Eagles over Darwin: American Airmen Defending Northern Australia in 1942

In 1942, the air defense of the northern Australian frontier town Darwin was operated by airmen from the United States. That year was very nearly the end of Australia as a country. To those men the present nation owes a debt. A massive Japanese attack on Darwin on 19 February had left the town and its air base in ruins. An understrength squadron of American P-40s had fought a gallant defence but was all but wiped out. Northern Australia was now at the mercy of Imperial Japanese Navy Betty b...