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7th Fighter Squadron 49th Fighter Group Based at Batchelor Field, Australia's Northern Territory from March to September 1942 At RAAF Darwin a Hudson burns from the strafing conducted by Zeros on the first attack against Darwin, on 19th February 1942. A P-40E-1, in pre-war markings, of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron lies derelict from a previous landing accident. Daylight raids over Northern Australia continued until the end of August 1942, carried on mostly by the Takao Kokutai which switched to nuisance raids at night at the end of this month. However, a severe distraction was about to remove the Takao group from Kupang, and permanently so. Trouble was brewing in the Solomon Islands, a long way to the east, and the Takao flyers would follow it all the way. There shortly they would all find themselves operating from the bustling Japanese navy base at Vunakanau, near Rabaul. For the rest of their Guadalcanal tour it was U.S Navy Wildcats and the 13th Air Force which would cleanly remove the Takao Kokutai piecemeal from Solomons skies. OUR HERITAGE SERVICES PRODUCTS HISTORICAL PHOTOS CONTACT US LINKS
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