The Japanese air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942 are well known to most Australians, but what happened afterwards?

For almost two years the airspace over north-west Australia was routinely penetrated by Japanese air raids, tallying about 70 in total. The 1942-43 air raids on Darwin constituted the only sustained and intensive direct assault on Australian territory in the whole of World War II.

Telling the story of the RAAF's No 1 Fighter Wing, composed of both Australian and British spitfire pilots, Darwin Spitfires explores the little-known 1943 season of air combat over the top end, recovering this important aspect of Australian history.

'This fascinating book reclaims an important, little-known aspect of our war history.' — Brisbane News

'It is a real pleasure to read Cooper's careful dissection of each dogfight, a display of unselfconscious expertise.' — Peter Stanley, The Canberra Times

'Detailed and engrossing' — The Newcastle Herald

'For anyone with an interest in Australian aviation and/or military history' — Sunday Tasmanian