Australia’s War Diary

January 7- Italy. The British and Americans have broken through the enemy’s winter defensive line. The Germans have established defensive positions at the far end of the Liri valley – in the mountains over Cassino.

January 8-Bay of Biscay. F/O J Roberts & crew in Sunder- land EK586/U of 10 Squadron sinks the U426 west of Nantes. January 10/11-Britain. P/Os G Johnston & W Jenkinson, of 464 Squadron flying Mosquito HJ774 become caught in searchlights over Brussels-Melsbroek. Evasive action brings them over Evere which they bomb instead. They hit a hangar in which 10 German fighters are destroyed. Killed in a flying accident on January 23, Johnston and Jenkinson never hear of their success.

January 13-Italy. Twelve Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron bomb and strafe a suspected enemy tank workshop at Loreto. F/Lt Doyle leads the attack and drops the squadron’s first 1000lb (454kg) bomb, scoring a direct hit. Later, F/Lt Nash attacks German landing craft near Sibenik. During further operations against coastal shipping over the next few days, W/O Funston blows one vessel completely out of the water. January 14-Timor. Eight 31 Squadron Beaufighters damage a 300 tonne cargo vessel off Atapoepoe and then sink a 1200 tonne freighter.

January 15-Burma. Heavy fighting over the Arakan brings a field day for the Spitfires. Early in the morning, 136 and 607 Squadrons scramble and bounce 25+ Japanese fighters identified as Hamps. F/O Dennis Garvan bellylands safely. Australian claims are Garvan 2-1-1 and F/Sgt Dudley Barnett one. 607 Squadron, attacking without the advantage of surprise, claims one destroyed (W/O Brian Bohane), plus probables and damaged, without loss. An hour later 607 scrambles again, this time destroying six Oscars plus probables and damaged for no loss. F/Lt Colin Doudy scores 1-0-1. Finally, led by S/Ldr Noel Constantine, 136 again bounces 12+ bandits near Maungdaw. Constantine scores 1-0-1. January 17- New Britain. The strongest RAAF daylight raid so far is staged by 32 Beauforts of Nos 6, 8 and 100 Sqns on an enemy camp on the Amgen River near Lindenhafen. The escort includes 17 Kittyhawks from 76 Sqn, 16 from 77 Sqn and 8 Spitfires from 79 Sqn. A Beaufort of No 6 piloted by F/O H Wade develops engine trouble and ditches. The crew is later rescued by an American Catalina.

New Guinea. Boomerangs of 4 Sqn, Vengeances of 24 Sqn (24’s first mission for 10 Group) and Kittyhawks of 78 bomb and strafe the Kankiryo saddle at Shaggy Ridge.

January 20-Burma. 35-50 Japanese fighters sweep over the Maungdaw area. Spitfires of 136 Sqn led by S/Ldr Constantine, and then those of 607 Sqn, are scrambled. In a frantic battle Constantine accounts for 1-3-1 before heading for Ramu via the Naf Peninsula at ground level, weaving his way through the valleys. F/O Dennis Garvan scores 1-1-1 but his Spitfire is hit, shell fragments wounding him in the leg and arm. He lands with a flat tyre. Meanwhile, 607 Sqn engages. F/O W Goold probably destroys an Oscar and damages another. W/O Brian Bohane’s Spitfire is damaged.

January 20/21- Britain. The Battle of Berlin is rejoined with a very heavy attack carried out by 769 RAF bombers. 22 Halifaxes and 13 Lancasters are lost. The 460 Sqn Lancaster of F/Sgt A Lynch fails to return. A Halifax of 466 Sqn piloted by F/Lt W Baldwin is also lost.

January 21/22-Britain. Target Magdeburg for 648 aircraft. The raid is a complete failure due to the enemy’s use of decoy markers. W/O R Allan’s Lancaster of 460 Sqn fails to return and F/Sgt P Teece has his two starboard engines cut out while in the landing circuit. The aircraft crashes and bomb aimer, Sgt J Allison, suffers a broken leg. Out of 16 Halifaxes from 466 Squadron one, that of F/Sgt C Johnson, fails to return. Altogether, 35 Halifaxes and 22 Lancasters are lost. Mosquito HX964 of 464 Sqn crashes on returning from an intruder sortie seriously injuring P/Os A Verran & E Rogers.

January 22-Italy. The landings at Anzio take the Germans by surprise. The Allies very quickly take Anzio and Nettuno harbours and within 24 hours they have over 36,000 men landed, but, because of timid leadership, they will soon be strongly hemmed in by hurriedly assembled German forces. Timor. During a low level reconnaissance of the Mina River bridge connecting Koepang with the interior, Beaufighter A19-148 of 31 Squadron hits a tree. It crashlands on returning to Drysdale. The crew, F/Sgt W Rinkin & Sgt R Mayne, and the precious film are safe. New Guinea. Two Kittyhawk squadrons, Nos 84 and 86, have been assigned to defence of the Merauke-Torres Strait area. A reconnaissance Betty is shot down by F/Lt H Stuart. New Britain. Beauforts, Kittyhawks and Spitfires raid Lindenhafen for the second day running. Two Kittyhawks are lost but both pilots are rescued unhurt from the sea. January 23 Italy. Supporting Allied ground troops at Anzio, the Kittyhawk of P/O Howell-Price of 3 Squadron is hit by ack-ack and disappears while returning to base. New Guinea. Shaggy Ridge is in Australian hands. In the Merauke-Torres Strait area Kittyhawks (F/Lt R Whittle and F/Sgt S Kerrison) intercept a Betty escorted by a Zero and destroy both. January 24- Italy. Six aircraft of 3 Squadron fly an armed reconnaissance over the Popoli area. W/OFunston’s Kittyhawk receives a direct hit in the starboard mainplane from a single 88mm gun. Locating the gun, Funston strafes it out of action and even fires on enemy transports while returning home. January 25 – Italy. 450 Squadron hits enemy coastal shipping. P/O Garry Blumer’s Kittyhawk is forced down behind the lines near Sulmona. He evades capture and will return to the Squadron in 14 days.

January 27-Britain. F/Lt Charles Scherf, from Emmaville NSW serving in 418 Canadian Mosquito intruder squadron, claims his first victory, a Fw 200 over Bourges. The first two of six Sunderlands purchased for RAAF use in the South-West Pacific depart from Mount Batten. The next pair leave on February 14 and the last go on March 1.

New Guinea. Up to now 10 Group has operated without loss of aircrew. Near Madang, two 75 Sqn Kittyhawks collide DE B Wirraway A20-561 force lands at Koaru Beach, New Guinea on March 6. The crew, F/Lts Clive Frees and T King salvage the aircraft themselves aided by friendly natives. It is raised on 44 gal drums and with its undercarriage lowered manoeuvred onto an American barge and floated out at high tide. (Dennis Newton) exploding in midair, killing F/O S Hunt and P/O J Stirling. January 27/28-Britain. Target Berlin. A well concentrated attack by 515 Lancasters and 15 Mosquitoes. 33 Lancasters are lost, 6 of them Australian: one from 463; two from 467; but 460 Squadron suffers heavily losing three. January 28-Britain. F/Lt R Lucas and crew of 461 (Sunderland) Sqn sink the U-571 off Southern Ireland. January 28/29-Britain. Target Berlin. Out of 677 aircraft, 26 Halifaxes and 20 Lancasters are lost. Large explosions and fires are reported. It is a black night for the Halifaxes of 466 Sqn. P/O D Graham crashlands at Matlask with minor injuries to two of his crew but three other crews fail to return: those of P/OG Coombes; F/Lt F Mack; and S/Ldr A McCormack. The fully laden Lancaster of F/Sgt L Petney of 460 Sqn hits the slipstream of another aircraft and flips onto its back. It then dives at an incredible speed but after 5 or 6 seconds Petney manages to level out. They are unofficially credited with being the first to loop a fully loaded Lancaster! One Lancaster each from Nos 467 and 463 fail to return. Previously reported officially as “Missing”, recent information shows that the latter crashes in Denmark. F/Lt Norman Cooper of 463 & his crew, including F/Sgt L Christmass and P/OG Kerr, are buried in Aabenraa Cemetery. Mosquito HP851 of 464 Sqn (P/Os J Alexander & R Link) fails to return from an intruder mission. January 29 New Guinea. RAAF Vengeances bomb and strafe Orgoruna village. One force lands on the banks of the Markham River with engine trouble. P/O Louis Stevens and F/Sgt H Main, have food and equipment dropped to them for two days before rescue.

by Wellingtons of 36 and 458 Squadrons, and Hudsons of 233 and 500 Squadrons, operating from Blida and Gibraltar. Between 7th-12th 458 flies 36 sorties totalling 267 hours, makes four sightings and launches two attacks. Both attacks are made by P/O J Markey & crew.

New Ireland. From early February Nos-11 and 20 Squadrons carry out night harassing raids on Kavieng. Catalina A24-34 captained by S/Ldr J Todd is lost when a flare explodes inside it setting it on fire. Todd force lands at Jacquinot Bay. Six of the crew are taken prisoner but four escape into the bush and eventually reach safety.

February 8- Italy. Twelve 3 Squadron Kittyhawks, led by F/Lt Nash, carry out an anti shipping raid cross the Adriatic. A 3050 tonne steamer off the Uljan Island is left sinking. W/O McDonald bombs a Siebel ferry, the blast flinging it violently onto dry land! Strafing damages another landing craft. February 14-Italy. Kittyhawks of 3 Sqn attack enemy positions over the 5th Army front. The aircraft of F/O Sergeant is struck by AA fire and he has to bale out not far from Rome. February 15-Burma. North of Akyab eight Spitfires of 136 Squadron led by S/Ldr Noel Constantine, encounter 60+ Japanese fighters. Two are shot down, Constantine claiming a Hamp. The Australian records in his log book “. . . Very shaky do and a little dangerous. ” Italy. 3 Squadron Kittyhawks, led by S/Ldr Brian Eaton, carry out an anti-shipping attack on the Yugoslavian coast. W/O McDonald bombs three barges anchored side by side in Preko harbour on the Uljan Island obtaining a direct hit, sinking two and severely damaging the third. February 15/16-Britain. Berlin is again the target for 891 Bomber Command aircraft. A record 2685 tonnes of bombs are dropped. 26 Lancasters and 17 Halifaxes are lost. Damage in Berlin was extensive. A Halifax of 466 Sqn captained by F/Lt J Cairns and Sgt J Wormwold are missing. On the way to the target, 460 Sqn’s W/O R Burke and his crew are heavily engaged by night fighters northwest of Rostock. His Lancas- ter is heavily damaged but his two gunners, Sgt S Cooper and F/Sgt J Hosier shoot down the attacking Ju 88 and damage an Me 210. Burke has to jettison his bombs and finally makes an emergency landing at Woodbridge. F/Sgt G Smith, tail gunner in Lancaster ND444/CT-O of 156 (Pathfinder) Sqn, explodes a Bf 110 and drives off a Fw 190 but is grieviously wounded by a cannon shell. He refuses to leave his post until the badly damaged aircraft is safely over the sea. It takes half an hour to chop him free before landing. Smith’s smashed leg is amputated in hospital and he is awarded the CGM.

February 16-Italy. The Germans launch a major attack on Anzio. Monte Cassino Monastery is attacked by all squadrons of 239 Wing.

January 30 – New Britain. 22 Sqn raids Lindenhafen. One Boston (W/CJ Emerton, CO of No 22 & P/O T Gawne) catches fire when hit by flak and crashes near the Kabu River. January 30/31-Britain. Berlin is again the target for 534 aircraft-32 Lancasters and one Halifax are lost. The 466 Sqn New Guinea. 24 Sqn arrives at Newton airfield, Nadzab, Halifax captained by F/O J Stevens suffers three night fighter forming 77 Wing with 21 and 23 Sqns. The Vengeances’ future attacks on the way home but escapes only slightly damaged. targets will be enemy strongpoints and gun positions holding January 31-New Guinea. Three 24 Squadron Vengeances up escorted by USAAF P-47s and led by F/Lt Richard Lewis & F/Sgt M Brown dive through flak and destroy the Gori River bridge at Bogadjum. Vengeance A27-223 (F/Sgts Debenham & Perce Bamsey) is damaged.

February 4-Burma. An estimated 30 Japanese fighters fly a low sweep and ground strafing attack against British forces near Maungdaw. 136 Squadron Spitfires encounter Oscars. In a brief scrap, W/O Bill Cousens probably destroys one. Britain. 464 Sqn has returned to daylight low level operations against the V-1 “ski sites”. Attacking them requires exact timing and precision low level flying through intense light flak and small arms fire. Mosquito LK552 (F70 W Binnie & WUJ Fleming) has its windscreen shattered, MM482 (S/Ldr I McRitchie & F/Lt R Sampson) suffers a severed hydraulic line and LR334 (W/Cdr Iredale & F/Lt J McCaul) hits a tree leaving the target area damaging the starboard mainplane and tailplane. February 7-Mediterranean. In the Western Mediterranean, a large U-Boat hunt begins, surface vessels being supported the Australian advance along the Huon Peninsula. Their accurate bomb delivery, substituting for heavy artillery, will attempt to dislodge the well-dug-in enemy. The 7th Division, moving up the Rai coast to join up with US troops at Saidor, are meeting fanatical Japanese resistance at “Shaggy Ridge”. February 17-Italy. With the weather improved, Allied Air Forces mounted 1700 sorties and dropped 1000 tonnes of high explosive on the enemy’s forward troops. This bombardment, combined with artillery fire, halts the German offensive. Again the monastery on Monte Cassino is bombed by 3 Squadron led by S/Ldr Brian Eaton. February 18-Britain. Operation Jerico. 18 Mosquitoes, 6 each from 487 RNZAF, 464 RAAF and 21 RAF attacking in three low level waves, successfully bomb and breach the prison walls at Amiens in France. Two Mosquitoes are lost HX922/EG-F (Gp/Cptn P Pickard DSO DFC originator of the spectacular attack & F/Lt J Broadley DSO DFC DFM) and MM404/T (the innovative S/Ldr lan McRitchie & F/L R Sampson). McRitchie, the sole survivor, is taken captive. 94 die in the attack or trying to escape and a like number are injured. Of 258 who escape, 179 are criminals, 29 are political prisoners and the rest members of the French Resistance. After the operation, The Australian CO, W/Cdr R Iredale, is awarded a Bar to his DFC and the French Croix de Guerre. Burma. Two Hurricanes of20 Squadron RAF (F/LtJ Thomson, OC’A’ Flight and the unit’s longest serving pilot, and his No 2) fail to return from an afternoon sortie over the Árakan jungle. They may have been shot down by ground fire but a conflict- ing report states that Oscars of the 64th Sentai escorting a Ki-55 Army Co-op aircraft encounter two Hurricanes on this day and shoot both down.

February 19-Britain. Near St Hubert, Germany, F/Lt Scherf of 418 Mosquito Squadron RCAF causes an unidentified single engined aircraft to crash without firing a shot. Burma. During a series of Japanese fighter sweeps, 11 Spit- fires of 136 Squadron and 12 of 607 are scrambled. 607’s F/Lt Colin Doudy probably destroys an Oscar and damages another and F/O Wilf Goold damages a second. February 19/20-Britain. Target Leipzig. From 823 aircraft, 44 Lancasters and 34 Halifaxes are lost. The Halifax of F/Sgt Pope of 466 Squadron is chased by three Ju 88s from Hanover to the target. These make no less than ten passes without inflicting damage. One 466 Halifax (W/OJ Moran and crew) is lost. 460 Squadron loses two Lancasters captained by W/O K Godwin and F/Sgt S Mackrell respectively. A Lancaster from 463 Squadron (F/O E Fayle & crew) also fails to return. February 20-Aegean. S/Ldr D Beaton of 454 (Baltimore) Sqn is sent on a photo reconnaissance of the west coast of Greece. The only ship he discovers is a small schooner but on finding four Ju 52s on an Araxos airfield he strafes them and goes on to attack and halt a train near Kavasila. February 20/21 – Britain. Target Stuttgart. From 598 aircraft, seven Lancasters and two Halifaxes are shot down. Four more Lancasters, including that of F/Sgt G Grant (all are killed) of 460 Sqn, and a Halifax crash in England. Most bombs fall outside the city, but there is scattered damage, severe in places, including to the Bosch Works, Germany’s biggest manufacturer of spark plugs and fuel pumps. February 21-Mediterranean. F/Lt W Gale and F/O G Purdy of 451 (Spitfire IX) Squadron intercept and destroy a Ju 88 at 28,000 feet near Port Said.

February 22 – Aegean. During a hunt-to-the-death for the Livenza (5400 tonnes), the enemy’s largest available supply ship in the area making for Crete under escort, the Baltimores of 454 Squadron shadow the convoy. F/Sgt B Rawlings’ aircraft is presumably shot down by the German air umbrella. The vessel is eventually successfully attacked by torpedocarrying Beaufighters.

February 23 – Italy. The Kittyhawk of F/Sgt R Wilson of 450 Squadron encounters engine trouble. He bales out into the sea but is later confirmed killed.

February 24 – Italy. For 3 Sqn further anti shipping strikes against the Yugoslavian coast led by S/Ldr Murray Nash, the new CO. An 8000 tonne merchantman is split in two. Britain. F/O F. Chambers & Sgt C Bolder of 464 Squadron flying Mosquito MM405 on their first operation, a “ski site” attack, apparently fly into the blast from bombs dropped from preceding aircraft. The aircraft crashes and explodes. New Guinea. Twenty three Vengeances from 23 and 24 Squadrons make a heavy assault on Japanese AA positions at Hansa Bay Cape Gloucester. Two from 23 are shot down, that of F/O N Burnell & Army Liason Officer Cptn W Watson, and that of F/Sgt F McDonald & F/O C McAllister.

February 24/25 – Britain. The first RAF attack on Schweinfurt was the follow-up to a heavy daylight raid by USAAF Bombers. 734 aircraft are despatched. The five ball bearing factories are damaged. Two Lancasters from 460 Squadron, those of W/O W Baxter and Sgt R Yates, are lost. Yates’ navigator, F/O Tony D’Arcey, after baling out and overpowering the German soldier who captures him, escapes over the Swiss frontier after a four day trek. Total losses are 26 Lancasters and seven Halifaxes.

February 25 – Britain. F/Lt Scherf of 418 Squadron RCAF destroys two Ju 88s near Ansbach. February 25/26-Britain. Target Augsburg for 594 aircraft. 16 Lancasters and five Halifaxes are lost. A double bomber stream attacks the city in two waves and within 2 hours, amongst other damage, the leading diesel engine works of the MAN factory complex is destroyed or severely damaged. F/Sgt R Martin and his crew of 460 Squadron fail to return. F/Os Samson/Abbey of 456 (Mosquito) Squadron patrolling Rennes airfield destroy a Ju 88. February 26-Britain. F/Lt Scherf and another Mosquito pilot of 418 Squadron RCAF find a He 1112 “Zwilling’ double aircraft towing two Go 242 gliders. They each destroy a glider, and then share the Heinkel. Scherf then strafes and destroys two Ju 52s on the ground at St Yan. February 27-Australia. Beaufighter ace S/Ldr Butch Gordon and F/Sgt K Smith are killed when A19-165 crashes during a test flight. News also arrives that Gordon is to be awarded a Bar to his DFC.

Aegean. F/O A Dawe’s Baltimore fails to return from a sortie up the west coast of Greece and another Baltimore is severely damaged in a running fight with two Bf 09F’s near Antikithera but is able to crash land safely at Derna. February 28-Britain. “No ball” operations (the codename for attacks on “ski sites”) continue. Mosquito HP926 of 464 Squadron is badly damaged causing the crew, F/O D Avery & W/O L Brodie, to bale out over the English south coast. February 28/29 – Britain. Captain Nancy Wake parachutes from a Liberator back into France after training in England for her role as a key organisational member of the Resistance, to prepare for the return of the Allied Armies into Europe. Her remarkable efforts will make her the most decorated woman fighter in WW2.

February 29-Britain. 456 Squadron moves its Mosquito Mk XVIIs to Ford in Sussex. This aerodrome is well sited for the interception of raiders attempting to attack London or the Portsmouth-Southampton areas. Despite poor weather over the French coast, 464 Squadron’s F/O C Timson & Sgt P Edwards press on but their Mosquito, LR389, crashes on the return flight and both are killed.

March 1/2 – Britain. Luftwaffe raids over south east England. P/Os Richardson & Landy of 456 Squadron in Mosquito HK282/L damage a Do 217.

March 2-Italy. 3 Squadron makes an armed reconnaissance on the Rome-Valmontane road, attacking motor transport. Heavy AA fire damages several aircraft. F/O C Forstrom attempts to glide his Kittyhawk to the beachhead at Anzio but bales out into the sea. After reaching land by dinghy he is royally received by the Americans.

ABOZ March 3-Aegean. During 454 Sqn’s long range recce flights, anti submarine patrols and convoy escorts, losses are generally light but this morning Baltimores FA601 (a Mk IV) and FW300 (a Mk V) fail to return. One of them, piloted F/Sgt A Kempnich ditches after being attacked by two Bf 109s. After drifting helplessly until the sixth day Kempnich drowns attempting to swim for help to a small island close to Antiparos. Both of his crewmates in the dinghy are later rescued. Mediterranean. F/O A Ringland of 459 Squadron operating in bad weather from Ramat David in Palestine, reports that his starboard engine has failed and his Ventura is losing height rapidly before disappearing without trace. The squadron began converting from Hudsons to Venturas in January but the Australians have come to regard the change as a mixed blessing, for although faster, better armed and armoured than the Hudson, the new type is suffering from many teething troubles in the general reconnaissance role.

Italy. 240 Wing RAF completes its move from Africa to Celone where 462 (Halifax) Squadron, because of having few Australian personnel on strength, is disbanded and renumbered 614 Squadron RAF.

March 4- Italy. On a shipping strike, Lt Hagget SAAF of 450 Squadron crashes into the sea and is killed. March 5 Burma. Major/General Orde Wingate leads a special force of Indian, British and US soldiers to sever supply lines to the Japanese opposing General Stilwell’s march to Myitkyina from the north. About 10,000 men are flown in by gliders. Various RAF sections organise supply drops, site and supervise the construction of small airstrips on which to land light aircraft behind the enemy’s lines, and control close air support. Of the Australians who volunteered for this enter- prise, eight have been accepted: S/Ldr G Furmage command- ing all RAF personnel in the 23rd Brigade; F/Lt D St John; F/Lt L George; F/LA A Roberts; W/O C Tulloh; W/O H Stewardson; F/Lt H Houlgrave and F/Lt P McMillan. March 6 Britain. 455 Squadron, its changeover from Hampdens to Beaufighters complete, flies its first operation. Eight Beaufighters act as anti flak escort for torpedo carrying Beaufighters of 489 Squadron RNZAF on a successful rover patrol off the Norwegian coast.

March 7-Britain. 464 Squadron’s F/Os K. “Monny” Monaghan & A. Dean in Mosquito MM403 score a direct hit on the supply building at a “No ball” site.

March 8-New Guinea. A maximum strike by 36 Vengeance dive bombers from all three Australian squadrons is mounted against Rempi, north of Alexishafen. Four aircraft of 24 Squadron are slightly damaged. This is the last mission of the Vengeances in the Pacific war. To the consternation of the crews, they are unexpectedly ordered withdrawn from active service, in spite of their successful results. March 10-Italy. While 3 Squadron is escorting an Air-Sea Rescue aircraft, it clashes briefly with four Bf 109s. F/Lt Ken Watts damages one and a little later he shares a SM. 79 with S/Ldr Nash and F/Sgt Mike Donaldson.

March 13-Italy. Kittyhawks of 3 Squadron, on a long range fighter sweep over Yugoslavia, encounter a Ju 52 escorted by three Bf 100s. They flee leaving the Ju 52 to its fate. It is destroyed by L/Lt Watts and F/Ŏs Hogg and Irving.

March 15-Italy. While 240 Squadron is attacking two Seibel ferries off the coast of Hvar, F/OR Grigg’s Kittyhawk is hit by flak and he bales out. He is rescued by partisans and returned to the squaron in a couple of days.

March 15/16-Britain. Target Stuttgart. From 863 aircraft despatched 27 Lancasters and 10 Halifaxes are destroyed. 466 Squadron loses two crews, those of P/O Hal Wills who parachute to safety and F/Sgt J Bond. Bond ditches 50km south of Portland Bill. All the crew, except the navigator F/O O Chrimes are rescued. F/O W Russell’s Halifax is attacked 48km from target. Rear gunner, F/Sgt D Quarti, is injured and his turret knocked out of action. Despite damage and leaking fuel, Russell continues towards the target but is attacked by another fighter which is destroyed. A third attacker is also beaten off before the Halifax returns safely. Russell and Quarti are awarded the DFC and MM. March 17 – Italy. 3 Squadron attacks shipping in Ancona harbour. Direct hits register on an oil tanker and other small craft. Another formation bombs a railway bridge over the River Naia at Massa Cartana. On the way out to the target, F/O Ken Watkins aborts with engine trouble but bales out on the way back. He is listed missing, presumed killed. Later, F/O Harry Shipley’s Kittyhawk is hit by AA fire east of Rome and he is captured injured after baling out.

March 18-Britain. Four Mosquitoes from 464 Sqn, with three from 21 RAF and another four from 487 RNZAF, attack the Hazmeyer factory at Hengelo in Holland, W/Cdr Iredale leading. Damaged by flak, S/Ldr Dick Sugden & F/O A Bridger force land their aircraft MM482/A are injured and captured. The main factory building is left burning. March 18/19-Britain. Target Frankfurt. Out of 846 aircraft, 12 Halifaxes and 10 Lancasters are lost. It is a tragic night for 466 (Halifax) Squadron which loses three crews: those of F/Sgt J Richards; F/Sgt M Watson; and F/Lt L Curnow. March 21/22 – Britain. Some 140 German aircraft attack London. For 456 Squadron, F/Os Roediger & Dobson shoot down a Ju 88 and Lt D Thornley RNVR & S/Lt D Phillips in Mosquito HK350 probably destroy an Fw 190. March 23-Bay of Biscay. In a running fight with nine Ju 88s, F/OF Bunce and crew in Sunderland ML740 ditch. He and six others survive to be rescued by destroyer in two days. March 24-New Britain. Returning from a strike in support of American ground forces on nearby Manus Island, PIO E O’Reilly of 77 Squadron in Kittyhawk A29-627 hits palm trees while landing on Los Negros airstrip and is killed. March 24/25 – Britain. Target Berlin for 811 aircraft. 44 Lancasters and 28 Halifaxes are lost. 466 Squadron loses the Halifax of F/Sgt R Robertson and crew. Meanwhile, approximately 120 enemy aircraft attack London. 456 Squadron’s W/Cdr Hampshire & F/O Condon destroy a Ju 88. March 27/28-Britain. More than 150 Luftwaffe aircraft raid London and south west England. W/Cdr Hampshire & F/O Condon of 456 Squadron destroy two Ju 888. Debris from the second victim damages their Mosquito’s starboard wing preventing further engagements. S/Ldr Howard & F/O Ross down another off the French Coast.

March 27-Italy. F/Lt Ken Watts leads 12 Kittyhawks on a long range strafing patrol up the coast and then inland to Rimimi and Forli aerodromes. Eleven enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed but F/O Wally Hogg is shot down.

March 30/31-Britain. 795 aircraft are dispatched to Nuremberg into Bomber Commands costliest raid of the war. 95 bombers are lost in all – 64 Lancasters and 31 Halifaxes. Five Australian crews are lost; 3 from 460 Sqn and 2 from 467 Sqn. March 31 – New Britain. The isolation of Rabaul is all but complete with the taking of the Admiralties. In this the Americans have been closely supported by 73 Wing (Kittyhawks of 76 and 77 Squadrons and 79 Sqn Spitfires). Through blockade the Allies have isolated 80,000 highly trained Japanese and cost them 820 aircraft, 30 surface naval vessels, 154 cargo ships, 517 barges and four submarines.