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North Pacific Air War Archive

Air Operations in the Aleutians and Kurile Islands, 1942–1945

Welcome to the North Pacific Skies!

This archive is intended for researchers, historians, modelers, and readers seeking a structured and reliable account of air operations in the Northern Pacific during the Second World War.

It brings together primary-source material, operational records, and detailed reconstructions of the Aleutian and Kurile campaigns—placing particular emphasis on events and units that remain underrepresented in the existing literature.

The project was created to make archival findings accessible beyond a limited circle of specialists and to present them in a coherent, reference-oriented format. Its purpose is not to replicate discussion forums, but to serve as a curated repository supporting focused study and long-term research.

Published initially in English and Russian, the archive aims to broaden its scope and welcomes engagement from Japanese researchers and students, whose contributions are essential to a fuller historical perspective.

Campaigns

Aleutian Campaign
Kurile Campaign

Operations

U.S. forces on Akutan Island inspecting the downed Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter that was damaged in the Dutch Harbor attack and crash landed on Akutan Island, killing the pilot.
Dutch Harbor Attack
Friendly Fire
Kurile Photo Missions
11 September 1943
US Aircraft in Kamchatka
Shumshu Landing

Units

US Air Units
Japanese Air Units
Soviet Air Units

Air Losses

US Air Losses
Japan Air Losses
Soviet Air Losses