Australia’s War Diary

459 (Hudson) Squadron RAAF commences operations independently from LG-40. For a week it will patrol over coastal shipping between Mersa Matruh and Sidi Barrani ,before being held in readiness for Operation Vigorous.

Malta. Sgt “Slim” Yarra in Spitfire GL-K destroys a 109. June1/2-Germany. Essen is raided by 1,03 6RAF bombers. 3 5 fail to return. The attack is less effective than the earlier one on Cologne.

June 2 – Pacific. Japanese air strength on Timor, Bali and Ambon is estimated at 135bombers,fighters and observation planes backed by large reserves at Kendari in the Celebes. Five Hudsons of 13 Squadron raid Atamboea causing considerable damage. A16-108,flown by PIO R. Gill and crew, is lost when it collides mid-air with A16-143.

3 0 Squadron,formed at Richmond NSW on March 9,receives its first Beaufighter. WICdr Brian “Blackjack” Walker, will take command on the 4th.

June 3 – Malta. 31 Spitfires fly from HMS Eagle to Malta; 27 arrive safely. Australians incoming are FIO Don Smith and Sgt Len Reid.

June 314-Australia. Coaster Iron Chieftain, on passage from Newcastle to Whyalla,is sunk by Japanese submarine 1-24. Britain. PIO A Triggs is second pilot of a 172 Squadron Wellington which damages Italian submarine Luigi Torelli in the first operational use of a Leigh light to illuminate the target. June 4 – Pacific. Between June 4-7, the Battle of Midway results in one of the most decisive Allied victories of the war. The Japanese lose four carriers – Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu, and many irreplaceable pilots. US losses include the Yorktown. The only large Japanese carriers still available are Shokaku and Zuikaku,still refitting after the Coral Sea Battle. This marks a turning point in the Pacific conflict. After Midway, the American strategic position, and the strength and quality of their forces, will steadily improve until it is overwhelming.

Australia. Japanese submarine 1-27 off Tasmania sinks the Iron Crown bound for Newcastle,37 crew, including the captain, are lost. 1-27 crash dives when a patrolling Hudson is spotted. North Africa. Over Bir Hacheim,held stubbornly by the Free French,FIO John Waddy destroys a CR. 42.

June 5 -North Africa. Bir Hacheim falls. Britain. F/Lt Sam Wood and crew in Sunderland W398 6/RG-U of 10 Squadron heavily damages submarine U-71 west of Bordeaux and then has a running P/4, hour battle with a Fw 200. The U-boat manages to reach La Pallice.

June 6 – North Africa. PIO Carson,112 Sqn shares a Bf 109. Australia. A Hudson of 6Squadron flown by FILt G Hitchcock and a scratch crew, bombs a periscope 8 0 miles (13 0km) east of Sydney. Air bubbles rise to the surface,but no oil. Hitchcock considers his attack probably unsuccessful but for morale purposes the newspapers label it “the first Australian killing”. June 7-Eastern Front. Major German attacks on Sevastopol. Britain. Two Sunderlands of 10 Squadron, W 3994/RB-X (PIO Tom Egerton) and W4019 /RB-A (F/Lt Eddie Yeoman), attack the previously damaged Italian submarine Luigi Torelli, forcing her to seek refuge in the Spanish port of Santander.

June 8 – North Africa. After escorting fighter bombers, 450 Squadron strafes ground targets but Sgt J James is lost. June8/9-Australia. Japanese submarine 1-24shells Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, targeting the seaplane base at Rose Bay. Only four explode. A similar attack is made by 1-21 on Newcastle harbour, aiming for BHP steelworks. As with Sydney, the shells land over a wide area.

June 9 – Malta. Operation “Salient” – 32 Spitfires arrive from HMS Eagle. Australian newcomers are Sgts Parkinson and A Richardson. A new Canadian arrival is Sgt George “Screwball” Beurling,soon to become Malta’s highest scoring pilot. June 11 – Mediterranean. Between June 11-16 there are two major convoy operations to supply Malta, Operation Harpoon from Gibraltar and Vigorous from Egypt. Both are subjected to unrelenting German and Italian air attack and only two merchant ships from Harpoon reach Malta. Operation Vigorous is a costly failure. After suffering heavy losses, and fearing the Italian fleet,the remnants of the convoy turn back.

Malta. PIO John Bisley destroys a 109. Britain. Another 10 Squadron success when F/Lt Eric Martin badly damages the U-105,making it the second submarine to seek Spanish refuge within a week.

New Guinea. On their first patrol from Moresby, PIO Lex Halliday and crew in a 32 Sqn Hudson destroy a Mavis flying boat. June 12 – North Africa. Kittybombers of 3 Squadron attack near El Adem losing Sgt Gray to flak. 450 Sqn,on their fourth mission,provide top cover to a fighter sweep, Sgt House force lands. Later, two more Kittyhawks on reconnaissance fail to return, PIO I Young is KIA and Sgt F Beste captured. 260 Sqn, returning from escort,runs into a dogfight,FIO Waddy claiming one MC. 202,but the squadron loses two Kittyhawks. Australia. Beaufort T9608,Sgt Pittman and crew, of 10 0 Squadron fails to return from an anti submarine patrol.

Britain. 461 Squadron flies its first ASR patrol briefly encountering Bf 109s but the Sunderland receives no damage.

June 12/13 -Australia. Panamanian ship Guatemala is sunk 40 miles (65 km) from Sydney, the last submarine attack in Australian waters for six weeks.

June 13 -Australia. 27 Japanese bombers and 12 fighters raid the RAAF base at Darwin. Two intercepting USAAF P-40s are lost and another force lands for two Zeros destroyed. North Africa. Kittyhawks of 450 Squadron and 112 Squadron are bounced out of the sun over El Adem by Bf 109s. From 450, Sgts W Halliday and R Stone are killed,probably two of the four victims claimed by German ace Marseille during this fight. June 13114 – Crete. Covering Operation Vigorous, Crete is raided regularly by Blenheims of 14Squadron. Of 33 aircraft involved, 16 are captained by Australians. PIO J Elliot bombs after mingling with enemy aircraft and finding Heraklion with its flarepath in operation.

June 14-Australia. Eighteen Zeros strafe Darwin losing four to defending P-40s. One P-40 is destroyed,the pilot bailing out severely burnt.

North Africa. F/Lt Chinchen of 3 Squadron is shot down by flak during a strafing mission and becomes a POW

June 15-Australia. 27 bombers and 15fighters attack Darwin, damaging the railway line and several buildings. Six Zeros are destroyed for two P-40s. Both American pilots bale out, one being rescued by Aborigines after five days in a swamp.

North Africa. FIO A Duffield flying No1 Air Ambulance Unit’s only DH-86 ambulance, has evacuated 114 wounded to Gambut since the enemy offensive began on May 27.

Malta. Covering the Harpoon convoY, PIO Tim Goldsmith of 126 Squadron destroys a Fiat RS14, a Savoia S. 84 and a MC. 200. June 16 – Pacific. RAAF Hudsons operating in threes fly reconnaissance missions over Ambon and Timor. Hudson Al6-132 of 13 Squadron is shot down attacking shipping at Tenau near Koepang. Lostis PIOP Long and crew.

Australia. 27 Bettys and 25 fighters raid Darwin. Three intercepting USAAF P-40s are lost and two force land for one Zero destroyed and one bomber probable. North Africa. RAF fighters defend Gambut. In 3 Squadron, F/Lt Barr flies a record six sorties, FIO Spence five, and F/Lt Kildey four. Sgt Eiden crash lands at Gambut but he is killed when the bomb still attached to his aircraft explodes. Sgt Ryan fails to return. 11 2 Squadron loses two, including PIO Carson. Malta. Covering the remains of convoy Harpoon, both PIO Goldsmith and Sgt Yarra destroy Bf 109s.

June 17-North Africa. During heavy fighting, Sgt A Glancy of 450 Squadron and Sgt Hooke of 3 Squadron are shot down by Bf109s, one Kittyhawk crashing and bursting into flames. Hooke returns later on foot. WICdr Mayer’s WICdrMayers leads 239 Wing (112, 250, 450 and 3 RAAF Squadrons) to Gazala and strafes fifteen Bf109s on the ground without loss. Meanwhile, German ace Marseille brings his score to 101. He is ordered to Berlin to be awarded the Swords to his Knights’ Cross with Oak Leaves. June 18-Britain. 453 Squadron begins re-forming at Drem. It will be equipped with Spitfire Vbs.

North Africa. No 1 Air Ambulance Unit obtains a second DH-86 but it crashes on its first takeoff. Amid the retreat the unit will withdraw to Wadi Natrun and then Heliopolis before the month closes. Two Kittyhawks of 450 Sqn are attacked over Gambut by a Bf 109, which F/Lt Williams destroys. An hour later, two 109s attack six more Kittyhawks, three being damaged. Sgt Dyson claims one.

Pacific. A supply drop for “Sparrow Force” on Timor is made by three Hudsons of 13 Squadron.

June 20 – North Africa. Rommel attacks Tobruk. Kesselring brings in every bomber available in the Mediterranean to support. In a combat with Bf 109s, PIO T Jones of 450 Sqn is KIA. June 21 – North Africa. Tobruk surrenders. 30,000 prisoners and huge stores of munitions, rations and fuel are taken. German soldiers even send home parcels of Australian bully beef. Rommel wishes to drive on to Egypt, but Kesselring prefers to carry out Operation Herkules – invade Malta. Rommel has his way and is promoted Field Marshal by Hitler.

Eight Kittyhawks of 112 Sqn bomb Sidi Aziez airfield. Australian ace, F/Lt Rudolf Leu DFC force lands and becomes a POW

Malta. Nine 217 Squadron torpedo bomber Beauforts attack an Axis convoy off Tunisia. P/OJimMcSharry’s19799 is damaged by covering Ju 88s and he is severely wounded in the throat. McSharry, on his first operation,succeeds, aided by his navigator, in returning to Malta. Three Beauforts are lost. Lone survivor of AW342, navigator Sgt Keith Dodd, is picked up by an Italian destroyer.

Britain. Nos. 452 and 457 Squadrons sail for Australia.

Sunderland W3999/RB-Y of 10 Squadron captained by F/Lt “Buck” Judell fails to return from an air-sea rescue mission. June 22 – Malta. Sgt Yarra, in Spitfire BR387;w, claims two Bf 1O9s. “C” Flight of 89 night fighter (Beaufighter) Squadron is formed. Two Australian pilot members are PIO JMick Ross and F/O Merv Shipard. Shipard and his radar operator, Sgt Doug Oxby, already have one kill, and Oxby is destined to become the RAF’s top scoring operator.

June 23 -Malta. SgtParkinson of 603 Sqn shares a Mc. 202. June24-NorthAfrica. General Auchinleck takes over the 8th

Army from Ritchie. Despite losing 60,000 men, the 8th begins forming a line at El Alamem, the narrowest

between the coast and the impassable Qattara Depression.

Rommel’s armoured columns cross into Egypt but they are losing momentum, their attacks being broken up again and

again by the Desert Airforce. Five Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron on reconnaissance meet six Bf 109s and four G-50s near Mad delena. S/Ldr Barr claims a G-50, Sgt Boardman a Bf 109 and Sgt Kildey a Bf 109 probable but Sgt Fox is shot down.

June 25/26-Germany The third “1,000 bomber” raid to Bre- men is only partially successful because of cloud over the tar- get and strong defence. 460 Sqn contributes 20 Wellingtons to the 1,003 bombers sent. Three abort but the rest bomb and return safely. P/OJ Falkiner’s aircraft is attacked four times by fighters, his rear gunner, Sgt R Witney, destroying a Ju 88. North Africa. Fourteen Wellingtons of 70 Squadron bomb and strafe an enemy column advancing between Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh. Wellington DV564/L is badly damaged by a Ju 88, Navigator, P/O Tom Howes, assists the wounded second pilot and wireless operator, extinguishes a fire and extricates the mortally wounded Canadian rear gunner from his shat-tered turret. He is awarded a DFC. There are nearly 200 RAAF aircrew scattered throughout Wellington squadrons in the Middle East.

June 26-North Africa. Heavy air fighting. While escorting Bostons, 3 Squadron’s CO, S/Ldr “Nicky” Barr is shot down by Bf 109s. Although badly burnt, he bales out and is captured. In six months he has become one of the leading Allied pilots in the Desert, with 12 kills plus probables, and awards of a DFC and Bar. 450 Squadron, escorting Bostons west of Matruh, lose P/O M Jones to 109s and during their 6th mission, also P/O K Murdoch. Both become a POWS.

June 27/28-Germany During another raid on Bremen, the Stirling of Sgt F Griggs of 214 Sqn RAF has a desperate series of encounters with five enemy fighters, three of which are shot down. Griggs’ rear gunner is killed, the wireless operator wounded, an engine fails, and the intercom, radio and electrical systems fail. Although another engine bursts into flames as he nears home, he still manages a safe landing.

June 29-Australia. ANA takes over Ansett’s Sydney/Adelaide route with a daily DC-2 service each way. Ansett now flies almost exclusively under USAAF contract. “