Australia’s War Diary

New Guinea. AA fire at Sanananda hits one engine of Beaufighter Al9-11 but FIO W Willard and Sgt R Nelson successfully return across the Owen Stanley Ranges on the other. October 2 – Britain. Withdrawn from operations to convert from Wellingtons to Halifaxes, it is now decided to re-arm 460 Squadron with Lancasters. The crews dislike Halifaxes because of their tendency to stall and spin in and the Boulton Paul turrets are difficult to vacate in an emergency. Two aircraft, those captained by F/Lt Falkiner and Sgt Solomon, have spun into the ground during training, killing all on board.

North Africa. Scrambled over Alamein, 3 Squadron meets a lone Bf 109 which F/Lt Plinston shoots down. Later, Sgt Neill claims a probable. 450 Squadron moves to LG124 at Mena for Cairo air defence.

Australia. General MacArthur approves Operation Hatrack, to establish a base at Wanigela Mission on the northern side of New Guinea.

October 3/4 – New Guinea. WIC J Balmer, commanding 100 Squadron, leads ten Beauforts on an ambitious moonlight attack on Japanese ships sheltering near Buin-Tonolei, off the Shortland Islands. Because of defective torpedoes, no hits are scored and the Beaufort captained by F/Lt D Stumm fails to return.

October 5 – New Guinea. Australian engineers at Wanigela, aided by natives, have cleared a runway. The airlift begins. Over the next two days Australian infantry and a battery of American AA guns will arrive. In due course, Wanigela, and later Pongani, will be a sea and air supply base for the drive towards Buna.

October 7- North Africa. One of several 450 Squadron pilots attached to 1 (ME) Training School, RAF, at El Ballah on the Suez Canal, Sgt R Downes, is killed when his Hurricane crashes while taking off. Meanwhile, the Squadron still flies sorties over the Front.

New Guinea. In response to his requests for tactical reconnaissance units, General Blarney is informed that 4 Squadron will be sent to Port Moresby as soon as possible. Concerned that if 4 Squadron’s out classed Wirraways meet Japanese fighters casualties will be high, he suggests its re-equipment with new CAC Boomerangs. These, however, will not be available for at least three months.

October 9 – NorthAfrica. The”Daba Prang”. Reconnaissance discovers Daba airfields underwater, and Fuka almost unusable, due to rain. Seizing the opportunity, the DAF mounts a maximum effort to destroy Axis aircraft on the ground. 500 sorties are flown. 450 Squadron strafes four Bf 109s, a Ju 87, a Ju 88 and a Ju 52, but Sgt Holloway fails to return. 12 Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron, covering 450, are attacked by five Bf 109s. PIO Ritchie shoots the tail off one, which falls into the sea.

Malta. Three Spitfires, one flown by PIO Colin Parkinson, overfly the ceremony presenting the George Cross to the people of Malta.

October10-Timar. Three Hudsons of 13 Squadron execute a high level attack on Dill Harbour and waterfront, starting numerous fires.

October 11 -Malta. Renewed air raids. PIO Len Reid destroys a Bf 109 and PIO Parkinson probably a Ju 88. At night, FIO Mervyn Shipard of 89 (Beaufighter) Squadron claims a He 111 and another as a probable.

New Guinea. Over St George’s Channel, near Rabaul, a 32 Squadron Hudson captained by F/Lt L Manning bombs a Japanese aircraft tender with a full deck cargo including a dozen Zeros. Dense smoke spews from her decks.

October 12 – Malta. Of RAAF pilots who lodge claims: Sgt E Hiskens of 249 Squadron, destroys a Ju 88 and shares Ju 88 and Bf 109 probables; PIO Parkinson downs a Bf 109 and shares a probable Ju 88; and Sgt Bill Knox-William probably destroys a Bf 109 before being shot down. He bales out and is rescued by an ASR launch. After dark, FIO Shipard destroys a He 111.

October 13 – New Guinea. 30 Squadron Beaufighter A19-68 (Sgts T Butterfield and J Wilson) crashes into a hill while strafing Japanese positions near Kokoda.

Malta. Air raids continue. Sgt Hiskens destroys a Mc202. Night intruding to Catania airfield, FIO Charles Crombie in Beaufighter T5161 destroys a He 111. At Gerbini, despite intense lightflak, FIO Ken Gray damages two landing Heinkels. October 14-Malta. Heavy raids. Sgt Knox-Williams in Spitfire AR4701O is lost, possibly falling to Mc202s. F/Lt Parkinson claims a Macchi and Sgt Eric Mahar destroys a Ju 88. After dark, shrapnel from Malta’s AA guns damages FIO Crombie’s Beaufighter. FIO Shipard explodes a He 111.

October 15 – New Guinea. Templeton’s Crossing – after battling for three days, Australian attackers outflank the position to find the Japanese rearguard has withdrawn.

Malta. Sgt Edwin Hiskens in Spitfire EP340/I is shot down by Bf 109s and killed. Sgt Mahar destroys a Mc202, PIO J Sanderson a Ju 88 probable and PIO Alan Yates shares another probable.

October 16 – Malta. Continued heavy fighting. PIO Len Reid claims a Ju 88 probable. At night, FIO Crombie destroys a Ju 88 at Catania.

October 17- Malta. F/Lt Parkinson shoots down a Bf 109, its pilot baling out and PIO Reid claims a 109 probable.

October 19 – NorthAfrica. Beaufighters of 272 Squadron on a long range patrol over the sea, intercept 32 escorted Ju 52s with six towed gliders. Sgt Pattearson cl:;rims a Ju 52. October 20 – North Africa. Heavy raids on Axis landing grounds begin, a prelude to the forthcoming Battle of El Alamein. Kittyhawks of 3 and 450 Squadrons cover Baltimores and B-25s. Over Fuka Mc. 202s attack 450, FIO”Tex” Marting, shooting one down. During another escort mission, 3 Squadron spots a twin engined Italian bomber, which PIOs G Neill, Ritchie and Taylor attack. Hit many times, it lands near Abu Haggag. Meantime, intercepting fighters shoot down PIO E Alderson and Sgt Wood. New Guinea. One key target in disrupting Japanese supply lines has been a suspension bridge across the turbulent Kumusi River at Wairopi, a tempting but difficult target in the valley below Kokoda. Between September 201October 20, it absorbs 76,000lbs (34,500kg) of bombs and over 28,000 rounds of ammunition during 80 sorties (15 by Kittyhawks, 38 by Airacobras, 8 by Flying Fortresses and 19 by Mitchells). Now, at last, a reconnaissance shows it has gone.

October 22 – North Africa. B-25s escorted by Kittyhawks of 450, 3 and 250 Squadrons, attack LG104. Heavy flak over the target downs a Mitchell and a Kittyhawk. Bf 109s attack after the bombing, and PIO Neill goes down, streaming glycol. Sgts J “Curley” Evans and G”Blondy” Lindsay of 450 Squadron also fail to return. Both are captured. During a Wing sweep by Spitfires of 92 Squadron and Kittyhawks of 260 Squadron, FI0 Waddy DFC, having just joined 92 Squadron, claims a Bf 109. Malta. PIO Sanderson destroys a Mc202.

Burma. First Japanese air raid of the new “shooting season” (non-monsoon period). 30 Japanese fighters attack Chittagong, achieving complete surprise because of ineffective radar. One Blenheim is destroyed on the ground.

New Guinea. Australian troops face strong Japanese defences at Eora Creek. They will not be overcome until the 28th. October 23-NorthAfrica. Kittyhawks of 450 and 3 Squadrons strike at Daba. FI0 “Tex” Marting fails to return, and Sgt Prowse crash lands due to engine failure. 450 has better luck later when intercepted by eight Bf 109s, F/Lt F. Schaaf and Sgt J Gleeson each destroying a Messerschmitt. At 2140 hours, over 1000 British guns commence the greatest barrage since WWI, bombarding between the Qattara Depression and the sea. Twenty minutes later the infantry moves forward. The Battle at El Alamein has begun.

October 24 – Timar. Three Hudsons of 2 Sqn attack Koepang airfield at midnight causing a big explosion. Next morning three other Hudsons raid Penfoei. Two drop their bombs on the runway but PIO Dunning’s Hudson is not seen again. October 25 – North Africa. Four enemy fighters attack 3 Squadron Kittyhawks escorting bombers. Sgt Richardson is shot down, but PIO Harris damages a Mc202. During an attack by Beauforts and Bisleys on a small Axis convoy making for Tobruk, eight escorting Beaufighters of 272 Squadron intercept 35 Ju 52s with six Bf 110s. FIO Rankin damages a Messerschmitt (later confirmed) and four transports are destroyed for one Beaufighter lost. On the ground, British attempts to break through at El Alamein are repulsed with heavy losses. Only the 9th Australian Division in the north achieves some success.

Pacific. Australian troops, landed by destroyers Arunta and Stuart on 22nd/23rd, clear Goodenough Island of the stranded Japanese force which had intended to attack Milne Bay. October 26 – North Africa. Kittyhawks of 3 Sqn RAAF escorting 450 Squadron on an early raid are jumped by nine Bf 109s over Alamein. Sgt J Bullwinkel bales out, breaking his leg. Sgt W Cashmore claims a Bf 109 probable. Later, FIO Waddy of 92 Squadron destroys a 109 bringing his score to 14 plus; six Kittyhawks of 450 Squadron cause a Ju 88 to force land; and while escorting bombers, F/Lt Bill Cundy of 260 Squadron claims a Bf 109.

October 27- North Africa. Amid other activity, four Spitfires of 92 Sqn bounce nine Bf 109s of II/JG 27. Two Messerschmitts are claimed destroyed and FO Waddy claims one damaged. In fact, three 109s are shot down, all belly landing in Axis territory south of Alamein. Later, flying top cover to 18 Baltimores, Sgt Stevens of 3 Sqn downs a Mc. 202.

Pacific. Guadalcanal. VS marines, heavily entrenched around Henderson airfield, withstand heavy Japanese onslaughts which had begun on the 23rd. The defenders estimate that 2200 Japanese have been killed. At sea, the Battle of Santa Cruz costs the Americans a destroyer and the carrier Hornet while the carrier Enterprise is damaged. The Japanese lose no ships but the carrier Shokaku is severely damaged.

New Guinea. 30 Squadron Beaufighter A19-49 (F/Lt E Jones and Sgt E Richardson) is hit by AA fire and crashes into the sea off Voco Point near Lae.

Australia. Nine Japanese bombers attack Darwin. There have been several other raids in October but never with more than three aircraft.

October 28-NorthAfrica. Rommel, to counter the Australian attack in the north, moves all German forces from the south, leaving the Italians to hold the quieter sectors. Six Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron cover Baltimores and B-25s attacking LG20. Afterwards, S/Ldr Bobby Gibbes, attacks a Bf 109 north of Ras el Shaqiq and shoots it down into the sea. This is credited as 3 Squadron’s 200th confirmed victory. The unit has achieved its second century in just under eleven months, the first having been reached on November 30, 1941. It is the highest scoring Allied squadron in North Africa.

October 29 – North Africa. Near Alamein, 92 Squadron Spitfires meet Ju 87s escorted by 33 Bf 109s. Three of the escorts are shot down, FIO Waddy claiming one.

Malta. Sgt Wally Parkes is mortally iitjured when the wingtip of his Spitfire, EP329, clips a steamroller and crashes sideways into a dispersal pen.

October 30 – North Africa. Kittyhawks of 450 Squadron concentrate on ground attack strafing three Bf 109Fs, a Bf 109E and a Ju 52. PIO Crouch and Sgts. Markle, Jenkins and Reid, shoot down a hapless Ju 52. In the evening, 3 Squadron celebrates its 200th victory after the Adjutant, F/Lt “Col” Greeves, brings up beer from Alexandria and food from Pastroudi’s Restaurant. Included in the revelry is the sacrificial removal of half of Sergeant J Hooke’s much-loved walrus moustache”. . . for a noble cause. ” While the antics continue, Australian infantry attacks the German strongpoint at Thompson’s Post, breaking through to the coast road.

October 31 – North Africa. Unsuccessful German counterattacks are launched against the Australians and the cost to both sides is high. In the air, 260 Squadron’s F/Lt Cundy destroys a Bf 109 and shares a second. 450 Squadron is bounced by 109s. Sgt H Reid is KIA and the CO S/Ldr J Williams is shot down and captured. (He will be murdered by the Gestapo after the mass· escape from Stalag Luft III in March, 1944. ) 112 Squadron Kittyhawks, with 3 Squadron as top cover, scramble to bomb and strafe around Daba and Fuka. They meet Ju 87s escorted by Bf 109s and PIO Ritchie of 3 RAAF claims a Stuka probable.

Britain. Spitfires of 453 Squadron clash with German aircraft for the first time when the Luftwaffe. raids Canterbury. PIO A Blumer damages a Ju 88 but FIO Galwey is shot down into the sea. Paddling his dinghy until 0500 hours next day, Galwey, almost frozen, finally reaches a buoy and soon after dawn is rescued by an ASR launch.

Australia. By now, North Western Area’s Australian air umbrella has been considerably boosted by 76 and 77 (Kittyhawk) Squadrons and 31 (Beaufighter) Squadron which has moved to Batchelor near Darwin until its base at Coomalie Creek is ready.