"Nav War Map No. 3 - World War 2 in the North Sea Area [on verso] Nav War Map No. 4 - The North Pacific Area", U.S. Navy Dept.

These very large pictorial Nav War maps were issued by the Educational Services Section of the U.S. Navy. One of the division's primary goals was to inform American service members of the status of the war and to provide context for the battles they would be supporting. Each map is filled with graphic illustrations and related text, providing the reader with a vivid depiction of each theater of war.

Map #3 (recto) depicts a host of wartime events along with a chronological listing of key dates at right. In England, it depicts hundreds of Allied planes heading toward the Axis' strategic locations on the mainland with a note stating that "The R.A.F. And The A.A.F. Control The Industrial Heart Of Europe From England." Also highlighted is the German invasion of Norway in April of 1940 with swastikas marking the route. The seas surrounding Europe are filled with scores of planes and ships engaged in battle with notations describing the action including in large letters "Our Navy Breaks the U-Boat Scourge On The Allies' Supply Lines With Destroyers, Destroyer Escorts, And Escort Carriers."

Map #4 (verso) shows Japanese invasion routes in yellow with text stating "The Japanese Struck Boldly at Every Strategic Naval Base in the North Pacific." A United States counterattack is shown along the "North Pacific Road to Tokyo", after the U.S. defeated the Japanese at Attu (Aleutian Islands) in 1943. Insets at bottom include comprehensive accounts of the Battle of Midway and Battle of Attu. Detailed topography is represented with an interesting three-dimensional effect.

References: Curtis & Pedersen (War Map) pp. 188-193.

Condition: B+

Vivid color with a few short splits at fold intersections, minor wear along a couple of folds, and minor extraneous creases adjacent to the folds.