Australian Spitfires

[JeffK]

After the arrival of Spitfires in Darwin.

"The first large Japanese raid took place on 2 may when 18 Bombers and 27 Escorting Fighters were spotted....

Caldwell led the Spitfires but delayed the attack until the Spitfires had the advantage of height (approx 32,000ft !!) This allowed the attackers to bomb Darwin unmolested.

When the interception took place 6 japanese aircraft were shot down, but 8 Spitfires were lost. (5 ditched after running out of fuel) 3 others were badly damaged and 2 pilots killed."

Tactics changed and experience grew, 9 kills for nil losses in one day in July, 4 for no loss on one day in August.

17 August saw the last major daylight raid over Darwin, Japan changed its tactics to the occaisional night attack.

Your sources need to be reviewed, only 2 Japanese Fighter losses in the period (what period??)

Re the Marine & Navy Wildcats over Guadalcanal, they had an extra advantage of early warning from Coastwatchers which often enabled them to get to sufficient height. And what do Japanese records say about thier losses in these actions?? (I really have doubts about Japanese records, even worse than my doubts about the Luftwaffe records.)