No.453 Squadron was a fighter unit set up explicitly to defend the British colony of Singapore in 1941?42. Though the pilots were highly motivated and skilled, they were unable to prevent one of the worst military disasters suffered by the British Empire, and probably the most catastrophic defeat of World War II. The Japanese attacked the RAF airfields and nearly all frontline aeroplanes were lost before the fight had even begun. The squadron was disbanded after its evacuation from the island following a very difficult and costly struggle over the Malayan jungle where the Japanese troops had landed to take Singapore. It was reformed a few weeks later in the United Kingdom, to represent the Australians in Europe, after the departure of its two sister squadrons ? Nos.452 and 457 Sqns. The squadron was then given another opportunity to prove what it was capable of against a new enemy ? the Germans. It was involved in various major actions, with an impressive combat record until the war's end and also took part in the occupation of Germany. More than 60 photographs (some published for the first time) and 10 colour profiles illustrate this 96-page book which contains, like all other titles of this series, a full pilot roster and appendices covering claims, losses, maps, airfields and an operational diary. 60 b/w photos
