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Kangaroo Squadron: American Courage in the Darkest Days of World War II
In early 1942, while the American military was still in disarray from the devastating attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, a single U.S. Army squadron advanced to the far side of the world to face America's new enemy.
Based in Australia with inadequate supplies and no ground support, the squadron's pilots and combat crew endured tropical diseases while confronting numerically superior Japanese forces. Yet the outfit, dubbed the Kangaroo Squadron, proved remarkably resilient and successful, conducting long-range bombing raids, carrying out armed reconnaissance missions, and rescuing General MacArthur and his staff from the Philippines.
Before now, the story of their courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds has largely been untold. Using eyewitness accounts from diaries, letters, interviews, and memoirs, as well as Japanese sources, historian Bruce Gamble brings to vivid life this dramatic true account.
But the Kangaroo Squadron's story doesn't end in World War II. One of the squadron's B-17 bombers, which crash-landed on its first mission, was recovered from New Guinea after almost seventy years in a jungle swamp. The intertwined stories of the Kangaroo Squadron and the "Swamp Ghost" are filled with thrilling accounts of aerial combat, an epic survival story, and the powerful mystique of an invaluable war relic.
Based in Australia with inadequate supplies and no ground support, the squadron's pilots and combat crew endured tropical diseases while confronting numerically superior Japanese forces. Yet the outfit, dubbed the Kangaroo Squadron, proved remarkably resilient and successful, conducting long-range bombing raids, carrying out armed reconnaissance missions, and rescuing General MacArthur and his staff from the Philippines.
Before now, the story of their courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds has largely been untold. Using eyewitness accounts from diaries, letters, interviews, and memoirs, as well as Japanese sources, historian Bruce Gamble brings to vivid life this dramatic true account.
But the Kangaroo Squadron's story doesn't end in World War II. One of the squadron's B-17 bombers, which crash-landed on its first mission, was recovered from New Guinea after almost seventy years in a jungle swamp. The intertwined stories of the Kangaroo Squadron and the "Swamp Ghost" are filled with thrilling accounts of aerial combat, an epic survival story, and the powerful mystique of an invaluable war relic.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published November 20, 2018
19 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Gamble
8 books41 followersA native of central Pennsylvania, Bruce Gamble is an award-winning author and historian specializing in highly readable narratives about World War II in the Pacific.
During his career as a Naval Flight Officer in the closing years of the Cold War, Bruce logged nearly 1,000 hours as a navigator in EA-3B Skywarriors, including deployments aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Later, while serving as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida, he was diagnosed with a malignant spinal cord tumor. After undergoing a complicated surgery, Bruce was medically retired from the Navy in 1989.
Bruce soon began volunteering at the National Naval Aviation Museum and eventually worked part-time as the staff historian for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Over the next several years he collected oral history interviews and wrote numerous articles, then made the leap to book-length manuscripts and published his first nonfiction book, The Black Sheep, in 1998.
With a total of six titles now in print and a seventh due for publication in late 2018, Bruce is recognized as one of the top historians on the air war in the Pacific. He does a substantial amount of public speaking and is featured in documentaries produced by the History Channel, Fox News Channel, PBS, and the Pritzker Military Library.
Bruce's literary awards include the Admiral Arthur W. Radford award for excellence in naval aviation history and literature, presented in 2010, and a Florida Book Award in 2013.
Holding life memberships in the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and Paralyzed Veterans of America, Bruce has been cancer-free more almost 30 years. He lives near Madison, Georgia.
During his career as a Naval Flight Officer in the closing years of the Cold War, Bruce logged nearly 1,000 hours as a navigator in EA-3B Skywarriors, including deployments aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Later, while serving as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Florida, he was diagnosed with a malignant spinal cord tumor. After undergoing a complicated surgery, Bruce was medically retired from the Navy in 1989.
Bruce soon began volunteering at the National Naval Aviation Museum and eventually worked part-time as the staff historian for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Over the next several years he collected oral history interviews and wrote numerous articles, then made the leap to book-length manuscripts and published his first nonfiction book, The Black Sheep, in 1998.
With a total of six titles now in print and a seventh due for publication in late 2018, Bruce is recognized as one of the top historians on the air war in the Pacific. He does a substantial amount of public speaking and is featured in documentaries produced by the History Channel, Fox News Channel, PBS, and the Pritzker Military Library.
Bruce's literary awards include the Admiral Arthur W. Radford award for excellence in naval aviation history and literature, presented in 2010, and a Florida Book Award in 2013.
Holding life memberships in the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and Paralyzed Veterans of America, Bruce has been cancer-free more almost 30 years. He lives near Madison, Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 27, 2018
In the early days of the Pacific War after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, things looked mighty grim for the Americans and many of their allies, especially Australia. Faced with a seemingly unstoppable foe, America was reeling from multiple defeats and Australia was on high alert over the possibility of a Japanese invasion. Thrust into this highly volatile situation was a small band of American B-17 bombers and their crews in the hopes they could help turn back the Japanese and keep Australia safe. This is the story of those bombers and their crews.
Beginning with some background on both the B-17 and the crew members who would take them into battle, the book follows them as they fly to Hawaii...right as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor. The story of each bomber is given, along with plenty of personal recollections of what it was like to be there on the Day of Infamy. After spending some time in Hawaii, the planes have to fly a very long way to Australia, stopping at various points along the way, before finally arriving in a situation which left much to be desired: poor facilities, virtually no spare parts, an incredibly long supply line (which wasn't fully functional for quite some time), a plethora of insects and other pests, disease and the ever-present threat of the Japanese. With the help of the Australians, the bombers were able to carry out a variety of missions, many of which are described in great detail such as the rescue of General MacArthur from the Philippines, various bombing raids against the Japanese base at Rabaul, and the very daring Royce Mission.
Author Bruce Gamble has written a fantastic book about these brave men who were facing extremely long odds, but still went out and carried the fight to the Japanese as best they could. It's a definite testament to the perseverance and fortitude of both the Americans and Australians as they found themselves thrust into a terrible situation, yet one in which they managed to have a meaningful impact on the outcome of the war. A great read with excellent flow which you will find hard to put down!
Beginning with some background on both the B-17 and the crew members who would take them into battle, the book follows them as they fly to Hawaii...right as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor. The story of each bomber is given, along with plenty of personal recollections of what it was like to be there on the Day of Infamy. After spending some time in Hawaii, the planes have to fly a very long way to Australia, stopping at various points along the way, before finally arriving in a situation which left much to be desired: poor facilities, virtually no spare parts, an incredibly long supply line (which wasn't fully functional for quite some time), a plethora of insects and other pests, disease and the ever-present threat of the Japanese. With the help of the Australians, the bombers were able to carry out a variety of missions, many of which are described in great detail such as the rescue of General MacArthur from the Philippines, various bombing raids against the Japanese base at Rabaul, and the very daring Royce Mission.
Author Bruce Gamble has written a fantastic book about these brave men who were facing extremely long odds, but still went out and carried the fight to the Japanese as best they could. It's a definite testament to the perseverance and fortitude of both the Americans and Australians as they found themselves thrust into a terrible situation, yet one in which they managed to have a meaningful impact on the outcome of the war. A great read with excellent flow which you will find hard to put down!
April 15, 2025
This is a highly readable military history of a group of Americans who flew B17 bombers. The army air corps assigned them to remote portions of Australia to patrol for Japanese submarines. If you can’t stand the thought of reading an entire military history, at least pick this up and read chapter 10. It is a harrowing chapter that focuses on a small cadre of flyers who landed their plane in a New Guinea swamp. The story of their efforts at delivering themselves from the myriad bugs and tropical infections is riveting and memorable. They slice their bodies on grasses that grow ridiculously high and have saw-like blades. They eventually slash their way out of the swamp and become temporary wards of villagers who have never seen white men. The villagers gathered around the men as they slept just to watch them sleep. Naturally, the Americans wondered whether they would be on the menu.
I loved the chapter that dealt with General Douglas McArthur’s evacuation from the Philippines. The author staunchly contradicts the narrative in William Manchester’s “American Caesar” that claimed McArthur evacuated amid a terrible storm and barely missed death from enemy fire. Bruce Gamble asserts that the weather was fair and calm, and McArthur’s evacuation out of the Philippines was uneventful. Gamble seems to take a rather negative view of McArthur, and I remember my parents harboring similar views. He was not the dashing hero to them that he apparently was to millions of Americans.
In fairness, I should point out that subsequent events have dated this history, and it shows. Gamble writes here that no one has ever found Amelia Erhardt’s plane. In 2024, that all changed, but Gamble completed this some six years before they found her plane, so you can’t blame shoddy research for that.
As to research, it’s more than obvious that Gamble dug deep and worked long to get the story of these young Americans. I’m no expert on how to write a World War II military history, but this impressed me. It looks like Gamble brought his receipts. Because I read the audiobook, I had no access to indices and footnotes, but I’ve no doubt they exist.
Gamble provides a concise description of the Battle of the Coral Sea and the role this select group of American flyers played in it.
The final chapter looks at efforts to retrieve a crashed plane you’ll read about. It also looks at the men of the Kangaroo Squadron and gives you an encapsulated look at their lives.
I loved the chapter that dealt with General Douglas McArthur’s evacuation from the Philippines. The author staunchly contradicts the narrative in William Manchester’s “American Caesar” that claimed McArthur evacuated amid a terrible storm and barely missed death from enemy fire. Bruce Gamble asserts that the weather was fair and calm, and McArthur’s evacuation out of the Philippines was uneventful. Gamble seems to take a rather negative view of McArthur, and I remember my parents harboring similar views. He was not the dashing hero to them that he apparently was to millions of Americans.
In fairness, I should point out that subsequent events have dated this history, and it shows. Gamble writes here that no one has ever found Amelia Erhardt’s plane. In 2024, that all changed, but Gamble completed this some six years before they found her plane, so you can’t blame shoddy research for that.
As to research, it’s more than obvious that Gamble dug deep and worked long to get the story of these young Americans. I’m no expert on how to write a World War II military history, but this impressed me. It looks like Gamble brought his receipts. Because I read the audiobook, I had no access to indices and footnotes, but I’ve no doubt they exist.
Gamble provides a concise description of the Battle of the Coral Sea and the role this select group of American flyers played in it.
The final chapter looks at efforts to retrieve a crashed plane you’ll read about. It also looks at the men of the Kangaroo Squadron and gives you an encapsulated look at their lives.
August 3, 2023
Another great aviation history by Bruce Gamble. Meticulously researched and well written, Gamble is the premier aviation historian of the Southwest Pacific theater in WW II.
March 23, 2024
Of the six B-17s slated to drop bombs on their first target in WW2, only one did it and with little effect. Plagued with malfunctioning engines, few spare parts, navigation and weather dilemmas, the squadron persisted with its mission to counter the overall Japanese goal to invade Australia. Although that first raid on Rabaul on New Britain Island was a bust, much was learned about B-17 capabilities. Later the Kangaroo Squadron rescued Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his retinue from Mindanao in the Philippines. (Chapter is entitled “Dugout Doug,” referring to his command post bug out, leaving his troops to the horrors of death marches and prison camps). I especially liked Chapter 2 about the design and development of the B-17, an aside to the book's main narrative. The battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 was a draw but it marked a turnaround for future U.S. and Australian battle campaigns. Kangaroo Squadron was retired at year's end. Overall, this book is a fascinating recount of early campaign challenges, disappointments and laurels.
January 16, 2019
Put aside the corny and a bit “American Exceptionalism” sub-title - “American Courage in the Darkest Days of World War Two” - and the corny cover font - a bit too close to comic sans for my liking, this was a good read.
It does have the right place and time squadron it it, flying into the Pearl Harbour attack, flying MacArthur out of the Phillipines and being there for the battle of the Kokoda Trail, this is book is more interesting as the story of a single squadron in a single year in the war.
Focussing on a single squadron that starts operations mostly alone, you get the story of the trial and successes of a unit, the ups and downs and how a squadron actually fights a war. For that reason this is an enjoyable and good read.
Note: the book has a dearth of maps, so try and find yourself a good map of WW2 in Padua New Guinea to find all the sits mentioned in the book.
It does have the right place and time squadron it it, flying into the Pearl Harbour attack, flying MacArthur out of the Phillipines and being there for the battle of the Kokoda Trail, this is book is more interesting as the story of a single squadron in a single year in the war.
Focussing on a single squadron that starts operations mostly alone, you get the story of the trial and successes of a unit, the ups and downs and how a squadron actually fights a war. For that reason this is an enjoyable and good read.
Note: the book has a dearth of maps, so try and find yourself a good map of WW2 in Padua New Guinea to find all the sits mentioned in the book.
August 22, 2020
Fantastic. Focuses on about ten to eleven months from December 1941 to September/October of ‘42 and a little known (now) squadron of bomber pilots stationed in Australia to do recon and bomb the Japanese in the southeast pacific. It balances the militaristic and the civilian really well so you know who’s who and what rank they hold but he uses names not ranks to reference them so it’s not confusing. I liked that he used Japanese records as well as American to flesh out the book, specifically as to who claimed they downed what and if they actually did. Great organization, excellent personality throughout, and poignant story and theme.
December 21, 2019
This is an excellent book which tells the story of a little know part of the beginning of WWII in the pacific. The detail is amazing. I am sure a lot of research went into this book. I recommend this book to people who want to learn more about the Army Air Force. I look forward to reading more books by Bruce Gamble. He did a great job with this subject.
October 5, 2019
B-17's Rock in the Pacific, Pearl Harbour thru Guadalcanal
July 6, 2021
Good story of the first group of B-17s into the pacific via Hawaii on Dec 7th.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2022
Extremely well researched and written. Details brought to life through the men who pioneered flying the B-17 in the Pacific theater.
January 16, 2023
An interesting history of one of the first U.S. Army Air Force units deployed to the Southwest Pacific Area in World War II.
July 6, 2021
Another good Bruce Gamble book. All of Gamble's books are good and tell a compelling story of the early days in the SW Pacific.
January 24, 2019
Bruce Gamble has already established his great skill as an historian. Now comes his fascinating, very readable account of the early, chaotic months of the air war over New Guinea and bases in Australia. This is NOT primarily a history of the Australian or American command structures or decision making in Melbourne or Brisbane. Rather, it describes the accomplishments of young pilots and crews, and the seemingly indestructible B-17 Flying Fortress. It is the fascinating story of the 435th Bombardment Squadron, known as the Kangaroo Squadron---from early engagements in 1942 to the return of squadron members to the States in late 1942.
Gamble provides new information about Douglas MacArthur’s evacuation from Mindanao in March, followed by that of Philippine President Manuel Quezon later in the month. He also details the Royce Special Mission to the Philippines the following month. Most importantly, the author focuses on the men who executed punishing B-17 missions from Townsville to Seven Mile, to New Britain, to Milne Bay, and other targets, often in brutal weather when no plane should have been in the air.
Readers who are familiar with the early air war in the SWPA will recognize names like Bostrom and Rawls, and now they will learn about the bravery and sacrifice of other officers and enlisted men whose service has been lost to history until now.
From a different perspective, another leading character in Kangaroo Squadron was a particular B-17, #21-2446. It crashed in a New Guinea swamp in February, 1942, returning from a bombing mission to Simpson Harbor. The crew survived. Gamble weaves a harrowing tale about the crew’s circuitous return to Port Moresby. Left untouched in the swamp for sixty years, the well-preserved aircraft was eventually discovered by several restoration groups. The book concludes with the recovery of the plane and its current display as Swamp Ghost at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Oahu. All but one of the men of the Kangaroo Squadron are gone now, but Swamp Ghost is a beautiful monument to enormous sacrifices of so many aviators early in the war in the SWPA.
Gamble provides new information about Douglas MacArthur’s evacuation from Mindanao in March, followed by that of Philippine President Manuel Quezon later in the month. He also details the Royce Special Mission to the Philippines the following month. Most importantly, the author focuses on the men who executed punishing B-17 missions from Townsville to Seven Mile, to New Britain, to Milne Bay, and other targets, often in brutal weather when no plane should have been in the air.
Readers who are familiar with the early air war in the SWPA will recognize names like Bostrom and Rawls, and now they will learn about the bravery and sacrifice of other officers and enlisted men whose service has been lost to history until now.
From a different perspective, another leading character in Kangaroo Squadron was a particular B-17, #21-2446. It crashed in a New Guinea swamp in February, 1942, returning from a bombing mission to Simpson Harbor. The crew survived. Gamble weaves a harrowing tale about the crew’s circuitous return to Port Moresby. Left untouched in the swamp for sixty years, the well-preserved aircraft was eventually discovered by several restoration groups. The book concludes with the recovery of the plane and its current display as Swamp Ghost at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Oahu. All but one of the men of the Kangaroo Squadron are gone now, but Swamp Ghost is a beautiful monument to enormous sacrifices of so many aviators early in the war in the SWPA.
February 1, 2019
Kangaroo Squadron is an exceptional book. If you are a military aviation/WW2 Pacific Theatre enthusiast, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. If you know little, or nothing about military aviation/WW2, you will also thoroughly enjoy this book. Bruce Gamble has done an exceptional job of incorporating detail, historical records, first hand accounts to create a compelling story that all Australians, Americans and those interested in WW2 aviation, should read. US airmen operating from Australia and New Guinea in the opening stages of the Pacific War found themselves fighting formidable Japanese opponents, treacherous weather, shortages of spares and disease. Gamble expertly sets the scene and grippingly tells how the young men of the 435th “Kangaroo Squadron”, supported by Australian forces, endured and overcame all of these obstacles to begin the Allied counter offensive during the darkest days of 1942.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews