
Courage in the Skies by Jim Eames
This is the extraordinary and little known story of Qantas' significant role during World War II, particularly in its campaigns against the Japanese.
Between 1942 and 1943, Qantas lost eight aircraft during its involvement in Australia's war against the Japanese. Over sixty passengers and crew died as a result. Yet Qantas' exemplary contribution to Australia's war effort and the courage of its people in those difficult times has been forgotten.
Courage in the Skies is the remarkable story of Qantas at war and the truly heroic deeds of its crew and ground staff as the Japanese advanced towards Australia. Flying unarmed planes through war zones and at times under enemy fire, the airline supplied the front lines, evacuated the wounded and undertook surprising escapes, including carrying more than forty anxious civilians on the last aircraft to leave besieged Singapore.
Absorbing, spirited and fast-paced, above all this is a story of an extraordinary group of Australians who confronted the dark days of World War II with bravery, commitment and initiative. They just happened to be Qantas people.
About the Author
Jim Eames has been involved in aviation since he began work as an aviation writer in the 1960s. He has been a ministerial press secretary and aviation adviser to governments and a senior executive with Qantas. He is the author of eight books including Taking to the Skies: Daredevils, heroes and hijackers, Australian flying stories from the Catalina to the Jumbo and The Flying Kangaroo: Great untold stories of Qantas...the heroic, the hilarious and the sometimes plain strange.
Format: Paperback | 352 pages
Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.4 x 2.6 | 602g
Publication Date: 22 Nov 2011
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication City/Country: Crows Nest, Sydney, Australia
Language: English
Illustrations note: illustrations
ISBN10: 1760293938
ISBN13: 9781760293932
Condition: Good
A book that has been read but is in good condition. Some damage to the cover including very, very minor scuff marks along the edges, and a large crease on the bottom right corner of the front cover which blends in with the cover and is barely noticeable, but no holes or tears. The majority of pages are undamaged with very minimal (barely noticeable) creasing but no tearing. No pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text and no writing in margins. There is very, very minor discolouring on a couple of pages. No missing pages.