[Phil DiBasquette]

No offense, but the ABDACOM defense forces predominantly comprised by those countries were initially whomped by the Japanese. Hundreds of Allied planes and much war materiel lost, thousands of troop casualties, fall of NEI, many US & British possessions overrun. NZ forces were largely committed elsewhere (Europe, N. Africa\ME)

It wasn’t until the US asserted itself that the tide turned-
The key battles of Coral Sea was US & Australia and Midway-US only

[Does so]

Big assists by coast-watchers, SIGINT, and Soloman Islands campaign. My Dad rescued many coast-watchers on PNG.

Good read—and short:

http://www.ww2f.com/topic/24893-royal-australian-navy-pacific/