Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The New Guinea campaign was one of the longest and most brutal campaigns of World War II in the Pacific, but how did it begin? This video explores the opening chapter of the New Guinea aerial campaign, focusing on the desperate Australian efforts to defend Rabaul and Port Moresby in December 1941.
When the Pacific War erupted, Australia found itself woefully unprepared to defend its territories in New Guinea. With only 13 Lockheed Hudson bombers and a handful of PBY Catalina flying boats, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) faced the might of Imperial Japan with virtually no fighter protection. Their only "fighters" were CAC Wirraways - slow trainer aircraft that stood no chance against Japanese fighters, yet their crews bravely attempted interceptions anyway.
Featuring detailed accounts of Flight Lieutenant Ken Erwin's reconnaissance mission and the subsequent strike attempts, this video reveals the challenges faced by Australian aircrews operating from primitive airfields with inadequate equipment, unrealistic expectations from command, and facing a determined enemy.
Main Sources:
- Kokoda Air Strikes: Allied air forces in New Guinea, 1942
amzn.to/4uwugER
- New Guinea 1942–43: Halting the last Japanese advance
amzn.to/4fECp5p
- FLYING CATALINAS: The Consolidated PBY Catalina in WWII
amzn.to/4nRYIa4
- Savage Skies, Emerald Hell: The U.S., Australia, Japan, and the Ferocious Air Battle for New Guinea in World War II
amzn.to/4uxziRs
When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos.
Support the channel on Patreon
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
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discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
Machinations Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
The New Guinea campaign was one of the longest and most brutal campaigns of World War II in the Pacific, but how did it begin? This video explores the opening chapter of the New Guinea aerial campaign, focusing on the desperate Australian efforts to defend Rabaul and Port Moresby in December 1941.
When the Pacific War erupted, Australia found itself woefully unprepared to defend its territories in New Guinea. With only 13 Lockheed Hudson bombers and a handful of PBY Catalina flying boats, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) faced the might of Imperial Japan with virtually no fighter protection. Their only "fighters" were CAC Wirraways - slow trainer aircraft that stood no chance against Japanese fighters, yet their crews bravely attempted interceptions anyway.
Featuring detailed accounts of Flight Lieutenant Ken Erwin's reconnaissance mission and the subsequent strike attempts, this video reveals the challenges faced by Australian aircrews operating from primitive airfields with inadequate equipment, unrealistic expectations from command, and facing a determined enemy.
Main Sources:
- Kokoda Air Strikes: Allied air forces in New Guinea, 1942
amzn.to/4uwugER
- New Guinea 1942–43: Halting the last Japanese advance
amzn.to/4fECp5p
- FLYING CATALINAS: The Consolidated PBY Catalina in WWII
amzn.to/4nRYIa4
- Savage Skies, Emerald Hell: The U.S., Australia, Japan, and the Ferocious Air Battle for New Guinea in World War II
amzn.to/4uxziRs
When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos.
Support the channel on Patreon
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
Machinations Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
