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 kilometers 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 color graphics by renowned illustrator Michael
Claringbould, this significant new research reveals a battle for
Australia that has been previously unknown.
