Cootamundra

19 The Japanese Navy’s ability to prevent Australia being used as an Allied base for the counterattack in south-east Asia had been dealt an irreparable blow. It would take years for Japan to replace its destroyed vessels whereas the United States would turn out a dozen aircraft carriers complete with fighter planes over the next twelve months. Cootamundra was now home to a brand-new partially-filled fuel depot which had never pumped fuel in anger when it came to actual warfare. In effect, the town’s mega tanks could be described as a prudent insurance policy that never had to be called in, conceived and constructed just in case war came knocking on Australia’s door. Not wondering, Australia would instead go down fighting if necessary. Devastator torpedo bombers on the USS Enterprise preparing for take off during the battle of Midway. Wikimedia Commons Tank 3, with dry stone bund and fuel pipes