Darwin Spitfires
The Real Battle for Australia, New Edition
Published on 15. August 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
576 pages
978-1-74223-778-7 (ISBN)
Description
The Japanese air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942 are well known to most Australians, but what happened afterwards?
For almost two years the airspace over North West Australia was routinely attacked in Japanese air raids, tallying about 70 in total. It constituted the only sustained and intensive direct assault on Australian territory in the whole of World War II - and the whole history of post-1788 Australia - yet, surprisingly, most Australians have no idea that it ever happened.
Telling the story of the RAAF's No 1 Fighter Wing, composed of both Australian and British spitfire pilots, Darwin Spitfires explores the little-known 1943 season of air combat over the top end, recovering this important aspect of Australian history.
For almost two years the airspace over North West Australia was routinely attacked in Japanese air raids, tallying about 70 in total. It constituted the only sustained and intensive direct assault on Australian territory in the whole of World War II - and the whole history of post-1788 Australia - yet, surprisingly, most Australians have no idea that it ever happened.
Telling the story of the RAAF's No 1 Fighter Wing, composed of both Australian and British spitfire pilots, Darwin Spitfires explores the little-known 1943 season of air combat over the top end, recovering this important aspect of Australian history.
Reviews / Votes
'This fascinating book reclaims an important, little-known aspect of our war history.' - Brisbane News'It is a real pleasure to read Cooper's careful dissection of each dogfight, a display of unselfconscious expertise.' - Peter Stanley, The Canberra Times
'Detailed and engrossing' - The Newcastle Herald
'For anyone with an interest in Australian aviation and/or military history' - Sunday Tasmanian
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Sydney, NSW
Australia
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
801 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-74223-778-7 (9781742237787)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Anthony Cooper is a former RAAF officer and retired school teacher with a Ph.D. in history on German civil aviation in the Weimar Republic, and the author of HMAS Bataan 1952 (New South 2010); Darwin Spitfires (New South, 2011 & Pen and Sword, 2013); Kokoda Air Strikes (New South, 2014); RAAF Bombers over Germany (Rosenberg, 2016); Paddy Finucane and the Legend of the Kenley Wing (Fonthill, 2016); and Sub Hunters (Fonthill, 2020). He has had media experience as an author, including interviews for print media, live radio interviews, and book talks.