Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces

Gary Nila is a former Los Angeles Police Officer and FBI Special Agent who now works as an investigator with Northrop Grumman Corp. Air Combat Systems. He has been a collector of World War II Japanese military uniforms and equipment for over 30 years, but specializes in researching and collecting Japanese naval flight equipment and dress. He has interviewed many former IJN pilots including Saburo Sakai, Sudamu Komaichi, and Masajiro Kawato. Gary lives in Lakewood, California.Robert A Rolfe, who retired after 37 years with the US Postal Service, has collected World War II Japanese militaria for more than 45 years, specializing for the past 25 years in the Special Naval Landing Forces. Robert lives in Burbank, CA. Tony Chong, who took the color photographs for the plates in this book, joined the Northrop Corporation in 1984 as a model-maker, and now runs the Display Model Shop for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems/Western Region in El Segundo, CA. He completed his BA in history at CSULA in 1995 with a focus on aviation and military-related subjects. He is a published aviation photographer, though with wider photographic interests; this is his third collaboration with Gary Nila, including Elite 86. Tony lives in Burbank, CA.

• Origins of SNLF - World War II Headgear including caps and helmetsUniformsFootwearInsignia of rank and specialtyLeather equipmentCloth & canvas equipmentWeaponsNaval paratroop equipmentMiscellaneous equipment