World War Ii
A genuine American war ace who did his greatest fighting 70 years ago over the skies of Darwin has passed away in California at the age of 95.
Colonel James Morehead played a crucial role in the defence of Australia, and proved with his courage that formations of the feared AM6 Mitsubishi Zeros and long-range bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy were not invincible.
He ended the war having shot down eight enemy planes, most of them off Darwin, flying in P-40s. These planes, the ones famously painted with shark teeth, were hopelessly outclassed by the faster and in all ways superior Zeros.
Continue reading "The unsung aviator who helped saved Darwin" »
Let’s never forget men like Frank McGovern and Gavin Campbell.
We’re losing them so quickly now, these veterans of World War II. Frank and Gavin are both proud Perth men. Not the city – I write here of the light cruiser, HMAS Perth, sunk by the Japanese at the Battle of Sunda Strait in February 1942.
Frank is having his ninetieth birthday party in Sydney this week. Gavin, 88 will be there with Frank’s family and friends to help Frank celebrate this personal landmark.
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Gavin Campbell says:
I was named after Lt Gavin Campbell and as such my name is Gavin Campbell and was born in 1948. I have known for a long time I was named after a WW11 naval officer and finally I know who he is and I also have a small history about… Read more »
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John T of Adelaide says:
A good piece, David, though the incorrect photo of HMAS Perth unfortunately supports the view that as ex- Far East Prisoners Of War (FEPOWs) age, become infirm and then die so our appreciation of why and how they fought and, in Frank McGovern and Gavin Campbell’s cases, survived will diminish.… Read more »
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