WGSC: Darwin Spitfires - The Real Battle for Australia

[Carl_Brisgamer]

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Book Title:

Darwin Spitfires - The Real Battle for Australia

Author:

Anthony Cooper

ISBN:

9781742232270

Category:

History

Format:

Paperback

Summary:

"In 1943, a small band of inexperienced Australian and British fighter pilots fought an ongoing air battle in defense of north-western Australia, flying against a formidably skilled and proficient opponent.

The air raids on Darwin during 1942-43 constituted the only sustained and intensive direct assault on Australian mainland territory in the whole of World War Two and yet, surprisingly, most Australians have no idea that it ever happened. Following the RAAF’s No 1 Fighter Wing, Darwin Spitfires tells this little-known story, and in so doing, recovers this important aspect of Australian history."

Written by Brisbane school teacher Anthony Cooper, 'Darwin Spitfires' is a simply a superb book. Cooper covers each aerial contact in detail, analysing the advantages and deficiencies in training, equipment and tactics of both the RAAF and RAF Spitfire squadrons as well as their Japanese opponents. The Spitfires arrived in Australia to much fanfare and yet throughout 1943 failed to deliver the expected decisive victory over the Japanese. Cooper like many of his contemporary writers intersperses personal accounts throughout the general examination of the battle, acquainting the reader with the pilots who fought and in many cases died defending Australia's north against the Japanese Naval and Army air forces.

Cooper has also provided a 'web resource' to accompany the book here: http://www.darwinspitfires.com/

I would highly recommend 'Darwin Spitfires', probably the best written book on WW2 aerial combat I have read in recent years.