Roar of the Kittyhawk, The

Australia entered the war in 1939, with a poorly equipped and understrength air force. Men flocked to the colours, enlisted and training started immediately.

Soon Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians from the Empire Air Training Scheme were transferred to Britain to join RAF Squadrons in Britain, Europe, the Atlantic and North Africa. All were fighting for the defence of the Allied Forces and for the British Empire.

Upon Japan's entry into the war, the direct threat to their homelands became apparent and urgent. Japanese armed forces with air support landed in North Malaya at the same time as the air strike on Pearl Harbour and many of the pilots and ground crew stationed in the northern hemisphere requested an immediate transfer to the Pacific theatre.

A crucial part of defence in the Pacific Region was with the RAAF Kittyhawk squadrons. The Japanese based themselves in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands and about ten weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbour the Japanese bombed Darwin and threatened the Australian mainland. It was here that the Kittyhawk squadrons came into their own, especially at Milne Bay and Port Moresby and later the islands of Noemfoor, Moratai and Labuan.

The Kittyhawk squadrons were always pushing for the frontline but Macarthur left them behind to do the mopping up. Both men and aircraft paid a high price but they came through with an enduring comradeship that lives on in this film.