Australia’s War Diary — Jan-Mar 1941

Canada. A total of 537 Australians are now training in Canada under the EmpireAir Training Scheme (EATS).

January 3 – North Africa. The 6th Division AIF assaults Bardia. By midday, it has taken 6,000 prisoners.

January 5 – North Africa. Bardia is taken. Over 40,000 prisoners have been captured plus about 500 guns, 115 light tanks, 12 medium tanks and 708 motor vehicles. Australian losses are 130 killed and 326 wounded.

January 6 – Australia. The RAAF is having difficulties coping with the numbers waiting to join up. Arrivals at No 2 I TS,Amberley, Queensland, (actually ‘Sandgate at Amberley’ because Sandgate is not ready) are greeted by the traditional, “You’ll be sorry!” One of their first jobs is to make their beds – each must collect a large hessian sack and stuff it with straw!

January 9 – Britain. First flight of the prototype Avro Lancaster (BT308) takes place.

January 10 – Britain. The RAF launches its first ‘Circus’ operation. A small force of bombers, six Blenheims of 114 Squadron, heavily escorted by three squadrons each of Hurricanes and Spitfires, is sent to bomb an airfield near Pas de Calais. The main purpose is to lure German fighters into battle but the Luftwaffe reaction is meagre. Two Bf 109s are claimed for one Hurricane lost. Mediterranean. X Fliergerkorps in its first action attacks a British convoy off Pantelleria. The carrier HMS Illustrious is damaged and retires to Malta.

Malta. No 431 ReconnaissanceFlight is redesignated 69 Squadron, appropriately still commanded by S/Ldr Ernest ‘Titch’ Whiteley of Sydney. (69 Squadron has special significance for Australians. Back in 1916 it had been an RFC unit formed from Australians who had transferred from the AIF in Egypt. Equipped with two seater RE. 8s, it was made a reconnaissance squadron to operate in support of the Australian Corps in France. On January 19, 1918, it became 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. ) January 11 – Mediterranean. Cruiser HMS Southhampton is sunk and HMS Gloucesteris damaged by X Fliegerkorps Stukas. January 13 – Britain. Plymouth is subjected to an early evening raid. Three Sunderlands of 10 Squadron RAAF are damaged by shrapnel. Small fires in the station are soon under control. January 16 – Australia. The War Cabinet notifies the British Government of its approval of a plan for the progressive formation of RAAF squadrons under Article XV of the EATS Agreement. 2 are to be formed by March 1941; 6 by July 1941; 9 by September 1941; 12 by December 1941; 15 by March 1942; and 18 by May 1942. RCAF, RAAF and RNZAF units formed under this system are to fall under RAF command and will be allotted squadron numbers 400 to 499. Further discussions on the full implications of the proposal will delay formal signing for three months. January 21 – North Africa. The 6th Division AIF launches its assault on Tobruk.

January 22-North Africa. Tobruk surrenders. 25,000 prisoners and 208 field and medium guns have been taken. Australian casualties are 49 dead and 306 wounded.

North Atlantic. SunderlandN9050/RB-D of 10 Squadron RAAF (F/O Vic Hodgkinson and crew) is diverted from convoy patrol to search for a distressed vessel without success. A drifting barrage balloon is sighted and destroyed by the gunners. January 23 – Malta. Despite many air raids, emergency repairs on HMS Illustrious are finished and it sails for Alexandria. Egypt. 39 Squadron RAF moves from Helwan to Heliopolis and begins swapping its Blenheims for Martin Marylands ready for new strategic reconnaissance duties. It is commanded by Tasmanian S/LdrAlan McDonald Bowman who has led the unit with distinction since it began operations in East Africa. It moved to Egypt in November, 1940.

January 24-Australia. PrimeMinister R G Menzies leaves by air for Britain via Singapore and the Middle East.

January 25 – North Africa. Near Mechili, 3 Squadron RAAF encounters Fiat G. 50s for the first time. Attacking from height, the radial engined monoplanes prove superior (except for manoeuvrability) to the Australian Gladiators. The Italians claim four Gladiators destroyed but only F/O J Campbell of Charleville, Qld, is shot down and killed. F/O Peter Turnbull damages one G. 50. USA. The first PBY-5 Catalina flying boat for the RAAF takes off from San Diego bound for Sydney via Hawaii and Fiji. Taken from an RAF batch and sporting British serial AH534, it is flown by Consolidated pilot, E J Greer, on the first leg. At Honolulu, Qantas Operations Manager, Captain Lester Brain, takes over for the remainder of the flight, only the third ever crossing of the South Pacific Ocean. Total flying time is 60 hours 16 minutes and Brain is impressed by the aircraft’s long range capability. Upon delivery to the RAAF on February 2, it is given serial A24-1 and is taken over by 11 Squadron on March 18.

January 28 – Greece. During a furious dogfight between Kelcyre and Premet, P/O Richard ‘Ape’ Cullen of 80 (Gladiator) Squadron RAF shoots up a Cant Z. 1007bis which explodes in mid-air.

January 29 – Malta. A reinforcement flight of six Hurricanes for 261 Squadron arrives from the Middle East accompanied by two navigating Wellingtons of 38 Squadron. One Hurricane pilot is Queens lander P/O John ‘Tiger’ Pain, a Battle of Britain veteran. All land safely after a lengthy cross Mediterranean flight which also includes a skirmish with Italian fighters.

North Africa. 3 Squadron RAAF gets its first Hurricanes. North Atlantic. Sunderland N9050/RB-D of 10 Squadron RAAF captained by F/O Vic Hodgkinson is diverted from convoy patrol to search for SS Baron Renfrew or survivors, without success. Singapore. Prime Minister Menzies attends a conference presided over by the C-in-C Far East, Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham. He is shocked to see first hand the relative defencelessness of Malaya and this reputedly impregnable naval base which does not even have any major elements of the British fleet in attendance. The security of Singapore and a British naval presence is vital to Australian defence planning.

January 30-North Africa. The 19th Brigade AIF takes Derna. January 31 – Atlantic. Allied shipping losses for January amount to 76 vessels – 325,320 tonnes. U-boats have sunk 21 and German aircraft, particularly Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condors of Kampfgeschwader40, have accounted for 15 as well as scouting for the submarines. February 1 – Malta. During a dusk raid, John ‘Tiger’ Pain in Hurricane P3731 attacks a Ju 88 which disappears into cloud with its starboard engine on fire. A crippled bomber of this type returns to Catania where it crashlands and is destroyed.

February 2 – Britain. The RAF launches its second ‘Circus’. Six heavily escortedBlenheims of 139 Squadron bomb the docks at Boulogne and return without loss. The CO of 139 Squadron is W/Cdr Wallace ‘Digger’ Kyle from Kalgoorlie. Earlier, during a routine visit to a training school, Kyle had been approached by another Western Australian who was there flying Ansons. Back in August 1938, this officer had been seriously injured while bailing out of a crashing Blenheim. After nine months in hospital and eighteen months convalescing he had been left with a permanent limp and told that he would never fly again. Through stubborn determination, by August 1940 he had finally persuaded the medical board to restore him to a full flying category. He asked if Kyle could arrange a transfer to an operational squadron. The man with the limp is Hughie Ldwal Edwards. He will soon join Digger Kyle in 139 Squadron.

February 3-14 – North Africa. Prime Minister Menzies inspects Australian forces. In spite of several meetings with the C-in-C Middle East, General Archibald Wavell, and senior British military leaders he is not briefed on the Greek situation and the probable commitment of Australian troops.

February 4 -Malta. At dusk, ‘Tiger’ Pain of 261 Squadron probably destroys a Ju 88. February 6-North Africa. The Australians take Benghazi. February 8 – North Africa. 3 Squadron RAAF turns its remaining Gladiators over to 274 Squadron which is being rested. In return it receives 274’s Hurricanes.

February 9 – North Africa. The British advance halts at El Agheila despite little Italian resistance. General Wavell has been informed that some of his troops are to be ready to go to Greece. Greece. In a clash between 11 Gladiators of 80 Squadron and 16 Italian CR. 42s, one Gladiator is lost for four CR. 42s and three probables. ‘. A. pe’ Cullen’s victim crashes into a hillside and bursts into flames. Greek authorities report that seven Italian fighters have crashed.

February 10- Malta. AHO Malta declares that between 11/6/40 and 10/2/41, defending RAF fighters have destroyed 63 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed 19 and damaged 27.

Greece. After a chase, ‘. A. pe’ Cullen downs an SM. 79 off Corfu. February 10/11- Britain. RAF Bomber Command raids Hannover (222 aircraft) and Rotterdam (57 aircraft). Three Short Stirlings of 7 Sqn drop 10 500Ib bombs each on Rotterdam’s oil storage tanks. This attack marks the debut of the RAF’s four engined heavy bombers over Europe. The Rotterdam force comes home without loss but four aircraft fail to return from Hannover. German intruders shoot down three more over England. February 12 – North Africa. General Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli.

Malta. While climbing to intercept Ju 88s, a flight of Hurricanes from 261 Squadron is bounced by Messerschmitt Bf 109s. John Pain claims one shot down (he is awarded a probable) but two Hurricanes are lost and a third force lands.

February 14 – North Africa. Advanced units of the German Afrika Korps arrive in Tripoli.

Australia. Visiting C-in-C Far East, Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, meets with the Australian War Cabinet. He gives reassurances on Britain’s defence measures for Singapore (“. . . We will not let Singapore fall . . . “) while seeking the commitment of more Australian forces and munitions. At the same time he announces that 67 Brewster Buffalo fighters will be sent from Britain and asserts that British pilots and aircraft in Malaya are “considerably superior” to those of the Japanese.

February 15 – North Africa. F/O J Saunders of 3 Squadron RAAF shoots down a Ju 88 after a long chase out to sea. It is the squadron’s first meeting with a German aircraft. The crew is rescued by a mine sweeper.

February 16 – Australia. 450 Squadron is formed at Williamtown, NSW. Nos 450 and 451 Squadrons are the first Australian units to be created under Article XV of the EATS program. February 17-North Africa. 3 Squadron RAAF moves to Tobruk to operate with 73 Squadron RAF.

February 18 – North Africa. Three Hurricanes from 3 Squadron bounce 12 Ju 87 Stukas attacking British positions near Mersa Brega. F/Lt Gordon Steege claims three destroyed, F/O John Jackson three and F/O J Saunders two.

February 19 – North Atlantic. Sunderland T9071/RB-M of 10 Squadron RAAF, captained by F/Lt John Costello, searches in vain for survivors of the SS Seaforth.

North Africa. The Luftwaffe score its first victory in the desert. Whileescorting Ju 87 Stukas,Bf 11Os of 111/ZG 26 clash with three Hurricanes of 3 Squadron RAAF. F/O A Gatward of Mittagong NSW is shot down and killed. F/Lt John Perrin destroys a Stuka and a Bf 110 before crash landing his burning aircraft. The Hurricane is strafed though Perrin, suffering from burns and injured in one eye, manages to escape. Afterwards a British patrol finds and transports him to hospital in Tobruk.

February 20 – Britain. PM Menzies arrives. Meanwhile, Lord Beaverbrook, British Minister for Aircraft Production, agrees to an Australian request to send a modern fighter plane, an unarmed Hurricane, to Australia for fund raising displays. Mediterranean. A convoy including the carrier HMS Eagle and two fast merchant vessels bound for Alexandria is attacked by five He 111s from 4/KG 26 based on Rhodes. Two 805 Squadron Fulmars, one flown by Australian Lt A R Ramsey, intercept and destroy one Heinkel. A merchantman is damaged.

February 22 – North Atlantic. While trying to locate a convoy, F/O Vic Hodgkinson and crew of 10 Squadron RAAF in Sunderland T9071/RB-M find and attack a submerging U-boat. They direct a corvette to the area but the enemy vessel has escaped. February 23 – Greece. The Greek Government agrees to accept British reinforcements in the form of 100,000 troops with tanks and artillery. In fact, only 57,000 men, including the New Zealand Division and two thirds of the Australian 6th Division, will arrive.

‘. A. pe’ Cullen of 80 Squadron finds a Cant Z. 506B which had been forced to ditch near Prevaza earlier by Blenheim 1Fs of 30 Squadron. Obviously repaired, it is attempting to take off. Cullen causes it to capsize and sink.

February 24 – Britain. Artist Cuthbert Orde has been commissioned by the Air Ministry’s Director of Public Relations to create portraits of selected pilots of RAF Fighter Command. On this day at Kenley he completes his drawing of 615 Squadron’s Australian CO, W/Cdr R A Holmwood.

February 24/25 – Britain. RAF Bomber Command raids warships at Brest with 57 aircraft. Six are new Avro Manchesters, forerunners of the four engined Lancaster, on the type’s first operation. One Manchester crashes in England.

February 25 – Malta. Queenslander John Pain of 261 Squadron shoots down a Bf 110. Pain’s aircraft is Hurricane V7670. Australia. Minister for Air, Mr J McEwen, announces that 250 vacancies exist for women wireless and teleprinter operators to serve until replaced by qualified men. Members of the WAAAF will be drawn from the Women’s Voluntary National Register compiled in 1939.

February 26 – North Atlantic. Sunderland P9605/RB-K of 10 Squadron RAAF captained by F/Lt John Costello searches for survivors of two torpedoed MVs Manspool and British Gunner. The search is abandoned because of weather conditions. Malta. The Germans and Italians launch heavy attacks and both sides suffer correspondingly heavier losses. Tiger Pain claims a Do 215 probable and a Bf 109 damaged. Afterwards he searches in a Magister for survivors, finding two Germans, a Stuka crew, clinging to a lifebuoy. They are recovered by launch. Britain. While climbing over Dover/Folkestone six Hurricanes of 615 Squadron are bounced by Bf 109s. Three are shot down but the unit’s Australian CO, W/Cdr R A Holmwood, is the only pilot killed. Holmwood bails out of Hurricane Z2354 but his burning parachute harness gives way at 2,000 feet (600m).

February 27 – Greece. While escorting Blenheims bombing Valona, nine Hurricanes from 80 and 33 Squadrons engage 13 CR. 42s. Seven Italian fighters are claimed destroyed for one slightly damaged Hurricane but the bombers are not so lucky. Five are damaged, two have to crashland, one being written off. ‘Ape’ Cullen claims a CR. 42.

Britain. South Australian F/O Lewis Hamilton of 248 Squadron reports to Rosyth on attachment to cruiser HMS Curacoa to act as RAF officer in charge of coordinating air cover for a forthcoming coastal convoy. During its voyage, the convoy will be subjected to attacks by He 111s, He 115s and Ju 88s. In his report Hamilton will write: “. . . if we were given a (covering) fighter with good endurance, fast speed and considerable hitting power to get through armour plating we could deal effectively with low flying aircraft, particularly the shadower, which in this case was a Junkers 88 and was considerably faster than a Blenheim (air cover). It is also my opinion that if the shadower was dealt with, the attacking aircraft would not know the exact position of the convoy . . . and they would not be able to time their attacks as perfectly as they have done . . . ”

February 28-Greece. The RAF claims its most successful day of the Greek campaign, 28 victories for the loss of 1 Gladiator. During heavy fighting which extends over Albania, IApe’ Cullen in Hurricane V7138 shoots down two SM. 79s, two CR. 42s and shares a BR. 20. For this action he is awarded an immediate DFC. 112 Squadron’s F/Lt Charles Fry from Newcastle in a Gladiator accounts for a CR. 42 and a G. 50bis. Italian records admit the loss of eight aircraft with numerous others damaged while claiming destroyed one Spitfire (a type not in Greece) and six Gladiators plus three Gladiator probables.

Atlantic. Allied shipping losses to U-boats during February amount to 39 vessels and German aircraft sink a fur ther 27. Total Allied losses amount to 409,850 tonnes.

February 28/March 1- Greece. Larissa is hit by a severe earthquake which causes widespread damage and many casualties. At the airfield huge rifts appear in the ground. Buildings and hangars collapse burying many under the rubble.

March 1-Canada. 1,163 Australians (520 pilots, 210 observers and 433 wireless/air gunners) are currently training in Canada under the EATS program.

March 3- Greece. Ten Cant Z. 1007s bomb Larissa (still recovering from the earthquake). They are chased as they retreat by three Hurricanes. IApe’ Cullen claims four destroyed and a probable while his wingmen accountfor two more. Cullen’s Hurricane is heavily damaged, one bullet passing through his flying boot and grazing his shin. He now has a total of 16 and 1 shared. March 4 – Greece. While flying as wingman to South African ace, F/Lt ‘Pat’ Pattie, escor ting Blenheims bombing Italian warships shelling thecoast road between Himeraand Port Palermo, IApe’ Cullen is bounced by a Fiat G. 50bis. His Hurricane, V7288, crashes and he is killed. Gladiators of 110 Sqn are also involved in the fighting and Charles Fry claims a G. 50bis probable.

March 5 – Malta. John Pain of 261 Sqn shares in destroying a Bf 110 (mistakenly claimed as a Do 215) and probably a second. North Atlantic. While trying to find three lifeboats from the torpedoed ship Baltistan, S/Ldr Hugh Birch and crew of 10 Squadron RAAF in Sunderland P9604/RB-J are attacked by two Ju 88s. One Junkers is shot down and the other badly damaged. March 6 – Malta. 261 Squadron is reinforced by five Hurricanes flown from Egypt, led in by two Wellingtons each carrying two additional fighter pilots as passengers. One Hurricane is flown by Australian born New Zealander, P/O Douglas Whitney. .

Crete. The fighter flight at Maleme is reinforced by the arnval of six Fulmars and three Buffaloes of 805 Squadron FAA. It now has 12 pilots including one Australian, Lt A R Ramsey. Britain. Winston Churchill’s ‘Battle of the Atlantic, declaration.

“We must take the offensive against the U-boat and the FockeWulf wherever we can and whenever we can. The U-boat at sea must be hunted, the U-boat in the building yard or in the dock must be bombed. The Focke-Wulf and other bombers employed against our shipping must be attacked in the air and in their nests . . . Extreme priority will be given to fitting out ships to catapult launch fighter aircraft against bombers attacking our shipping . . . ” March 8 – Britain. During talks with British military officials, Prime Minister Menzies argues that air reinforcements rather that naval would be a great deterrent in the Far East. He presses for Hurricanes to reinforce Singapore. He has realized that with British and Dominion forces spread through Malta, Greece and the Middle East it would be impractical for the Royal Navy to leave the Mediterranean.

March 9 – Greece. An Italian offensive on the Albanian front begins. RAF bombers and fighters operate in direct support of Greek ground forces. 112 Squadron attacks lo””‘. flying BR_. 20s escorted by fighters. Charles Fry claims a G. 50b1s. His vIctIm Is actually an MC. 200 of 22° Gruppo. This battle will be the first of many fought over the mountainous terrain during the next two

weeks, often in heavy cloud and rain.

March 10-Britain. While covering a coastal convoy, three Spit­ .

fires of 145 Squadron led by South Australian, F/Lt Bob Bungey, heavily damage a Ju 88 before it can escape. March 10/11-Britain. RAF Bomber Command raids Cologne, Le Havre and St Nazaire. Le Havre is attacked by eight Blenheims and six four engined Halifaxes, the type’s first operation. There are no losses but while returning one Halifax is shot down in error by an RAF fighter.

March 11 – Greece. Charles Fry probably destroys a G. 50bis and damages another.

March 13-14 – Britain. Through using new Ground Control Interception (GCI) stations, improved airborne radar and operators with skills enhanced by experience, RAF night fighters are improving their rate of success. Five raiders had been shot down the previous evening. Tonight the Luftwaffe will lose nine aircraft, most to night fighters but Ju 88A-5 2234/M2+JL Is downed at 10. 25pm by a Spitfire of 72 Squadron flown by F/Lt Desmond Sheen DFC. It crashes into the sea off Nor Northumberland. Later, with his promotion to Acting Squadron Leader gazetted on the 28th, Sheen will take command of 72 Squadron.

March 14 – Greece. Charles Fry downs a BR 20 north of Kelcyre. March 18- Malta. In a spectacular dogfight, John Pain, again flying Hurricane P3731, destroys a CR. 42 and probably another. Crete. 805 Squadron has its first brush with the enemy when three Fulmars, one flown by Ramsey, attempt to intercept two Ju 88s. The Fulmars are too slow and cannot catch up.

March 20/21 – Britain. The Luftwaffe attacks Plymouth. Two Sunderlands of 10 Squadron RAAF, P9604/RB-J and T904 7/RB-L, are damaged. Over 20,000 incendiaries are dropped on shops and residential areas. Prime Minister Menzies is visiting the city in time for its heaviest raid of the war so far.

March 22 – Malta. A disastrous day for 261 Squadron when five Hurricanes out of eight are shot down by Bf 109s. Only Doug Whitney claims a Messerschmitt. Afterwards John Pain and another pilot search in vain for survivors.

March 23 -Australia. Delivery of the first of 200 CAC CA-6

Wackett Trainers begins.

March 20 – North Africa. Believing British forces have been over stretched, Rommel moves forward from El Agheila towards Mersa Brega.

Malta. Bf 11Os drop three unexploded bombs in the disposal at Hal Far. Along with others, John Pain gingerly pushes the precious Hurricanes out of harm’s way. The disposal squad later reveals that the bombs are duds.

March 31-North Africa. A fierce battle develops between British and German forces at Mersa Brega.

Atlantic. During the month U-boats and German aircraf_t have both sunk 41 ships. Total Allied losses have reached a gnm 139 ships, or 538,175 tonnes, but since Churchill’s ‘Battle of t _ he Atlantic’ declaration on the 6th, six U-boats have been sunk, signifying the increasing efficiency of convoy escorts.