At the entrance to Orsta fjord, a granite stone stands on a rocky outcrop at the water’s edge. Roughly inscribed in English, it records the deaths of two Australian airmen. Each year, villagers of Orsta pay homage to the sacrifice of these two young Australians.

Beaufighter pilot James Hakewill and his navigator Fred Sides died on 5 December 1944 when their aircraft slammed into a German gunboat in a Norwegian fjord. Official records contain no mention of the aircraft hitting the ship. No one in the squadron knew what had happened.

Viking Boys: Beaufighters, Bravery and Lost Airmen tells their stories and explores the experiences of young Australians who fought and flew against German shipping in Norway – men who called themselves the Viking Boys.

Details: Non-fiction, published 2022.

Format: Soft cover, illustrations (photographs), 240 pages.

 Dimensions: 23.0 cm (h) x 15.3 cm (w) x 1.6 cm (d) / 428 grams.