The Empire Strikes South: Japan’S Air War Against Northern Australia 1942-45 (Second Edition)

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Tom Lewis

The Empire Strikes South

Japan’S Air War Against Northern Australia 1942-45 (Second Edition)

Tom Lewis

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English

Avonmore Books
01 February 2020

History; Second World War

Very few Australians today know of the fierce air battles fought across the Top End of Australia in World War II.

For more than two years Japanese aircraft crossed the coast and bombed relentlessly. Savage dogfights were fought between the legendary Zero fighter and Allied Kittyhawks and Spitfires. Big twin-engine Betty bombers rained down blast and fire upon airfields and towns, even penetrating as far inland as Katherine, some 300 kilometres from the coast.

Nearly 200 Japanese aircrew died in the onslaught. This book lists all of their names and describes all of the combat missions – and reveals for the first time that the number of combat flights, aircraft shot down, and aircrew who died is far higher than previously thought. Scores of aircraft were downed in combat operations ranging from Exmouth to Townsville, with the majority of action taking place in the Northern Territory.

This new extensive research shows the number of air raids was higher than the previously suggested figure of 64, with 77 raids on the Territory alone, while 207 enemy combat flights were carried out across Northern Australia. 187 Japanese airmen died when their aircraft were brought down. In many cases their bodies lie in remote sites across the vast bush and coastal waters of the north. Many of the wrecks have never been found.

The Empire Strikes South describes all of the aircraft used, and gives an insight into the world of fighter pilots and aircrew. With a full range of new colour graphics by renowned illustrator Michael Claringbould, this significant new research reveals a battle for Australia that has been previously unknown.

By: Tom Lewis
Imprint: Avonmore Books
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 250mm, Width: 176mm,
ISBN: 9780648665939
ISBN 10: 0648665933
Pages: 184
Publication Date: 01 February 2020
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

One of Australia's foremost military historians, Dr Tom Lewis is a former naval officer and author of 14 books.

Reviews for The Empire Strikes South: Japan’S Air War Against Northern Australia 1942-45 (Second Edition)

An important and informative book on a subject many today will simply have little knowledge of. * Flightline * The book gives a fascinating insight into the world of the pilots and aircrew through period combat reports, newspaper articles and post war interviews. These are complemented by colour profiles of all of the aircraft participating and appendices which not only detail Japanese aircraft loss, but crew members names. This book adds much needed balance to an air campaign which has largely been relegated to the back seat of WWII history. * Classic Wings *