Australia’s epic battle for the skies of New Guinea, 1942
In February 1942, after years of political interference in Australia’s defence preparations, the Royal Australian Air Force faced the Japanese offensive without modern fighter aircraft and with only a handful of bombers and long-range flying boats. The consequences were immediate: Darwin was bombed without effective opposition, and Japanese naval forces advanced to the Coral Sea, threatening Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Then came No. 75 Squadron RAAF. Hastily equipped with Kittyhawk fighters and led by one of the RAAF’s outstanding combat commanders, Squadron Leader John Jackson, the unit was dispatched to Port Moresby. For forty-four remarkable days, its pilots fought against overwhelming odds to defend New Guinea. Jackson was killed in action, sacrificing his life while defending both his country and the reputation of his squadron, unfairly criticised by senior officers far removed from the fighting. Storm over Kokoda restores the story of these extraordinary airmen and explains how their sacrifice helped hold New Guinea until reinforcements arrived, protecting Australia at one of the darkest moments of the war.