SPYFORCE

Spyforce is a team of operatives working for Allied Headquarters.

The time period of their activities is the Second World War; the location is the South Pacific recently overrun and conquered and now controlled by the Japanese military.

We are given an informative though succinct explanation for the creation of the team at the beginning of each episode: "Early in 1942 the Japanese Army swept through the South Pacific towards the Australian mainland. They overran the Malay Peninsula and reached deep into the jungles of New Guinea. As a result numbers of civilian planters and soldiers were formed into highly trained espionage teams by Allied Headquarters in Australia. These men were directed into sabotage operations deep behind enemy lines throughout the Pacific area. Much of their work must remain top secret. One of these groups may well have been called: Spyforce."

Spyforce was brainchild of Colonel Cato, a man well versed in intelligence gathering and clandestine operations who was personally chosen by the sitting Austalian Prime Minister. He in turn looked to two men who he was certain possessed the tenacity and the capability to carry out the often near-suicidal missions that would come their way. The two main operatives whose actions are the focal point for these recorded adventures are Erskine [no last name known] and Gunther Haber. According to Wikipedia:

Erskine  is the hero and main protagonist of Spyforce. Erskine was an Australian planter in New Ireland in the Australian Territory of New Guinea when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded in 1942. Erskine is bitter about the Australian army withdrawing. Erskine is a heavy drinking, swearing, womanising and sometimes cold hearted man who has little time for rank or etiquette. He was forced off his plantation by advancing Japanese troops, and resents the Australian Army for not having properly protected his property. He is initially reluctant to help Spyforce and only does so because Cato promises to help track down the location of a girl Erskine loves, who is in a POW camp. Despite this, Erskine is an excellent soldier, although often prone to disobeying, or bending orders. He is quick to the trigger, and not afraid of tackling the Japanese head on if necessary. He also has a ruthless streak and can be cold and calculating at times. He despises Gunther Haber initially because they love the same girl, and resents being forced to work with him. But as the two men get to know each other, both realise they have a similar dishonest roguish character, and begin to bond.

Gunther Haber is Erskine's main sidekick. He is a German planter with a plantation on New Britain, and he too was forced to flee the advancing Japanese. Because of his German heritage, he is initially interned in a Prison Camp in Australia, but later is recruited by the Special Intelligence Unit for his linguistic skills and intimate knowledge of New Guinea. Haber is a cultured German, who is the complete foil for Erskine's rough and ready character. They are also love rivals, and initially the bitterness is strong between the two. However, as they begin to succeed together in their missions, a grudging mutual respect develops. At the beginning Erskine calls Haber 'Adolf' as a slight, but after the men begin to bond, he continues to use the nickname in a more friendly affectionate way.

I have only been able to view bits and pieces of this series over the years. As a result, I may not be able to give this section much of a qualified viewpoint. Keep that in mind and if you have your own opinions, please add them to this page.

From what I have seen, I would have liked to have seen more. Erskine is a terrific character to follow - reminds me of myself in my far younger days - drinking and swearing, chasing women, and getting into fights. Well, except he caught up with most of the women and won most of the fights. Me, not so much. But boy could I handle the drinking and swearing.

His partner, Gunther, is a lot more cerebral, IMHO, but still very interesting and a darn good man to have on your side - or to follow on the television screen.