On Gallant WingsThirteen year old Ava lives in Darwin with her family and their homing pigeons, of which Essie is Avas favourite. A Japanese family live next door and their son, Kazuo, is Avas best and only real friend. Her father is serving overseas. While Essie is taking her first flight, Ava overhears an argument between her mother, and her brother Fred, who has lied about his age to join the militia. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he trains in Darwin and