
44 Days
75 Squadron and the Fight for Australia
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $42.99
-
Narrated by:
-
Michael Veitch
-
By:
-
Michael Veitch
About this listen
The epic World War II story of Australia's 75 Squadron - and the 44 days when these brave and barely-trained pilots fought alone against the Japanese.
In March and April 1942, RAAF 75 Squadron bravely defended Port Moresby for 44 days when Australia truly stood alone against the Japanese. This group of raw young recruits scrambled ceaselessly in their Kittyhawk fighters to an extraordinary and heroic battle, the story of which has been left largely untold.
The recruits had almost nothing going for them against the Japanese war machine, except for one extraordinary leader named John Jackson, a balding, tubby Queenslander - at 35 possibly the oldest fighter pilot in the world - who said little, led from the front, and who had absolutely no sense of physical fear.
Time and time again this brave group were hurled into battle, against all odds and logic, and succeeded in mauling a far superior enemy - whilst also fighting against the air force hierarchy. After relentless attack, the squadron was almost wiped out by the time relief came, having succeeded in their mission - but also paying a terrible price.
Michael Veitch, actor, presenter and critically acclaimed author, brings to life the incredible exploits and tragic sacrifices of this courageous squadron of Australian heroes.
©2016 Michael Veitch (P)2016 BolindaEssential for history buffs
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
We shall remember them🇦🇺
Aussie hero’s
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed the book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A must
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A Must Listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Important Australia History.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fantastic history of a few brave AussiesA
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A must listen to anybody that is interested in Australian war history.
A story that should be heard.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Incredible Story
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Veitch's more casual enthusiast background does show through in parts, but generally doesbt detract from the narrative. The main caveat is the book seems to rely solely on 'Samurai!' for the Japanese pieces of the puzzle, which many historians now view with many issues due to the author (not Sakai himself).
Synopsis:
Following a solid overview of the foundation and evolution of the moribund, penniless and largely flightless RAAF during the inter-war years, covers the two dozen or so aviators of 75sqn from their formation in early 1942 to their 44 Day stint as the first, and initially only, defenders of Port Moresby during March and April 1942. The book gives a fairly personal insight into the men, and their relationships within the squadron, and surprisingly for the more popular history style of the book, Veitch avoids staying into the usual Anzac mythologising, and covers many of the personal issues between the men.
Perhaps the most important part the book absolutely nails is the near total lack of training the men had when thrust into combat. these guys were basically at the level of a civilian private pilot; they could (often barely) take off and land the aircraft, navigation was an alien concept to most, most had never practised any gunnery, and the concept of tactics and BFM were as remote as nuclear physics when they were thrown into the fray against the Japanese Navy's highly trained and experienced air crews, including in the later stages the Tainan Air Group, arguably some of the best aviators in the Pacific, even the world at the time. At no stage are the men portrayed as some bronzed, broad shouldered sons of ANZAC, masters of the air, rather malaria and dysentery riddled, ill trained and insufficiently equipped young men, who nonetheless go up to face the Japanese day after day; arguably the truest form of heroism.
Highly readable narrative of a largely forgotten chapter in Australian aviation history
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.