In March 1945 Reg Cleworth, a navigator on PBY Catalina seaplanes flying out of Darwin, went missing in action. No details were ever given about the incident that took his life, nor the reason his plane went down. For Reg's younger brother, Robert, the news came as a fulfilling prophecy. The last time they saw each other, Reg confided in Robert, 'I don't think I'm coming back'. Forty years later Robert decided to investigate what happened to his brother. What he uncovered was an extraordinary story of a covert Australian airborne mine-laying operation in cooperation with the US Seventh Fleet to disrupt the Japanese supply routes. One of the riskier and more dangerous RAAF undertakings of the Pacific War, secrecy restrictions were imposed on everyone involved. They were never formally lifted. Had it not been for a chance meeting that allowed Robert access to previously unopened files in the US national archives, this remarkable story may never have been untold. What he unearthed revealed the sacrifice and achievements of the RAAF Catalina crews and the vital role they played in MacArthur's strategic plan for the south-west Pacific. Absorbing, compelling and powerfully told, RAAF Black Cats is an important addition to our understanding of Australia's role in the Pacific War.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Availability: In stock at supplier. Usually dispatched 3-7 business days
Publisher: ALLEN & UNWIN
Publication date: 03/09/2019
Country of publication: AUSTRALIA
Weight: 420 g
Dimensions: 234.00mm X 153.00mm
Code: 59391

Maps Preface Chapter 1: Germany First and 'limited offensive' in the Pacific Chapter 2: 'Beware-this harbor is mined!' Chapter 3: Nothing left to chance Chapter 4: Mining operation suffers a severe blow Chapter 5: Everyone had their jobs to do Chapter 6: Keeping up the pressure Chapter 7: The Manila raid Chapter 8: The fighting men Chapter 9: End game Chapter 10: Bringin' 'em home Chapter 11: Correcting history Epilogue Note from the authors Acknowledgements