Having begun to expand in the 1930s, the RAAF still only had twelve permanent squadrons when war was declared. However, 10 Squadron was already in the UK to pick up its new Short Sunderlands, 3 Squadron left for the Middle East several months later and other units soon departed for the Far East. That was not enough to face the challenges imposed by the air war to come and a massive expansion was initiated. Within two years, and counting only the units earmarked to be placed under RAF authority, no less than seventeen squadrons were formed. However only four were dedicated to the day fighter role — 450 in the Middle East, 452 and 457 in the UK, and 453 in the Far East. From the start, 452 attracted attention from the media thanks of its considerable successes in 1941-1942, the Australian fighter pilots making the most claims among the nations of the Empire. This initial assignment changed dramatically with the Japanese invasion of South East Asia, however, and the disaster that followed, ending with the fall of Singapore and the threat of an invasion of Australia in the spring of 1942. While the Brewster Buffalo equipped 453 Squadron was wiped out at Singapore (see SQUADRONS! 33), 452 and 457 were urgently recalled to Australia, leaving the RAAF with no fighter presence in UK, a situation that was not acceptable from an Australian political point of view. That led to the re-formation of 453 Squadron in the UK while 452 and 457 were embarking for Australia. The unit never replaced 452 in the media, partly because it had less success and, therefore, the Australian fighter pilots in Europe rarely made headlines from then on. Furthermore, and as far as a day fighter force was concerned, the RAAF was hampered by its involvement in the South West Pacific and couldn’t increase its fighter presence in the UK despite the arrival of 451 Squadron in 1944 following its switch from the tactical reconnaissance role the previous year. Further RAAF fighter squadrons may have helped attract attention, but that never happened. Consequently, the RAAF has been under-represented in the fighter role unlike, for example, the Canadians who deployed a dozen fighter squadrons in Western Europe, and, like the Australians, participated actively in the liberation of Europe, receiving far more attention in the process. Only four Australian fighter squadrons eventually used the Spitfire while serving in Western Europe or on the Mediterranean theatres, Nos. 452, 457, 453 and 451, from the first to the last user. In all, 127 victories were claims (confirmed or probable) by these four squadrons in over 13,000 operational sorties, losing in the same time 100 aircraft and 70 pilots to all causes.

ISBN: 978-2-494471-02-3

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During WW2, the Netherlands and the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) were both occupied after their armed forced had been overrun. However, many Dutchmen decided to continue the struggle and eventually found asylum either in Great Britain either in Australia. Despite the meagre forces available, the Dutch managed to form two fighter squadrons, one in UK, No. 322 placed under RAF command, and one in Australia, No. 120 placed under RAAF command. This book narrates their respective operational commitment between 1943-1945 in 40 pages illustrated with about 40 images and 6 colour profiles.

ISBN: 978-2-494471-00-9

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The fortunes of war gave the opportunity for some aircraft types to play a role or fly in markings other than originally intended. With the invasion of many European countries in the first months of the war, only the British Empire remained in the fight with bases relatively safe to operate from. Many defeated airmen, often with their aircraft, found asylum at these bases. Among the aircraft which fled their original countries were patrol seaplanes. In some cases, the numbers of certain aircraft, or the fact they were simply in the right place at the right time, were enough to for the RAF to consider their use. This was certainly true for the Dutch Fokker T.VIIIs, Yugoslavian Dornier 22s and the Rogožarski SIM-XIV. Alternatively, it was often simply an order of aircraft not delivered before the destination country fell to the enemy. That was the case for the Norwegians’ Northrop N-3PBs and the Netherlands’ Vought OS2U Kingfishers. Those types entered RAF and RAAF service respectively but, because of the small quantities involved, they did not see widespread use; that doesn’t mean they were useless though. 35 photos.

ISBN: 979-1096490-99-8

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Conceived in 1939 from the BT-1, the Douglas SBD Dauntless was almost obsolescent by the time the USA went into war in December 1941. However, in the absence of a suitable replacement, it became the backbone of the Pacific air war and rendered excellent service as a bomber, dive bomber, scout and reconnaissance aircraft until 1945. Even if close to 6,000 aircraft were produced during the war until the summer of 1944, very few were eventually supplied to the Allies. A single RNZAF squadron, No. 25, completed a tour in the Solomons in 1944, while the French Navy used the SBD against German strongholds on the French Atlantic coast in 1944-1945. Illustrated with about 50 photos.

ISBN: 979-1096490-98-1

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PDF version is also available as 978-2-494471-04-7