Air War SE Asia 1941-45 (World War 2, 7 December 1941 to 15 August 1945)

About This Campaign

This section relates to air operations over the mainland of SE Asia and the Indian Ocean, which continued until 15 August 1945.  Operations eastward are addressed in a separate section 'Air War SW Pacific'.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, the Philippines and the north coast of Malaysia on 7 Dec 1941, the Allied air forces in the region were hit by a succession of hammer blows as the Japanese quickly gained air superiority, lead by the ubiquitous Mitsubishi A6 'Zero' fighter that was faster, more manoeuverable and at least as heavily armed as anything the Allies had at that time.

On the mainland of SE Asia there began an aerial contest that encompassed an area from Singapore to India and into China.  After the disastrous Malayan campaign, RAAF personnel served primarily attached to RAF squadrons based in India and Burma (now Myanamar), as the RAAF effort became focussed on northern Australia and New Guinea.

Australian pilots and aircraft did maintain a critical air link from Australia to the UK, via Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1943 after the route was originally cut by the Japanese in 1942.  This was done by flying mainly Consolidated PBY Catalina aircraft from Nedlands in WA to Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) via the Cocos Islands,  almost entirely over water.  Passengers were awarded "The Order of the Double Sunrise" because they would see two sunrises during the journey. 

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Names

Showing 8 people of interest from campaign

TOTHILL, Clifford Cavanagh

Service number 429003
Flight Sergeant
No. 80 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 6 Aug 1918

BATH, Richard William Raven

Service number 420116
Flying Officer
No. 75 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 14 Apr 1922

NEELANDS, Neil William

Service number 419070
Flying Officer
No. 194 Squadron (RAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 15 Jun 1924

PIZZEY, John Marshall

Service number 250619
Squadron Leader
No. 1 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 2 May 1920

WHITE, Gordon Horace

Service number 406121
Flight Lieutenant
No. 78 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 4 Jan 1922

BOANAS, Jack William Robinson

Service number 417331
Flight Sergeant
Born 7 Dec 1921

WALLACE, Richard Hamilton

Service number 586
Squadron Leader
No. 30 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 12 Jan 1918

RIDING, Douglas Carson

Service number 177
Wing Commander
No. 31 Squadron (RAAF)
Royal Australian Air Force
Born 11 Apr 1916