Australia’s War Diary

January 2 -North Africa. The Axis garrison of Bardia surrenders. Philippines. The Japanese enter Manila.

January 3-Singapore. Sembawang airfield is the busiest on the Island. As well as RAAF units, Nos 1 & 8Hudson Squadrons and 21/ 453Buffalo Squadron (the two depleted units were merged on Christmas Eve), two Dutch Glenn Martin squadrons are stationed there. The Hudsons and Buffaloes cover an incoming convoy. Japanese bombers raid Kuala Lumpur rendering it unusable.

General Wavell is appointed to the newly established ABDA (American-British-Dutch-Australian) Command to hold the “Malay Barrier ” (the line from Malaya through the Dutch East Indies to Borneo). Japanese expansion will make ABDA Command very short lived.

January 4 -New Britain. First Japanese air raid on Rabaul. January 6 – New Britain. F/Lt B Anderson of 24Squadron at Rabaul becomes the first Allied fighter pilot to fire on a Japanese aircraft in the South WestPacific when he attacks nine Mavis flying boats bombing Vunakanau. Unable to close, he fires all his ammunition without any obvious effect.

January 7-Ambon. Laha’s first air raid. Seven Mavis flying boats bomb Ambon in bright moonlight. Buildings and workshops are damaged but there are no RAAF casualties.

Burma. Reinforcements dribble in from England and the Middle East. 113Squadron arrives at Mingaladon. In the evening, without having proper inspections, they successfully attack Japanese shipping and the docks at Bangkok. Among the raiders is the first all Australian Blenheim crew to strike at the Japanese in Burma: F/O G Bassingthwaite and his crew of D Gordon and W McKerracher.

January 8 – North Africa. 3 Squadron intercepts Axis aircraft about to strafe British troops south east of Agedabia. 7 enemy planes are destroyed. F/Lt Jackson claims an MC 200, Sgt Simes a CR 42and two MC 200s, SgtPfeiffer two MC 200s, F/0 Schaeffer a CR 42and an MC 200 probable, F/0 Jones a Bf 10 9 probable, and F/0 Hart a CR 42probable. F/0 Baster fails to return. John Jackson’s tally is 8before returning to Australia. January 9 – North Africa. Escorting seven Marylands to bomb Marsa Brega, a lone Bf 10 9 surprises 3Squadron and shoots down two Kittyhawks. F/O G Chinchen crash lands but Sgt Ron Simes, from Tenterfield NSW, who had just brought his score to six, is killed.

January 10/11 – Britain. 456 Squadron is not fully operational after converting to Beaufighter lls but S/Ldr Hamilton with observerP/O Norris-Smith shoots down a minelaying Do 217 for its first victory.

January 11-Ambon. The Japanese bomb Laha, badly damaging the runway and igniting a fuel dump. Later, a mixed force of 2 and 13Squadron Hudsons attack naval targets at Manado and nearby Kema hitting a cruiser and 2other vessels. In another attack, Japanese landing craft and troops at Kema are strafed. North Africa. While Kittyhawks of 3RAAF and 112Squadron are escorting Blenheims on a raid, the top cover is jumped by three Bf 10 9s. F/O R Jones of Peppermint Grove, Western Australia, and Sgt Allan “Tiny” Cameron DFM are shot down and captured. F/O H Pace claims a 10 9 probable. F/O Barr destroys a G-50 and a 109 before attempting to land and pick up one of the downedAustralians. He is bounced by two more 109s and, with his wheels half retracted, shoots one down before crash landing himself and being strafed and wounded. On returning to the squadron, “Nicky” Barr is awarded an immediate DFC for scoring seven kills in only two weeks of combat.

Jones and Cameron escape from Tripoli on the 17th and begin walking eastwards. On the 22nd they are betrayed by Arabs and recaptured. They will be transferred to Italy but their escape attempts will continue. Jones will eventually succeed, reach Switzerland and in July 1 9 44cross into France to join the French Forces. January 12 – North Africa. Rommel plans a surprise counter offensive. Even while retreating, the Germans have been receiving new supplies of tanks. The British forces will be weakened by diverting reinforcements to the Far East and the loss of two Australian divisions, withdrawn to thePacific.

January 13-Atlantic. U Boats begin operations off the US East Coast. They will sink 150,000 tons during the first month. North Africa. Seven Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron RAAF are bounced by four Bf 10 9s. F/O Schaeffer force lands at Msus and returns to Antelat next day.

January 14 -North Africa. During a predawn patrol over Tobruk, Sgt Foskett of 80 (Hurricane) Squadron intercepts a Ju 88 but before he attacks it is hit by AAA fire from the port. 112 Squadron’s new CO is S/Ldr Clive “Killer” Caldwell from 250 Sqn. January15-Singapore. Three Buffaloes of 2 1/4 5Squadron (F/Lt J “Kongo” Kinninmont, and F/Os R Vanderfield and F Bowes) intercept 21Japanese bombers, destroying two and probably another. Kinninmont has to force land.

January 16-North Africa. Sgt Foskett destroys a Bf 110. January 17 – Singapore. Sembawang is bombed causing widespread damage and destroying three Hudsons and three Buffaloes.

January 18 – Singapore. While escorting RAF Blenheims and RAAF Hudsons, F/O Sproule of 21/45Squadron destroys a Nate and Sgt Chapman is shot down by Zeros. A damaged Hudson piloted by F/Lt Arnold crashes before reaching Sembawang killing all aboard.

January 19 – Singapore. Eight Buffaloes of 21/ 453 Squadron escort three Dutch Glenn Martin bombers and five Wirraways of “Y Squadron” attacking troops and barges on the Muar River. F/Lt Kirkman destroys a Claude and F/Lt Kinninmont, F/O Vanderfield and Sgt Gorringe a Zero each. All the Glenn Martins, a Wirraway and a Buffalo (Sgt Parsons) are shot down. Later, Kinninmont claims another Zero.

January 20 – New Britain. Japanese aircraft from four carriers attack Rabaul. W/Cdr John Lerew has pleaded with RAAF HQ Melbourne for modern fighters but none are available. Two patrolling Wirraways are shot down by escorting Zeros. The six remaining Wirraways scramble. One crashes after takeoff, two ares hot down over the sea, two force land and one survives intact. Singapore. Sembawang aerodrome is heavily bombed and again on the 22nd.

January 21-North Africa. Rommel’s second offensive takes the British by surprise.

New Britain. RAAF HQ Melbourne orders W/Cdr Lerew to attack the approaching Japanese fleet “with all available aircraft. ” His remaining Hudson loads up and bravely takes-off to tackle two aircraft carriers, four cruisers plus destroyers and transports. Fortunately, darkness falls and the attack is aborted.

January 22 – Malta. Sgt Tony Boyd of 242 Squadron probably destroys a Ju 88.

North Africa. Twelve 3 Squadron Kittyhawks meet thirty Ju 87s escorted by G-50s, MC 200s and Bf 109s. F/O Gibbes destroys a Stuka while F/O Hart and P/O P Giddy each destroy a Macchi. While returning, two Bf 109s surprise and shoot down F/Os Bradbury and McIntosh. Bradbury returns on 25th. New Britain. RAAF HQ Melbourne orders W/Cdr Lerew to keep his air field “open”. Lerew replies in Latin: “We who are about to die, salute you!” – the salute of Roman gladiators before their fight to the death. Melbourne relents and orders him to evacuate his aircraft and men.

January 23 – Malta. F/O Ben White’s PR Beaufighter escapes into cloud when attacked by a Bf 110 off Palermo. White and two Beaufighters arrived from 2 PRU Egypt on attachment to 69 Sqn on the 14th to help the aging Marylands locate Axis convoys. Pacific. Japanese landings at Rabaul in New Britain, Balikpapan in Borneo, near Kavieng on New Ireland and on Bougainville in the Solomons. At Rabaul, the isolated garrison defends fiercely before moving inland. Of 200 who surrender, 150 are killed in cold blood during March. Most of the remainder elude the enemy and leave the island in a series of rescue missions over the next four months. Rabaul will become a major Japanese naval base. January 24 – North Africa. An advance party of 450 Squadron RAAF reaches Mersa Matruh where its trucks are requisitioned to ferry petrol to elements of the retreating 8th Army.

January 25 – Malaya. Batu Yahat, the last defensive position near the Muar River, is abandoned.

North Africa. Strafing 3 Squadron Kittyhawks set four troop carriers and a petrol tanker on fire north of Agedabia. Sgts Reid and Curtiss shoot down a Bf 110. Later, Sgt Leu of 112 Squadron claims a Bf 109.

January 26- Malaya. Major attacks against the Japanese landings at Endau. Among these, six Buffaloes, all 21/453 Squadron can muster, escort the nine remaining Hudsons of 1 and 8 Squadrons RAAF. Altogether, eleven Vildebeestes, two Albacores, two Hudsons, and two Hurricanes are lost. All Australian Buffaloes return but most are extensively damaged. Enemy fighters are claimed by F/O Sheppard, F/O Grace and Sgt Leys. Britain. Detailed to fly Hurricane P. 3452 from Belfast to Abingdon for, Lt Bob Everett DSO of 804 Sqn RNAS is drowned when it plunges into the sea off Red Wharf Bay near Carreg Onnan. Everett, from Hothorpe NSW, had been the first Hurricane pilot to shoot down a Focke-Wulf Condor. (Refer Aug 91AA) North Africa. Tomahawks of 250 Squadron strafe the Mus area. P/0 Waddy shoots down an MC 200.

January 28-Ambon. Remaining RAAF Hudsons are withdrawn because of mounting enemy air raids.

January 29 – Singapore; RAF and RAAF units begin evacuating to Sumatra.

Burma. P/O Jack Storey of 135 Squadron RAF destroys an Army 97 (Nate).

North Africa. Rommel retakes Benghazi.

January 30 – Britain. The British Defence Committee agrees to despatch 125 Kittyhawk fighters to Australia.

January 31 – Malaya. T he Causeway linking the Malay Peninsula to Singapore Island is demolished. Because of confused leadership against a determined well trained foe, General Percival’s 60,000 British, Indian and Australian troops have been ejected from Malaya by 35,000 Japanese.

February 2 – Australia. The War Cabinet orders 105 CAC Boomerang fighters straight from the drawing board. February 4 – Malta. Only 2 out of 6 Blenheims of 21 Squadron RAF return from an attack on Palermo harbour. One crashes and the others are victims of Italian AAA. Blenheim Z9812 flown by P/O F Workman, crash lands. His crew killed, the mortally injured Australian is captured while trying to destroy his aircraft.

Malaya. Japanese demands for the surrender of Singapore are rejected. Wavell hopes the island can hold while Allied forces in the East Indies are built up. The remaining four Buffaloes of 453 Sqn fly from Singapore to P2 aerodrome, Palembang, Sumatra. February 7 – North Africa. Rommel stops near Gazala. He has recovered nearly all ground won by the British during Crusader. February 8 – Malaya. Following heavy bombardment, Japanese troops make night landings on the northwest of Singapore. Positioned to face an attack from the sea, the guns of Singapore fortress are useless.

North Africa. Kittyhawks of 3 RAAF and 112 Squadrons with Hurricanes from 73 Squadron escort Blenheims to Derna. While waiting over El Adem to rendezvous, they are attacked by Bf 109s. Sgt Curtiss crash lands back at Gambut but F/O bales out and is recovered by the Army. The battle is joined again over Derna and on the way back, 112 Squadron loses three but claims three 109s, Sgt Burney destroying one and sharing another. February 10 – North Africa. 459 Squadron RAAF, with 2 Hudsons and 4 Blenheims, forms as an extra flight of 203 Squadron RAF. February 11 – Singapore. Allied troops retire to their last defence perimeter around the town.

February 11-12 – Britain. Operation Cerberus: German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen run the gauntlet home from Brest up the English Channel. Caught off guard, the British can only mount piecemeal, albeit courageous, attacks. Among Australians involved: six Hampdens from 455 Squadron attack, two are damaged and a third (F/Lt W Perrin and crew) does not return; P/O N Richardson of 12 (Wellington) Squadron RAF is wounded in the arm but releases his bombs across the bows of Gneisenau; F/O Birchley and P/O Archer of 42 (Beaufort) Squadron RAF manage to launch torpedoes but Archer’s rear gunner and wireless operator are wounded; and Spitfires of 452 Squadron, now commanded by S/Ldr Bluey Truscott, strafe and damage a destroyer. Both battlecruisers are damaged by mines.

February 12 – Malta. P/O “Chuck” Lester shares a Ju 88. Two escorting Bf 109s attacked and he damages one as it overshoots. Britain. S/Ldr Truscott shares a He 114 floatplane off Boulogne, 452 Squadron’s first victory since November 8.

February 13 – Eastern Front. Russian spearheads reach White Russia. Soviet offensives continue in all sectors although German resistance is increasing.

February 14 – North Africa. 450 Squadron RAAF moves to Gambut. Here the Squadron suffers its first fatality when NC A McKee is killed by a delayed action bomb. Kittyhawks of 3 RAAF and 112 Squadron RAF meet 32 Axis aircraft and shoot down 20 without loss. For 3 Squadron: Sgt Mailey 2 Bf-109s; Sgt Thompson 1 MC 200 shared; F/O Pace 1 MC 200 shared; Sgt C White 1 Bf 109; F/O Giddy 2 MC 200s; Sgt Reid 1 MC 200 and another shared; and F/O Spence 1 Bf 109. The claims for Australians in 112 Squadron are: F/O Bartle 1 probable MC 200; Sgt Leu 2 MC 200s; and Sgt Burney 1 MC 200. Ten more are damaged. Sumatra. Japanese paratroops land at Palembang, Other units are en route by sea.

February 15 – Singapore. In what Churchill calls “the greatest the East Indies are built up. The remaining four Buffaloes of 453 Sqn fly from Singapore to P2 aerodrome, Palembang, Sumatra. February 7 – North Africa. Rommel stops near Gazala. He has recovered nearly all ground won by the British during Crusader. February 8 – Malaya. Following heavy bombardment, Japanese troops make night landings on the northwest of Singapore. Positioned to face an attack from the sea, the guns of Singapore fortress are useless.

North Africa. Kittyhawks of 3 RAAF and 112 Squadrons with Hurricanes from 73 Squadron escor t Blenheims to Derna. While waiting over El Adem to rendezvous, they are attacked by Bf 109s. Sgt Curtiss crash lands back at Gambut but F/O Threlkeld bales out and is recovered by the Army. The battle is joined again over Derna and on the way back, 112 Squadron loses three but claims three 109s, Sgt Burney destroying one and sharing another. February 10 – North Africa. 459 Squadron RAAF, with 2 Hudsons and 4 Blenheims, forms as an extra flight of 203 Squadron RAF. February 11 – Singapore. Allied troops retire to their last defence perimeter around the town.

February 11-12 – Britain. Operation Cerberus: German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, run the gauntlet home from Brest up the English Channel. Caught off guard, the British can only mount piecemeal, albeit courageous, attacks. Among Australians involved: six Hampdens from 455 Squadron attack, two are damaged and a third (F/Lt W Perrin and crew) does not return; P/O N Richardson of 12 (Wellington) Squadron RAF is wounded in the arm but releases his bombs across the bows of Gneisenau; F/O Birchley and P/O Archer of 42 (Beaufort) Squadron RAF manage to launch torpedoes but Archer’s rear gunner and wireless operator are wounded; and Spitfires of 452 Squadron, now commanded by S/Ldr Bluey Truscott, strafe and damage a destroyer. Both battlecruisers are damaged by mines.

February 12 – Malta. P/O “Chuck” Lester shares a Ju 88. Two escorting Bf 109s attacked and he damages one as it overshoots. Britain. S/Ldr Truscott shares a He 114 floatplane off Boulogne, 452 Squadron’s first victory since November 8.

February 13 – Eastern Front. Russian spearheads reach White Russia. Soviet offensives continue in all sectors although German resistance is increasing.

February 14 – North Africa. 450 Squadron RAAF moves to Gambut. Here the Squadron suffers its first fatality when NC A McKee is killed by a delayed action bomb. Kittyhawks of 3 RAAF and 112 Squadron RAF meet 32 Axis aircraft and shoot down 20 without loss. For 3 Squadron: Sgt Mailey 2 Bf-109s; Sgt Thompson 1 MC 200 shared; F/O Pace 1 MC 200 shared; Sgt C White 1 Bf 109; F/O Giddy 2 MC 200s; Sgt Reid 1 MC 200 and another shared; and F/O Spence 1 Bf 109. The claims for Australians in 112 Squadron are: F/O Bartle 1 probable MC 200; Sgt Leu 2 MC 200s; and Sgt Burney 1 MC 200. Ten more are damaged. Sumatra. Japanese paratroops land at Palembang, Other units are en route by sea.

February 15 – Singapore. In what Churchill calls “the to British arms . . . “, Percival surrenders Singapore. 130,000 men, including 18,490 of the Australian 8th Division, pass into captivity. Japanese dead total 3,500. Of 3,000 Australian casualties, 1,300 have been killed, however, before the survivors are liberated in 1945, another 8,000 will die from neglect and brutality.

North Africa. Two scrambling Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron are bounced by a Bf 109 flown by the German ace Marseille as they are climbing. Sgt F Reid, from Ar tarmon NSW, crashes and is killed but F/O Briggs, although wounded, manages to bale out at 300 feet.

Britain. Near Cap Gris Nez, two 452 Squadron Spitfires are bounced by ten Bf 109s and Fw 190s. Sgt F Harper is lost. February 16- Malta. A Sunderland of 10 Squadron RAAF flown by F/Lt Daggs brings reinforcement fighter pilots, including SgtA “Tim” Goldsmith.

North Africa. Six Bf 109s attack five 3 Sqn Kittyhawks head on. F/O T Threlkeld from Parramatta NSW is killed, crashing in flames.

February 17 – Malta. Because of severe gales near Sardinia, five aircraft fail to arrive from Gibraltar. A number of Wellingtons, including 17 aircraft from 458 Squadron RAAF had left en route to the Middle East. Missing is AD539 carrying 458’sCO, W/Cdr N Mulholland. It is shot down into the sea 30 miles (48 km) from Malta by a Ju 88C night fighter. 458 Squadron will reach Egypt with no CO and no ground staff. Aircraft and crews will be quickly assigned to other units and for a time 458 will disappear. February 19 – North Africa. 450 (Kittyhawk) Squadron’s first operation, a fighter sweep west of Tobruk.

Australia. In the first Japanese attack on the Australian mainland, Darwin is raided by 128 aircraft. The Japanese aim to neutralise Darwin’s capacity to interfere with the invasion of Timor, scheduled for tomorrow. The first wave of 74 is followed by a second of 54. Damage to the town and military installations is widespread. Official death count: 243. 8 ships are sunk and many others damaged. 14USAAF aircraft, 3 CSN machines and 6 RAAF Hudsons are destroyed.

East Indies. The Japanese invade Bali.

February 20 – Britain. Air Marshal Arthur Harris takes over RAF Bomber Command. He has 3 objectives: destroy the German industrial war machine; prepare for the Second Front; and support the Russians. At his disposal he has 44 squadrons, 38operational, including 200aircraftequipped with Gee,a new radio aid to improve bombing accuracy.

Timor. Japanese landings on the coast south of Koepang and at Dili meet strong resistance by the AIF’s “Sparrow Force” (2140th Battalion and 212nd Independent Company).

February 21 – Malta. A Sunderland arrives from Gibraltar carrying ten fighter pilots, including Sgt Gordon Tweedale. North Africa. Six Bf 1O9s of 1/JG27 spot eleven Kittyhawks of 112 Squadron led by S/Ldr Caldwell and climb toget above. Demonstrating excellent flying and marksmanship, Caldwell suddenly pulls up vertically, fires, and sends a 109 spinning down to crash land in No Mans’ Land. The stunned German ace, Lt HansArnold Stahlschmidt, is uninjured. Meanwhile, 112 Squadron loses two Kittyhawks, and another crash-lands. Sgt Carson destroys a 109.

February 22 – North Africa. Sgt R Shaw destroys a Ju 88 near Gazala, 450 Squadron’s first victory.

February 23- North Africa. 450Sqn’s first sees full combat while escorting Bostons bombing transport between Tmimi and Martuba, accompanied by 3Sqn. F/O C Thompson, one of two brothers in 450, is shot down and captured. Sgt K McBride crashes while force landing his burning Kittyhawk. He is thrown clear but mortally injured. Sgts Young and Nursey each claim a 109.

Timar. Before surrendering, the 2140th AIF kills 400 Japanese for the loss of 217 casualties. At Dili, the commandoes counterattack Japanese trying to seize the airfield and withdraw to a mountain village unaware of the fate of the 2140th in Dutch Timor. Here, assisted by the Timorese and Portuguese officials, the will hold out, rejecting Japanese demands for surrender.

Burma. Hurricanes of 135 Squadron RAF intercept 7 Japanese aircraft over Kyaito. P/O Jack crashes a Nate.

February 24 – New Guinea. 16 twin engined bombers carry out the first Japanese daylight raid on Port Moresby. There are no defending fighters. One Hudson of the newly formed 32 Squadron is destroyed and buildings along Seven Mile Strip are damaged. Seeing S/Ldr R Hoddinott wounded, the MO, F/Lt Adrian McGlynn, leaves the safety of his trench and carries him to an intact truck. This refuses to start. McGlynn transfers to a car. Bombs are falling as he speeds down the road and reaches the hospital safely. Hoddinott will make a good recovery. February 25 – Burma. Six 45 Squadron Blenheims, just landed at Mingaladon to refuel, are caught in an air raid. Sgt J McNamara, recently escaped from Sumatra when flying with 84 Squadron, is killed. He and his crew, often adopting the dangerous practice of throwing incendiary bombs through the camera hatch, had become famous as “McNamara’s Circus”, the name being blazoned on their plane. Five Blenheims are destroyed. February 26 ‘– Burma. The Japanese infiltrate west of the Sittang, threatening the Rangoon-Mandalay railroad.

February 28 – New Guinea. Zeros strafe and sink three Catalina flying boats off Port Moresby. The port’s air defence has been reduced to two Catalinas and one Hudson.

March 2-Sicily. Two Wellingtons from 37 Squadron, one flown by Sgt Len Fuller, bomb the 6,705 tonnes German freighter Cuma, loaded with tanks and ammunition, blocking Palermo harbour. Other bombers follow, guided by the blazing ship. Despite the efforts of firefighters, the Cuma blows up on the 4th causing many casualties. A small tanker and three other ships are damaged by the blast and 29 other vessels suffer varying degrees of damage. Fuller, who as a trainee pilot, had successfully belly landed the “piggy-back” Ansons in the amazing incident near Wagga NSW in September 1940 (refer Sept 90AA), receives a DFM.

March 3 – Australia. Nine Zeros strafe Broome without opposition destroying every aircraft in the vicinity: two B-17s, a B-24, two Hudsons and a DC-3 at the aerodrome, 16 flying boats in the harbour, and a Curtiss observation plane and a B-24 in the air. North of Broome on their way home, they shoot down a Dutch DC-3, one of the last to leave Java. (Refer Dec 91 AA)

March 7 – Malta. 15 out of 16 Spitfires, the first to serve outside Britain, take off from HMS Eagle and land safely. Three pilots are Australian, P/O Ken Murray, P/O Jim Guerin and Sgt Paul Brennan. Because his Spitfire is u/s, a fourth Australian, Sgt Jack “Slim” Yarra, stays on the carrier and returns to Gibraltar.

March 8 – North Africa. Six Kittyhawks each from 450 and 3 Squadrons, led by F/Lt Barr, intercept Stukas escorted by nine MC 200s and 202s and two Bf 109s over Tobruk. The Italian fighters are slaughtered, P/O Curtiss, F/O Pace, P/O Giddy and F/Lt Barr of 3 RAAF, and Sgts Beste, McBurnie and Shaw of 450 Squadron shooting down one each. Curtiss and Giddy each claim a Stuka. After this disaster the Italians demand closer cooperation between their own fighters and those of the Germans. Java. Allied command in Java surrenders to the Japanese. 160 members of No 1 Squadron are captured plus several Australians serving with the RAF.

New Guinea. The Japanese land at Lae and Salamaua. Australia. 25 USAAF P-40s, escorted by a B-17, leave Williamtown for Darwin. One crashes and explodes at Daly Waters and 11 others will be lost, damaged in landings or suffer mechanical troubles. The remainder reach Darwin on the 17th.

March 9 – Malta. Sgt Tweedale shoots down a Ju 88. Out of ammunition, he cannot defend himself when attacked by Bf 109s. His Hurricane is badly shot up and he is injured in one heel by shrapnel but manages to land safely.

Britain. Circus 113. Covering six Bostons returning from Mazingarbe, 452 Squadron is attacked by Bf 109s and Fw 190s. Truscott and F/Lt Wawn each claim a 109. One Spitfire is lost. March 10 – Malta. The first Spitfire combat. The first to be lost, AB343 flown by P/O Ken Murray, from Toorak, Victoria, is shot down by 109s. Murray’s parachute fails to open properly and he is mortally injured. Sgt Jack Mayall in Hurricane Z5140/C is also shot down and killed.

North Africa. S/Ldr Caldwellof 112 Squadron makes the first test drop of a 2501b (114kg) bomb from a Kittyhawk.

March 11- Philippines. Ordered from Washington, General MacArthur hands over his command to General Wainwright and leaves Luzon declaring: “I shall return!”

March 12 – East Indies. Dutch forces surrender to the Japanese. March 13- Britain. Escorting ten Bostons bombing Hazebrouck, F/O R Sly of 452 Squadron destroys an Fw 190.

March 14 – North Africa. 450 and 3 Squadrons escorting 12

Bostons to bomb Martubaare attacked by MC 202s and Bf 109s. Sgt Packer and F/O Chinchen of 3 RAAF share a 109 while F/Lt Hart and Sgt Kildeyeach claim a probable Macchi. 112 Squadron joins the fight. S/Ldr Caldwell destroys a MC 202 and shares a 109. Two Kittyhawks are lost.

Britain. While escorting Bostons attacking an armed merchant ship in Le Havre, S/Ldr Truscott destroys an Fw 190 and Sgt J Morrison probably destroys a Bf 109, one of apair which pursues them out of France. Other successful Australians are F/Lt F Coker and P/O JAllen of 41 Squadron RAF and P/O H Armstrong of 129 Squadron RAF, all 109s.

March 17 – Malta. Sgt Brennan of 249 Squadron in Spitfire AB346/K sends down a Bf 109 for his first confirmed victory. Australia. General MacArthur arrives in Australia to take Supreme Command of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific. March 18- Britain. In the Bay of Biscay, F/Ut “Buck” Judell and crew of 10 Squadron in Sunderland W3999/RB-Y depth charge a submerged U boat without success.

March 20 – Britain. F/O Graham Pockley and crew of 10 Squadron in Sunderland W3983/RB-R attack a German motor launch leaving it apparently sinking in the Bay of Biscay.

March 21 – New Guinea. After a long ferry flight via Cooktown and Horn Island, fighters of the newly, and speedily, formed 75 Sqn begin arriving over Port Moresby. The defences at Seven Mile aerodrome, accustomed to almost daily attacks by Japanese aircraft and the continued non-arrival of their promised Kittyhawks, now dubbed “Never-hawks”, “Tomorrow-hawks” and names unprintable, greet them with intense AAA fire. S/Ldr Jeffrey narrowly escapes injury when a bullet strikes his headrest. Eventually all land safely. Later, F/Os W Wackett and B Cox scramble and down a Sally reconnaissance bomber. Cheering Australian troops witness the drama. The CO of 75 Squadron is S/Ldr John Jackson, recently returned from North Africa. March 22 – New Guinea. 75 Sqn strafes the Japanese base at Lae. 12 aircraft are left on fire. S/Ldr Turnbull and Sgt J Pettett down a Zero each but F/LtAnderson is killed. F/O Wackett ditches between Lae and Salamaua. After swimming ashore, Wackett’s trek back to Port Moresby will be an epic journey through the jungle across Papua from north to south, mostly on foot. March 23 – New Guinea. Port Moresby’s 17th raid. 75 Squadron Kittyhawks scramble too late and two become bogged during takeoff. They are destroyed by strafing Zeros, one of which is shot down by ground fire.

Britain. At Redhill, 457 (Spitfire) Squadron RAAF replaces 452 which is being rested.

March 24 – New Guinea. F/Lt Piper of 75 Squadron shoots down a Japanese bomber south of Moresby. Later, F/Lt Les Jackson, flying Kittyhawk A29-7 /A, intercepts 18 enemy aircraft alone and destroys a Zero. One bomber falls to AAA fire.

March 26 – Britain. While escorting bombers raiding Le Havre, 457 Sqn RAAF has its first combat. S/Ldr P Brothers destroys a Bf 109E, but F/O J Halse is KIA. P/O M Charlton, one of nine Australians in 59 Sqn, damages a ship in a convoy near Norway. The flow of Australians into RAF Hudson units temporarily stops now because of 459 Sqn forming in the Middle East.

March 27- New Guinea. F/O J Woods and P/O R O’Connor of 75 Squadron are bounced by three Zeros. O’Connor is KIA. F/Lt Piper and Sgt R Bailey share a Betty.

Burma. RAF aircraft and AVG squadrons withdraw from Burma. Australia. General Blarney is appointed to command Allied land forces in Australia.

March 28 – New Guinea. Four Kittyhawks of 75 Sqn intercept Japanese bombers and fighters approaching Port Moresby. Sgt R Bailey is downed but F/O Woods probably destroys a Zero. Australia. After unopposed attacks against Darwin on March 3, 16, 19 and 23 and against Katherine on the 22nd, the Japanese send seven unescorted Sallys to bomb Darwin. Four USAAF P-40s destroy three without loss Britain. Near Cap Gris Nez, 12 Spitfires of 457 Squadron are jumped by Fw 190s. F/Lt Sly, who transferred from 452, destroys one but three Spitfires are lost, one pilot parachuting, and a fourth force lands with its pilot, Sgt W Wright, wounded. March 31. The war is now truly global. It has been a disastrous three months for the Allies mainly due to meteoric Japanese successes (surprising even themselves) in the southwest Pacific and Far East but in Europe and North Africa too Axis fortunes are on the rise . . .