THE AUSTRALIAN AIR CAMPAIGN SERIES — 12 - ANZAC STRIKE WING Operations in the North Sea with RAF Coastal Command
The untold story of courage, comradeship, and daring that captures the true spirit of the ANZACs in the air.
About the Book
From Scotland’s freezing airfields to Norway’s stormy fjords, two ANZAC squadrons forged one of WWII’s boldest maritime strike forces.
In 1944, the RAAF’s No. 455 and RNZAF’s No. 489 Squadrons joined under RAF Coastal Command to hunt German ships across the North Sea. Flying Bristol Beaufighters through sleet, flak, and fire, they crippled supply lines and wrote a proud new ANZAC chapter.
Drawing on newly digitised archives and eyewitness accounts, Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife (Ret’d) brings their courage and comradeship vividly to life in ANZAC Strike Wing, companion to Battle of the Atlantic.
Key Selling Points:
• Twelfth title in Big Sky Publishing’s acclaimed Australian Air Campaign Series, endorsed by the RAAF.
• Presents pivotal yet overlooked WWII air operations in a concise, full-colour, and affordable format.
• Reveals a little-known ANZAC story of Australian and New Zealand squadrons in the 1944 North Sea campaign.
• Utilises newly digitised archives and eyewitness accounts for fresh historical insights.
• Authentically depicts the thrill and danger of low-level maritime strike missions.
• Aligns with growing interest in rediscovered wartime stories and airpower history.
• Backed by Big Sky Publishing’s partnership with the RAAF History and Heritage Branch for credibility and reach.
• Appeals strongly to institutions, collectors, and enthusiasts, featuring rare images, maps, and expert authorship by Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife (Ret’d).
About the Series
The Australian Air Campaign Series, produced with the RAAF History and Heritage Branch, showcases the skill, courage, and innovation of ANZACs in the air. Each title combines meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and full-colour imagery to reveal lesser-known RAAF operations.
‘The Australian Air Campaign Series … consists of well-researched books on RAAF history that are not only underpinned by rigorous scholarship and solid evidence, but also are readable, well-illustrated, educational and enduring.’ — RAAF History and Heritage Branch
‘These themed titles explore specific facets of the Air Force … sourced from official records and first-hand accounts.’ — airforce.gov.au
About the Author
John Quaife grew up in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for military aviation. He spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Air Force as a fighter pilot, graduating from the RAAF’s elite ‘top gun’ course and rising to become one of Australia’s most senior commanders. Now an Air Vice-Marshal in the active reserve, he is writing a companion history on the RAAF and RNZAF’s ANZAC Strike Wing in Coastal Command.
ANZAC STRIKE WING - ISBN: 9781923514485 - will be available soon from Big Sky Publishing - Price: $19.99
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