The Hunter's historic role in defence may yet be reprised, as Australia faces a growing security threat

STRIKE POWER: F-35A aircraft based at Williamtown. Picture: Corporal Craig Barrett

FOR five years to mark the centenary of World War I, the Newcastle Herald published weekly columns from military historian David Dial, recounting the efforts of the Hunter soldiers whose battlefield sacrifices helped secure victory.

In June this year, we marked the 80^th anniversary of the Japanese shelling of Newcastle, an ultimately futile attempt to disable the Australian war effort by damaging or destroying the BHP steelworks.