Australia’s War Diary

December 5 – Germany. Hitler halts the Moscow offensive because there is no possibility of further gains. He also orders the transfer of Fliegerkorps II from the Eastern Front to the Mediterranean for a major effort against Malta.

North Africa. During a ‘Stuka party’ when Tomahawks of 250 and 112 Squadrons, meet 40 escorted Ju 87s south of ElAdem. F/Lt “Killer” Caldwell, leading 250 Squadron, destroys 5 Stukas. Other Australian scorers are Sgt Whittle (2), Sgt Cable (2) and P/O Creighton (1). 112 Squadron is also successful in destroying eight including P/O Bartle a G-50 and a Ju 87.

Britain. In an unfortunate accident while ferrying the new CO, W/Cdr Axel Richards, from Oban to Pembroke Dock, 10 Squadron’s training Sunderland, T9072/RB-V, crashes when its port outer engine suddenly disintegrates. There are 11 survivors and one stretcher case but the Squadron MO, F/Lt Stuart Thomson, and Flight Mechanic NC Henry Webber, plus two passenger RAF pilots are killed.

December 6 – Eastern Front. The Soviets counterattack along the 500 miles (800km) of the Moscow sector. They meet with considerable success against the overextended Germans. Malaya. A reconnaissance Hudson of No 1 Squadron RAAF flown by F/Lt J Ramshaw makes the first sighting of Japanese convoys en route from the South China Sea to Malaya and Thailand. Fifteen minutes later, F/Lt J Emerton in another Hudson, sights a third convoy 250 miles (400km) from Kota Bharu. The RAAF has 4 units in Malaya: No 1 Squadron at Kota Bharu; 8 Squadron (Hudson) at Kuantan and Sembawang; 21 Squadron (Buffalo) at Sungei Patani and; 453 Squadron (Buffalo) at Sembawang.

December 7 – Hawaii. Using carrier based aircraft, and without declaring war, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbour causing extensive damage to the US Pacific Fleet and shore installations. It should be noted that Japanese landings had already taken place simultaneously at Kota Bharu in Northern Malaya, and in Thailand at Singora and Patani near the Malayan border, although they are recorded as happening on December 8 local time. Because of the International Date Line, which lies between the two areas, 2. 00am on Monday, December 8, at Kota Bharu, is approximately 4. 00am on Sunday, December 7, at Pearl Harbour. December 8 – Malaya. At Kota Bharu, soon after 2. 00am, six Hudsons of No 1 Squadron take off in quick succession with orders to attack independently any hostile forces found. F/Lt J Lockwood, from Geelong,is first to bomb. In his second attack a troop transport is hit amidships and set afire. F/Lt J Jones and his crew (F/O R Siggins, Sgts G Hodge and D Walters) are shot down and KIA, the first casualties. Throughout the night, the squadron keeps up a ceaseless routine of quick shuttle raids – out to the beaches and fleet, bomb, strafe, back, bomb-up, reload and off again. By daybreak one ship, the 9,855 tonne Awagisan Maru has blown up (Japan’s first ship lost in WW2), two others – Sakura Maru and Ayato Maru – are damaged and 24 barges have been sunk or overturned but another Hudson, flown by F/Lt Ramshaw has been shot down into the sea. F/Lt D Dewie, of Adelaide, is picked up by the Japanese but Ramshaw and Sgts G White and J Coldrey do not survive.

With daylight comes intensive air attacks. Soon after 9am, Zeros and Type 97 fighters raid Kota Bharu airfield. At intervals throughout the day the raids continue, greatly hampering maintenance crews and aircraft taking off and landing. Despite this the surviving Hudsons continue their sorties. Damaged aircraft are are cannibalized to keep others flying but by mid-afternoon only five remain airworthy. Japanese land forces penetrate close to the airfield and two more Hudsons are lost.

Beaufort T9547, the only Beaufort in Malaya, makes a photographic reconnaissance sortie from Kota Bharu over the Lakon Roads, north of Singora, to determine if the Japanese have landed in Thai territory. It is the first operational sortie by any Australian built aircraft.

Orders come to evacuate the airfield. Three Hudsons that cannot be repaired are destroyed and the five serviceable machines take off loaded with 7001bs (320kg) of equipment each. F/Lt Douglas’ plane is so badly damaged its wing flaps have to be tied into position with wire and it has to fly wheels down. F/Lt O’Brien’s Hudson carrying 17 passengers is subjected to small arms fire while taking off and by flying “on the deck” it manages to evade six Zeros before landing safely at Kuantan at dusk.

While Kota Bharu is being evacuated Singapore experiences its first air raid. Elsewhere, at Sungei Patani, 21 Squadron is caught on the ground when the RAF station commander, awaiting permission from Air Headquarters, does not give the order to scramble. In minutes seven aircraft are lost. By the end of the day only four Buffaloes are serviceable and these are withdrawn to Butterworth.

Timar. No 2 Squadron Hudsons flying from Koepang attack the Japanese pearling mother ship Nanyo Maru off the north coast of Timer. It is damaged, runs aground and is abandoned by the crew who are interned by the Dutch.

New Guinea. Taking off in darkness, F/O Lyn Sloan and crew of 11 Squadron in Catalina A24-15 crash into a hill on the western side of Port Moresby – no survivors, the first of over 1,100 RAAF aircrew to be killed on air operations in the South and South West Pacific.

Australia. Japan’s assault has made defence chiefs realize how totally inadequate Australia’s defences really are. Excluding overseas units, RAAF front line strength comprises seven squadrons of Wirraways, seven of Hudsons, two of Catalinas, and one of Seagulls/Walrus, totaling 177 machines plus a reserve of Battles, Wirraways and Ansons making an absolute total of 483 aircraft for home defence. Greater reconnaissance is immediately necessary plus increased policing of Japanese pearling luggers. Only 11 flying boats are available for patrolling the outer island defence line.

The USA and UK declare war on Japan.

Britain. 13 Spitfires of 452 Squadron RAAF escorting two rescue launches south of Dungeness are engaged by Fw-190’s. Sgt Jack Emery fails to return, last seen chasing an Fw-190 with two others on his tail.

December 9 – North Africa. Nine Tomahawks of 250 Squadron with RNFS Hurricanes sweep the Adem-EI Gobi area. They encounter five Bf 11Os and ten Bf 1O9s. P/O John Waddy shares a Bf 110 in flames.

Later, south of El Adem, Tomahawks of 3 RAAF and ten of 112 Squadrons are bounced by six Bf 1O9s. The Australian Tomahawks suffer badly, Sgt Wilson being killed; Sgt ‘Tiny’ Cameron force landing and F/O Rutter failing to return. W/Cdr Jeffrey force lands at Tobruk, while Sgt Carson of 112 Squadron is badly up. Sgt Mailey of 3 Squadron shoots down one Messerschmitt and damages a second. Cameron will return to 3 Squadron on the 12th. Rex Wilson from Glen Osmond, South Australia, had destroyed eight enemy aircraft and had just been recommended for a DFM.

Malaya. Mitsubishi ‘Neils’, bomb and strafe Kuantan causing heavy damage and probably destroy one bomber. 8 Squadron’s F/Lt Ron Widmer DFC, manages to get a Hudson into the air. Kuantan will be evacuated. At Butterworth, in a fierce battle, 21 Squadron loses three of its four remaining Buffaloes, F/O A White force-landing at Penang. Before bailing out, F/O Harold Montefiore becomes the first Australian fighter pilot to shoot down a Zero. Butterworth is heavily bombed.

December 10- South China Sea. The British capital ships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse are sunk with heavy loss of life by Japanese bombers which lose only four of their number. HMAS Vampire, one of the destroyer escorts, rescues 225 survivors.

Philippines. The Japanese begin to invade with landings at Aparri and Vigan, northern Luzon.

Ambon. The first air strike by an Australian squadron in the Netherlands East Indies against an enemy land target, a bomb raid on Tobi Island, the westernmost point in the Japanese mandated area, 170 miles (270km) east of Morotai, is carried out by Hudsons of 13 Squadron based at Laha. The leading aircraft, piloted by the CO, W/Cdr J McDonald, crashes into the sea just after takeoff, no survivors. The remaining five Hudsons carry out the mission successfully.

December 11. Germany and Italy declare war on the USA. Malaya. No 1 Squadron amalgamates with 8 Squadron and continues to attack invading forces and escort convoys into Singapore. The Japanese have air superiority over northern Malaya. December 12 – Pacific. The AIF force assigned to Timer arrives at Koepang. It consists of 1,400 officers and men of the 2140th Battalion, the 212nd Independent Company and supporting troops.

North Africa. Tomahawks of 112 RAF and ,3 Squadron RAAF attack a large formation of Axis aircraft over Tmimi. F/O Barr destroys a Bf 110 but two Tomahawks collide, that flown by P/O Fred Eggleston crashing. 112 Squadron loses three pilots but on the credit side P/O Bartle claims a Bf 109.

December 13 – North Africa. Ten Tomahawks of 3 RAAF Squadron on a sweep spot eight Ju 87s with eight escorting Bf 109s west of Tmimi. F/O Barr destroys a Bf 109, while Sgt Cameron also claims one and shares another with F/0 Briggs. F/O Trimble is shot down, but will return safely on the 20th. Returning to base, Barr destroys a lone Ju 88 south of Galzala.

Malaya. 453 Squadron claims nine enemy aircraft over Penang: F/O R Vanderfield two bombers; three dive bombers shared by Sgts M Read and V Collyer; plus one Zero by B Grace and three others (unconfirmed) by W/Cdr T Vigors before his petrol tank explodes and he bales out injured. P/O G Angus crash lands in a paddy field and escapes with a leg wound.

December 14 – North Africa. Six Tomahawks of 3 Squadron on a ‘rhubarb’ over Martuba meet seven Ju 87s covered by Bf 1O9s and claim one Stuka but F/O Knight and Sgt Scott are shot down. Malaya. Three Buffaloes out of five return to lpoh after a clash with enemy fighter bombers. Sgt G Seagoe is lifted from his plane badly wounded. KIA are F/Lt White from 21 Squadron and 453’s Sgt R Oelrich.

December 15 – Malaya. 21 and 453 Squadrons have only three aircraft fit for combat.

December 16 – Pacific. Japanese landings in Borneo at Miri, Serh and Lutong.

December 17 – North Africa. 3 Squadron hands four of its remaining Tomahawks to 112 Squadron RAF, two each to 2 and 4 Squadrons SAAF, and then collect the first of their new Curtiss Kittyhawks. It is hoped this type will perform better against the Bf 109F than the Tomahawk

Pacific. The AIF force assigned to Ambon, the 2121st Battalion and 213 men in other detachments, disembarks.

December 20 – New Guinea. Australian National Airways (ANA), operating DC-3s, begins to evacuate civilians.

December 22 – Mediterranean. Sunderland T9071 of 230 Squadron is intercepted by two Bf 110s 50 miles (80km) north-east of Benghazi. Sgt Jacques Dupont RAAF claims a probable after two gunners have been wounded, but the badly damaged Sunderland force lands on the sea. The starboard float is smashed while landing and the crew has to spread themselves on the undamaged wing to keep the remaining float in the water. The aircraft drifts tail first until striking a reef just off Ras Amt and begins to break up. Dupont helps a mortally wounded gunner into a dinghy and swims alongside but it capsizes. The Australian holds his companion up and after two hours, along with the others, he struggles ashore. Here, a group of Italian soldiers approach and surrender to them! More Italians then arrive and take the party prisoner, taking them to a Senussi village where the wounded gunner dies and is buried. Next day, not knowing whether or not the British have taken Benghazi, the parties split up. The Sunderland group finally reaches the British lines after collecting 130 voluntary Italian prisoners along the way! Sgt Dupont is awarded a DFM.

North Africa Allied aircraft raid Magrun airfield. In one attack, six Tomahawks of 112 Squadron with seven of 250 Squadron, covered by 2 and 4 Squadrons SAAF, find 24 enemy aircraft on the airfield, some landing and some taking off. Sgt Frank “Mac” Twemlow of 250 Squadron shoots down a Stuka which is about to land. Sgt Carson, who destroys a Ju 52 on the ground, shares in probably destroying a Bf 109. P/0 Bartle shares a Ju 87. Malaya. In a confused engagement with 40 Zeros and Kawasaki Tonys, 453 Squadron has three Buffaloes shot down, two crash land and four others are damaged. Sgt Read who rams a Zero is KIA and P/O Drury dies of wounds. Four enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed but next day the army reports finding the wreckage of 10.

Later during a lowlevel attack, Sgt Peterson, the only pilot able to takeoff, is shot down by Zeros and killed, before he can retract his undercarriage.

December 23 – Pacific. The American garrison on Wake Island surrenders to the Japanese.

Burma. The first Japanese air attacks are made on Rangoon. Borneo. Japanese landings at Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. North Africa. Axis forces evacuate Benghazi.

December 24 – Philippines. More Japanese landings in southeast Luzon.

December 25. Hong Kong surrenders to the Japanese. December 27 – Philippines. Manila is declared an open city. Malaya. General Pownall replaces Air Marshal Brooke-Popham as C-in-C Far East.

Australia. Prime Minister Curtin declares: ” . . . I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom. ”

December 27/28 – Britain. Three Wellingtons of 458 Squadron RAAF attack Boulogne docks and marshalling yards at Dusseldorf. One bomber, flown by F/Lt Don Saville, attacks a landing He 111 over an enemy airfield and strafes a train on the way home. December 28 – Pacific. ANA begins evacuating civilians from Rabaul.

North Africa. Accompanied by the Tomahawks of 112 and 250 Squadrons, 3 Squadron flies its first Kittyhawk mission. December 30 – Malaya. The Japanese advance in Malaya has been swift and by now, bombers have been moved forward to bases from where they can attack Singapore Island. The remaining 160 RAF and RAAF aircraft are stationed at four airfields. December 31 – Sea war. This month’s total of Allied shipping losses has soared to 285 ships or 593,039 tonnes. More than 436,880 tonnes has been lost in the Pacific. Total Allied shipping losses for 1941 has reached 1,229 ships of 4,368,800 tonnes.