japan's WWII Liberty TYpe Standard Ships - S.C. Heal - ISBN 1-59114-888-X
The Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II - Mark P Parillo - ISBN 1-55750-677-9
Empire Ships (A Record of British Built and Acquired Merchant Ships during the Second World War) W.H. Mitchell and L.A. Sawyer - ISBN 1-85004-275-5
Destination Corregidor - Robert L. Underbrink - ISBN 0-87021-142-0

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ORIGINAL: ctangus

I expect you've read some of these already, but here are my current favorites:

The Second World War - Winston S. Churchill - Dry at times, and it omits some data that's now non-confidential (e.g. Ultra) but it's a fascinating insight into the decision making process that guided the war. I'd recommend all 6 unabridged volumes as opposed to the 1 volume abridged version which is available.

The Rising Sun... - John Toland - An overview of the whole Pacific war largely from the Japanese point of view. It provides very interesting data on how Japan got involved with the war in China & then the Great Pacific War.

Shattered Sword - Jonathan Parshall - Challenges some of the myths of the Battle of Midway & provides a chilling account of how-it-was for the sailors of KB.

Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors - James Hornfischer - I only recently picked this up, but it's by far the best account of the battle off Samar that I've read.

Stalingrad - Antony Beevor - I've read a lot about that battle as it somehow fascinates me more than any other, and Antony Beevor's account is by far the most complete & intimate that I've personally come across.

Gudalcanal - Richard B. Frank - Great detail on both the land & sea battles around that island.

Fire in the Sky - Eric Bergerud - This probably should be higher in my list. It provides great understanding on the air war in the Solomons & New Guinea. And how/why the allies eventually got the upper hand. Very good book, IMO.