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44 Days

75 Squadron and the Fight for Australia

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44 Days

By: Michael Veitch
Narrated by: Michael Veitch
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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 Bolinda
20th Century Air Forces Armed Forces Asia Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Japan Military Modern Oceania War US Air Force Imperial Japan
All stars
Most relevant
This well researched book tells a little known but important part of our wartime history. Well worth a listen

Essential for history buffs

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Great read I wish more stories like this were available to read my word we had some tuff buggers looking after Australia.
We shall remember them🇦🇺

Aussie hero’s

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I thought it was a great book with a lot of information I have listened to his books before and really enjoyed them he is a great writer

I really enjoyed the book

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This is a story that all Australians should be aware of. How brave these men. Their situation was terrible not to mention their probability of being killed. I can’t imagine how they must have felt. As a child I lived in PNG so I have a good idea of the climate they had to live in. The rest of their situation must have been traumatic. How strong they must have been.

A must

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Factual, well written well narrated by author. Extremely interesting! Recommend!

A Must Listen

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A part of Australia war history. You never known. Very hounor to have listen to this book. Courage in extremely difficult conditions. Brave human spirt. I am full of respect. For these true war heroes.

Important Australia History.

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A Classic example of Senior Officers out off touch with current events sending young men to their death

Fantastic history of a few brave AussiesA

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A great in site to the forgotten hero's of the 75th squadron. I can't imagine what these guys went thought. What a bunch of brave brave blokes.

A must listen to anybody that is interested in Australian war history.

A story that should be heard.

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A well-written account of an amazing snapshot in Australian military history. Achieving a good balance of facts and figures vs action sequences, this book is always engaging and highlights well the truly incredible struggle against massive odds of the hand full of pilots involved im those 44 days.

Incredible Story

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Veitch, familiar to many more for his Fast Forward sketch comedy days, weaves an excellent narrative history of the men of 75sqn RAAF in March to April 1942. The book leverages primarily from older interviews with the men (all since deceased) but combines sources well. the book is a aimed at the more casual audience, but eminently enjoyable to the more well read enthusiasts and enjoyable to those more at home with denser historical texts.
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

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