Book Review: World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon

World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon
Dan E Bailey, North Valley Diver Publications, 533 pages (2001).
Read our interview with the author!: The title of Dan E Bailey's book, World War II Wrecks of Truk Lagoon, suggests at first glance that it covers only the sunken wrecks. This is far from the truth. In its 533 pages he also covers the history of the island, the Japanese occupation and the subsequent US air campaign against the Japanese.

The book is split into two halves. The first describes the occupation and the air campaign. This is illustrated with detailed maps and photographs from the time. The second half is dedicated to describing the 57 wrecks: 52 ships and 5 aircraft.

Each wreck has an introductory history of the ship. This is followed by detailed information about the wreck as it appears today on the sea floor. This section is illustrated with detailed historical maps, drawings of the wrecks and beautiful colour underwater photographs.

As a boy I was inspired to go to Truk Lagoon by the 1969 Jacques Cousteau trip, and subsequent film documentary The Lagoon of Lost Ships. In fact, this was one of the reasons I took up diving. I still haven't got there, but after reading Mr Bailey's excellent book I shall be be booking my trip very shortly. Thank you to Dan E Bailey for sharing what must be a lifetime's work.

About the Author
Dan E Bailey lives and works in Redding, California. He has also published World War II Wrecks of Palau and World War II Wrecks of the Kwajalein and Truk Lagoons, and has been diving Truk (or Chuuk) Lagoon for over 30 years. For more about the author see what he told us about himself.

World War II Wrecks of Truk Lagoon is available from North Valley Diver Publications.

Reviewed by Andrew Reay-Robinson

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