113 - 75 Squadron and the Kokoda Campaign

113 - 75 Squadron and the Kokoda Campaign

Author: James Eling April 24, 2024 Duration: 34:26

It was 900 days from the declaration of war against Germany in 1939 to the bombing of Darwin.  When Darwin was bombed, there were no RAAF fighters to defend, and it was three weeks before Darwin was had fighter coverage (and they were US fighters).  We look at how the RAAF was prepared for war, prepared for war for Japan and prepared to defend Australia.

This is Part 15 of our series looking at the Kokoda Campaign, focusing on the combat performance of battalions on the Kokoda Track and how the militia were prepared for combat at the tactical, operational and strategic level.

This episode looks at how No 75 Squadron contributed to the Joint Battle during the Kokoda Campaign.  We focus on how the RAAF looked to mobilise and scale up.  We discuss EATS,

Check out the  show notes for the podcast for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.


Hosted by James Eling, The Principles of War-Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership is a deep dive into the timeless patterns of conflict. This isn't just a recitation of dates and troop movements. Instead, each episode takes a pivotal historic battle and examines it through the lens of enduring military principles, extracting practical insights on strategy, combined arms, and command. The discussions are structured to serve as a resource for professional military education, condensing complex analyses into focused, thirty-minute sessions. You'll hear how decisions made centuries ago still resonate within modern doctrine, offering lessons on leadership and tactical execution that are applicable far beyond the battlefield. The aim is to provide these lessons in a compelling narrative format, moving beyond dry after-action reports. For anyone fascinated by how history informs present-day thinking in governance, organizational leadership, and strategic planning, this podcast functions as a regular, thought-provoking seminar. Tune in to explore the fundamental concepts that have shaped outcomes throughout military history and continue to define success in high-stakes environments.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
Podcast Episodes
129 - Slim in Burma - Innovation, Air Power and Special Forces [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:33
How did Field Marshall Slim innovate in the Burma Campaign? This is a look at military innovation through necessity that developed key capabilities for the 14th Army to defeat the Japanese forces in the Burma theatre. We…
127 - The General who wouldn't quit: Slim and the longest retreat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
The withdrawal from Burma was almost 1,000 miles in 100 days and yet Slim, as commander of Burma Corps, maintained his optimism throughout the operation. We look at Slim's early career and background to study his optimis…
126 - Care of the wounded on the Kokoda Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
This episode looks at the care of the wounded on the Kokoda Track. What level of care did sick and wounded soldiers receive? Why was the medical planning still being conducted whilst the Battle of Isurava was in progress…
The Military Decision Making and Planning Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:00
This episode is a cross-post from The Cove Podcast. This is a recording of MAJGEN Mick Krause, AM - the author the new ADF-I-5 doctrine - Decision Making and Planning Processes. He presented a PME session at Holdsworthy…
125 - Medical considerations on the Kokoda Track [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:47
What medical treatment was avaiable for the soldiers fighting on the Kokoda Track. How were ill and injured soldiers cared for and what were the difficulties in providing surgical and medical care in the austere conditio…
124 - Leadership lessons from the Jungles of Vietnam with Gary McKay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:05
This episode is the second of a two part interview with retired LTCOL Gary McKay, who was a Platoon Commander in Vietnam, in D Coy, 4 RAR. He fought in Op Ivanhoe at the battle of Nui Le, where he was wounded. For his aw…
123 - Jungle Combat in Vietnam with Gary McKay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:42
This episode is the first of a two part interview with retired LTCOL Gary McKay, who was a Platoon Commander in Vietnam, in D Coy, 4 RAR. He fought in Op Ivanhoe at the battle of Nui Le, where he was wounded. For his awa…
122 - Japanese Lessons Learnt for Jungle Warfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:04
This episode continues our Kokoda Campaign Podcast series. This episode is Part 5 of our interview with Dr with Dr Adrian Threlfall, an expert in how the Australian Army learned to learn about combat in the jungles of Ma…
121 - The Jungle Warfare Training Centre, Canungra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:12
This episode continues our Kokoda Campaign Podcast series. This episode is Part 4 of our interview with Dr with Dr Adrian Threlfall, an expert in how the Australian Army learned to learn about combat in the jungles of Ma…