Um...to continue with the "what if" part of the thread, what if Australia had been invaded after proper planning by the Japanese, if only to control the northern airfields that enabled the allies to mount an air offensive on Papua and surrounding Islands. To continue with the Japanese 'take and hold' method, to deprive their enemies of assets, and protect their interests in the north. This does not mean that Japan wins the war, and History follows the general trend that it did, as the power of the allies would eventually win out, BUT, WHAT IF...Japan invades northern Australia after winning the battle of the coral sea, taking Papua, and the fall of Singapore, entrenching themselves until prised out by the allies. What if it took till 1946/47/48 to get rid of them? Would the "bomb" have been used to devestate them, or bitter fighting like the island wars ensued.
Take this scenario with a grain of salt, knowing that the allies do win, and nor would have the assets of Australia provided much to the Japs, other than delaying the inevitable (which fits with their mindset, and the attitude of famous senior officers) but happened. What scenarios would we have seen? I look forward to the comments of those living in Australia and those outside our waters,
SK