The air campaign conducted by the RAAF in the North-Western Area during the Second World War has been largely ignored by historians yet it contributed significantly to the outcome of the Pacific war. This thesis sets out to discuss the campaign by considering various factors that impacted on the RAAF in the lead up to and during the course of the Pacific war and their relevance to the campaign. It looks at the way air operations were conducted in the North-Western Area between 1942 and 1945 and describes the role played by the flying squadrons based in the area. Using primary sources such as operational record books, documents and files at archives and libraries and interviews with veterans and experts the thesis found that the campaign was conducted in several phases. It started with the defence of Darwin. In keeping with overall allied strategy the RAAF then went on an offensive into what was then the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) using medium and heavy bombers and mine laying sea planes flying from bases in Australia???s north west. The NEI was vital to the Japanese war effort as a source of essential raw materials such as oil, timber, and rubber. To defend this part of their new empire the Japanese had amassed large military garrisons on the islands. The vessels used to transport troops and materials became the most important targets for the RAAF???s bomber squadrons. As General MacArthur???s forces advanced along the north coast of New Guinea the North-Western Area based units conducted raids into the NEI to deceive the Japanese into thinking an invasion would be launched from Darwin. As the New Guinea campaign gained momentum the RAAF???s task was to protect its western flank, to prevent the Japanese from moving troops and aircraft east to the Philippines. The thesis concludes the campaign was successful because Darwin was defended, it denied the Japanese vital materials for the conduct of the war and it kept hundreds of aircraft and tens of thousands of troops away from the allied advance.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Technology, Sydney, 2000. / Sportsmen: Tarpot, Tom Wills, Mullagh, King Cole, Jellico, Peter, Red Cap, Harry Rose, Bullocky, Johnny Cuzens, Dick-a-Dick, Charley Dumas, Jim Crow, Sundown, Mosquito, Tiger and Twopenny. Bibliography: p. 431-485.

Asymmetrische Beziehungen im antiken Griechenland werden in der Literatur mit „Klientel“ oder „Patronage“ beschrieben. Dabei wird eine schichtübergreifende Asymmetrie vorausgesetzt, und diese Beziehungen werden vor allem als (instrumentelle) Austauschverhältnisse verstanden. Die Studie argumentiert, dass schichtübergreifende Bindungen auszuschließen sind, und untersucht stattdessen inneraristokratische asymmetrische Beziehungen im Hinblick auf performative, symbolische und instrumentelle Gehalte im Kontext einer stratifizierten Gesellschaftsordnung. In performativer Hinsicht orientiert sich die Zulassung zur Oberschichteninteraktion an der gesellschaftlichen Differenzierung und reproduziert diese damit. Wer aus ökonomischen Gründen seinen Status verliert, wird aus den Verkehrskreisen der Oberschicht ausgeschlossen, umgekehrt finden Aufsteiger leicht Aufnahme in die Aristokratie. Dem entspricht in symbolischer Hinsicht, dass Nahbeziehungen wesentlich zur Statusmanifestation der Aristokraten beitragen und aus diesem Grunde angestrebt werden. Aufrichtigkeit, Offenheit und wechselseitige Unterstützung werden zwar erwartet, diese Erwartungen werden aber häufig enttäuscht. In instrumenteller Hinsicht wird die Unterstützung durch asymmetrische Beziehungen als wichtiger, aber nicht zwingend entscheidender Einflussfaktor gesehen. In archaischer Zeit konnten die Beziehungspartner die Tyrannisaspiranten im Kampf mit den Konkurrenten unterstützen und durch Agitation Einfluss auf den Demos nehmen. In der Klassik verlegte sich die agitatorische Unterstützung in Friedensphasen in die rechtlichen und politischen Institutionen, während im Kontext der Stasis auch gewaltsame Aktionen gegen die konkurrierenden Aristokraten zu den typischen Einsatzmöglichkeiten gehörten. Inneraristokratische asymmetrische Nahbeziehungen erscheinen damit als wesentliches Strukturmerkmal der stratifizierten Gesellschaft und der politischen Ordnung. / Asymmetrical relationships in ancient Greece are described in the literature as “clientage” or “patronage”. Thereby, a cross-class asymmetry is assumed, and these relations are understood primarily as (instrumental) exchange relations. This study argues that cross-class ties are to be excluded, and instead examines intra-aristocratic asymmetrical relations in terms of their performative, symbolic, and instrumental contents in the context of a stratified social order. In performative terms, admission to upper-class interaction is oriented toward and thus reproduces social differentiation. Those who lose their status for economic reasons are excluded from the intercourse circles of the upper class; conversely, upwardly mobile people easily find admission to the aristocracy. In symbolic terms, this corresponds to the fact that personal relationships contribute significantly to the aristocrats’ manifestation of status and are sought for this reason. Sincerity, openness, and mutual support are expected, but these expectations are often disappointed. In instrumental terms, support through asymmetrical relationships is seen as an important, but not necessarily decisive, influencing factor. In archaic times, relational partners could support the aspirants to tyranny in their struggle with rivals and influence the demos through agitation. In the classical period, agitational support shifted to legal and political institutions during periods of peace, while in the context of stasis, violent action against competing aristocrats was also among the typical uses. Intra-aristocratic asymmetrical relations thus appear as an essential structural feature of stratified society and the political order.