Australia’s War Diary

Britain. Beaufighters attempt to cover 11 Norwegian merchant ships which, after sheltering in Swedish ports since April 1940, are trying to reach England. First aided by bad visibility, the ships are now under air attack. Sgt G Windsor of 248 Squadron, covering a damaged ship, destroys a He 111 and F/Lt Bruce Rose (”Australia’s Bader” with an artificial leg) a He 115. Two ships reach Britain on the 5th, six are lost, and three return to Sweden. April 2/3 – Britain. A mine-laying Hampden of 455 Squadron fails to return. Crew: Sgt Jack Maloney, Sgt C Woodburn, Sgt Rowley and P/O H Young. Maloney’s commission recommendation will arrive in a few days. P/O Bob Hay, Maloney’s usual navigator, will later gain fame flying with “Mickey” Martin in 617 (Dam Buster) Squadron.

April 4 – New Guinea. S/Ldr John Jackson of 75 Squadron orders another strike on Lae’s airstrip. Four Japanese bombers and a Zero are left in flames.

Australia. 77 Squadron’s first accident: P/O S Armstrong collides with a truck while taxiing. Kittyhawk A29-56 suffers “moderate” damage. The unit had been formed at Pierce, WA, on March 18. Darwin. Seven Japanese bombers with six Zeros attack civil and RAAF aerodromes. Two intercepting P-40s are lost for five bombers and two fighters destroyed.

Germany. Hitler orders raids on British historic towns, vengeance for the bombing of Lubeck.

Britain. 457 Squadron, escorting Bostons to St Omer, loses two Spitfires.

April 5 – New Guinea. Six P-39 Airacobras of the 36th Pursuit Squadron reach Port Moresby,the first American fighters to arrive. Australia. Darwin. Seven bombers and seven Zeros raid the RAAF airfield.

North Africa. 450 Squadron loses two new pilots in unexplained circumstances. Six Kittyhawks are patrolling over Gambut when P/O J Evatt spins out of control, followed minutes later by P/O G Macpherson for no reason which can be found.

Malta. P/O John Sisley, 126 (Spitfire) Squadron, claims a Stuka probable and Ju 88 damaged. Both are later upgraded to confirmed victories.

Indian Ocean. Hoping to catch the British fleet in port, Japanese carriers launch 130 aircraft against Colombo. Although unsuccessful, heavy cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall are found later and sunk.

April 6 – Pacific. Japanese landings on the Admiralty Islands and Bougainville in the Solomons. The first of many RAAF Catalina air-sea rescues (ASR) takes place when F/O Terry Duigan lands A24-21 and rescues the crew of a B-26 after sighting their distress signal.

New Guinea. Fire from Japanese bombers disables Les Jackson’s P-40 forcing him to belly land on a coral reef at Bootless Inlet near Moresby. He is rescued by natives in an outrigger canoe. Two P-39s fly with the Australians for combat experience. April 7 – North Africa. 450 Squadron’s Kittyhawks, escorting Bostons, are attacked by Bf 109s. Sgt W Metherall bales out due to engine failure and F/O E T hompson jumps when his aircraft’s tail is shot off. Both return next day and, following Air Force custom, each donates £1 to the parachute section.

Malta endures the 2,000th air raid since June 11, 1940.

April 8 – China. The first supplies are flown in from India over “the Hump”, the Himalayas.

Malta. Flying Hurricane GL-W against Ju 88 formations, Sgt Tony Boyd scores one destroyed, one probable and one damaged. April 819 – Germany. Hamburg is raided by 272 RAF bombers in the heaviest raid yet on one target. Five are lost. Icing and violent electrical storms are encountered and bombs equivalent to only 14 loads actually fall on the city. Of four Wellingtons from 460 Squadron, one bombs Wilhelmshaven, one a gun position on the Elbe and the remainder unload when they estimate they are over Hamburg. Of 10 Hampdens from 455, only one finds his aiming point through a break in the overcast.

April 9- Malta. Sgt Boyd in Hurricane lie, BN118, claims one Ju 88 probably destroyed, but Sgt Pauley of 229 Squadron in Z3505 is shot down by a 109, baling out injured off Grand Harbour. He is recovered by an ASR launch.

Indian Ocean. Trincomalee is attacked by Japanese carrier planes. Afterwards, the carrier HMS Hermes and destroyer HMAS Vampire are found and sunk. Eight defending Hurricanes and a Fulmar are lost or damaged beyond repair. Two crash land at China Bay. Sgt “Kas”Mann of 261 Squadron bails out.

Returning to their carriers, the Japanese encounter Blenheims of 11 Squadron RAF and shoot down four, a fifth has been already lost while bombing the Japanese fleet. Many lost crewmen are Australians including Sgts H McLennan, A Travers and F Nell in Blenheim R3911; P/O G Burgan DFC, Sgt M Gray and Rhodesian pilot in Z7896; P/O D Evans and Sgt L McAuley and South African pilot in Z9574; Sgt N Stevenson and crew in Z7803; and Sgt G Eckersley, a member of V5992.

April 10 – New Guinea. The CO of 75 Squadron, S/Ldr John Jackson, fails to return from an early reconnaissance over Lae, Salamaua and Nadzab. Later, seven bombers and six Zeros are intercepted by nine Kittyhawks. F/O Geoff Atherton destroys a Betty. April 11 – New Guinea. 75 Squadron Kittyhawks, escorting USAAF A-24 Dauntless dive bombers en route to attack Lae, encounter Zeros over the target and shoot down four. Scorers are F/Lt John Piper two, F/O Barrie Cox one and F/O PeterMasters one. Sgt Don Brown of South Yarra, Vic, is forced down. An A-24 is also lost. Brown and the Americans are captured. April 13- New Guinea. 75 Squadron Kittyhawks visit Lae after an oil tanker but it has sailed. Battling Zeros, F/Lt Piper damages one, P/O Channon destroys one and probably another but P/O A Davies of Urawangerup WA fails to return.

Australia. Operating from Daly Waters, a Hudson of 13 Squadron attacking Koepang harbour is intercepted by Zeros. WAG Sgt D Gitsham, although wounded in the leg, keeps firing and downs one. T he Hudson returns safely.

Burma. Allied forces retreat to Magwe, leavfog the oilfields of central Burma exposed to the Japanese.

April 14 – Australia. Hudson A16-137 of 13 Squadron with P/O P Taylor and crew P/O A Lockley, Sgts K Orchard and D T hompson fails to return.

Britain. 457 Squadron flies a diversionary sweep to draw enemy fighters from a Circus bombing Caen. P/O D Maclean downs an Fw 190 out of control.

April 15 – Britain. King George VI awards the George Cross to Malta. April 16 – Britain. 457 Squadron’s Kiwi flight commander, F/Lt Harold North, probably destroys an Fw 190.

April 17 – New Guinea. S/Ldr “Barney” Cresswell, CO of 76 Squadron, is killed while flying with 75 Squadron. Zeros intercept him returning from an early reconnaissance over Lae. 76 (Kittyhawk) Squadron had formed at Archerfield, Brisbane, on March 14 and Cresswell had been detached to 75 Squadron for combat experience.

Later, F/Lt Les Jackson shoots down a Zero and another is shared between F/O Masters and F/O Arthur Tucker.

Britain. A daylight raid by 12 RAF Lancasters, six each from two squadrons, to bomb the MAN diesel engine factory at Augsburg is accurate but casualties are heavy. Seven Lancasters are lost. South African, S/Ldr John Nettleton of 44 Squadron is awarded a VC. Nettleton’s navigator is P/O Desmond Sands from Perth, WA, and F/O E lfould of Adelaide navigates the leading aircraft from 97 Squadron. This operation convinces RAF command that against existing German defences, heavy bombers can operate only by night.

April 18-Japan. Sixteen B-25s, led by Lt/Col James Doolittle, fly off the carrier USS Hornet some 400 miles (640km) away in a one way raid on Tokyo and environs. After the attack, most of the aircraft force land in China.

New Guinea. F/Lt Boyd and P/O Atherton of 75 Squadron share a Zero when eight Kittyhawks intercept eight bombers with Zero escorts over Port Moresby. Sgt R Granville of Turramurra NSW is killed.

April 19 – Britain. 455 Squadron leaves Bomber Command. W/Cdr Lindeman is ordered to convert it into a Coastal Command torpedo strike squadron.

April 20- Malta. Air defences are reinforced by 47 Spitfires flown off the USS Wasp, however, their arrival is watched on radar screens in Sicily, and the Luftwaffe destroys 30 of the critically needed aircraft on the ground. Among the new arrivals are P/O T Scott and P/O Max Briggs, both of 601 Squadron. While covering, Sgt Gordon Tweedale destroys two Ju 88s and Sgt Boyd shares another. Sgt Slim Yarra in Hurricane (HA-D) crash lands at Hal Far.

North Africa. South west of Bir Hakeim, P/O Russell Foskett and another pilot of 80 (Hurricane) Squadron shoot down a lone Bf 109E on a reconnaissance sortie.

Tunisia. Long range PR Spitfire IV, BP907, en route from Gibraltar to Egypt via Malta, force lands near Djedeida. Sgt Clifton, RAAF, sets fire to his aircraft before being interned.

Australia. Allied Air Forces Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, is established at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. New Guinea. News comes from the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles that the CO of 75 Squadron, S/Ldr Jackson, is safe at Bulolo and moving to Wau.

April 21 – Malta. In heavy fighting, Sgt Paul Brennan destroys a Bf 109 and a Ju 88, Sgt Tweedale a Ju 88; and Sgt Tim Goldsmith a Bf 109.

April 22 – Malta. Newly arrived Australian, P/O Max Briggs shares a Ju 88.

April 23 – New Guinea. An A-24 of the 8th US Bombardment Group, with F/O Piper escorting, picks up S/Ldr Jackson from Wau. While landing back at the Seven Mile aerodrome three Zeros appear and one attacks the Dauntless. A bullet injures Jackson’s right index finger. The American pilot, Lt V Schwab, successfully lands on an adjacent airstrip. Jackson later explains that while over Lae he had been attacked and forced to ditch in the sea by three Zeros. After struggling ashore, friendly natives had helped him through the jungle and around Japanese patrols. After eight days they had reached Bulolo where a patrol of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles was camped. He was then carried on a stretcher into Wau.

Australia. Hudson A16-182 of 13 Squadron with F/O R Blanchard and crew (Sgts Jacobs, D Woods and O Gray), is lost on operations.

Malta. Sgt Tweedale destroys a Stuka.

April 24 – New Guinea. 75 Squadron loses three of six Kitty hawks which intercept a large formation of Zeros over Port Moresby. F/O Ossie Channon, leading a flight of four, is killed, Sgt Butler belly lands and Sgt Crawford ditches into the sea several miles from Port Moresby. F/Lt Les Jackson destroys another Zero. Catalina A24-5 is destroyed at its moorings.

April 25 Anzac Day – Australia. 27 Japanese bombers make a high level attack on Darwin.

Britain. At Mount Batten, 461 Squadron RAAF is formed from a nucleus provided by 10 Squadron. Initially commanded by S/Ldr R Burrage OBE DFC, it had been planned as a Catalina unit but instead receives Sunderlands, the first, T 9090, having arrived on the 21st.

Malta. Sgt Brennan destroys a Ju 88 and a 109 and Sgt Tweedale another Messerschmitt (his fifth kill in five days).

April26 – North Africa. 3 Squadron RAAF moves to Gambut joining 112 and 250 Squadrons RAF in 239 Wing. Battle of Britain veteran, W/Cdr Clive Mayers, is appointed Wing Leader.

April 26/27 – Germany. The RAF bombs Restock for the fourth night in a row. 460 Squadron’s Wellingtons are engaged during the last three nights. 10 sorties are flown. On 25-26th, Sgt S Levitus’ returning Wellington is attacked repeatedly by a Bf 110, until return fire sends it down in flames. T he riddled Wellington returns safely. Next night, Sgt D Kitchen’s Wellington is attacked north of Sylt by another 110. His rear gunner and second pilot are seriously wounded. Kitchen manages to fly the aircraft home. 70% of the city is destroyed and 100,000 are homeless.

April 27 – Britain. RAF Coastal Command continues its attacks on German seaborne trade in the North Sea. Sgt R Guthrie of 53 Squadron sinks the Danish motor vessel Inga (1,494 tons/1,518 tonnes), south of Horn Reefs. Australians in 53 and 59 (Hudson) Squadrons make seven attacks off the Dutch coast during April. While protecting a flak damaged Boston, F/Lt Ray Sly of 457 Squadron destroys an Fw 190. One Spitfireis lost near Lille. April 28 – New Guinea. Without reinforcements, 75 Squadron cannot survive much longer. The unit’s five serviceable Kittyhawks meet eight escorted Japanese bombers coming from Lae. S/Ldr Jackson and F/O Barrie Cox from Reid, ACT, are shot down and killed. A shot down Zero could have been the victim of either man. S/Ldr John Francis Jackson from St George, Queensland, has been a skilled and popular leader with eight confirmed victories to his credit. His brother, Les Jackson, takes over the squadron.

April 29- North Africa. No 1 Air Ambulance Unit, which has been beset by delays and misfortunes, resumes operations again. A DH. 86 ambulance flies its first sortie since mid February.

Malta. After probably destroying a Ju 88, Sgt Boyd’s Hurricane is strafed by a 109 while landing. Boyd escapes unscathed. Britain. During a diversionary sweep supporting a Circus to Dunkirk, S/Ldr Brothers of 457 Squadron probably destroys an Fw 190.

April 30 – Pacific. A Japanese force including the carriers Shoho, Shokaku and Zuikaku sets sail from Truk for an amphibious attack on Port Moresby.