THE FIRST USAAF FIGHTERS TO ENGAGE THE JAPANESE IN WORLD WAR 2, A HANDFUL OF P-40S ROSE TO DEFEND PEARL HARBOR FROM ATTACK ON THE MORNING OF 7 DECEMBER 1941. Warhawk units were also heavily involved in the ill-fated fight to stem invading Japanese forces in the Philippines and Java between December 1941 and April 1942 and again in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands between January 1943 and March 1944. This book examines The Warhawk's wartime exploits and all of its aces including 'aces-in-a-day' Mel Wheadon and Joe Lesika.