Description

This volume describes the operations and the problems of the RAAF in the War against Japan from April 1943 until the end of the war – the period in which the Allies possessed air superiority in the Pacific. At the beginning of this phase the RAAF was providing a major part of the air forces of the South-West Pacific Area. Later it began to play a less important role, so much so that discontent developed among aircrew and some of their leaders believed the force was not being assigned worthwhile duties.

The book tells not only of the widespread and varied operations of the Australian squadrons in the SWPA and Australian individuals in Burma but of the difficult problem of allocatimg command responsibilities within a force part of which was assigned to General MacArthur and part controlled by the Minister for Air through his Chief of the Air Staff.

The story of Japanese reactions to Allied air operations has been told with the help of enemy records which put familiar events in a new light.