A highly detailed history book about the fierce air battles that were fought across the Top End of Australia in WW2.

Today, in Australia, it is not often acknowledged that for more than two years Japanese aircraft crossed the coast and bombed relentlessly.

Savage dogfights were fought between the legendary Zero fighter and Allied Kittyhawks Spitfires. The larger Japanese twin-engine Betty bombers rained down blast and fire upon airfields and towns.

The attacks penetrated as far inland as Katherine, some 300 kilometres from the coast.

Nearly 200 Japanese aircrew died during the onslaught. This book lists all of their names and describes all of the combat missions - and reveals for the first time that the number of combat flights, aircraft shot down, and aircrew who died. A figure which is far higher than previously thought.

Scores of aircraft were downed in combat operations ranging from Exmouth to Townsville, with the majority of the action taking place in the Northern Territory.

This new extensive research shows the number of air raids were also higher than the previously suggested. The authors have accounted for 78 raids on the Territory alone, while 209 enemy combat flights were carried out across Northern Australia.

187 Japanese airmen died when their aircraft were brought down. In many cases their bodies lie in remote sites across the vast bush and coastal waters of the north. Many of the aircraft wrecks have never been found.

Empire Strikes South describes all of the aircraft used, and gives an insight into the world of the fighter pilots and aircrew.

The detailed narrative is supported with numerous historical photographs, and new colour graphics and pictures by renowned illustrator Michael Claringbould.

This significant new research reveals a Battle for Australia that has  previously been unacknowledged.