Australia’s War Diary

June 1944: 50 Years Ago…

June 1 — Aegean: A large German convoy approaches Crete, shadowed by a 454 Squadron Baltimore and then attacked by 454 with other RAF and SAAF units. Every ship is sunk. For this action, F/O H. Scott receives a DFC. Although the squadron suffers no losses, the next day Baltimore FW 399 disappears over the Aegean.

June 2 — Italy: Faced by continuous ground and air pressure, the Germans are driven from Valmontone and begin a general retreat. Ack-ack severely damages the Kittyhawk of F/Lt H. Watkins of 450 Sqn. He force-lands inside Allied lines and hitchhikes home by motorcycle, jeep, and plane.

June 2/3 — Britain: Trappes railway yards are bombed by 128 aircraft. One Lancaster and 15 Halifaxes are lost, including two from 466 Squadron: HX242/HD-L (Sgt K. Coleman & crew) and HX271/HD-V (P/O A. Smith & crew). The Halifax piloted by F/Lt J. Stevens is severely damaged by an Me 210 but reaches home. F/Os R. Faulafer & R. Wilkins of 464 Sqn in Mosquito MT154 fail to return from an intruder mission.

June 3 — New Guinea: Near Biak, in 78 Squadron’s first air combat, 15 Kittyhawks bounce 12 Oscars and 3 Kates, bringing down nine enemy aircraft in a single battle—a new RAAF record. Scorers include F/Lt G. White (1 Oscar, 1 Kate), F/Lt R. Osment (1 Kate), F/Sgt R. Cowley (1 Oscar), F/Lt D. Baker (1 Oscar), F/Sgt C. Smith (1 Oscar), F/Lt J. Griffiths (1 Oscar), and F/O R. Barker (1 Oscar). F/Sgt W. Hamden bales out, but his parachute fails to open.

June 3 — Italy: A 3 Squadron Kittyhawk undergoing its 80-hour inspection catches fire while being bombed up. Fitter H. Knight taxies a nearby aircraft to safety only seconds before the first blows up. He receives the BEM.

June 4 — Italy: American troops enter Rome. 3 Squadron Kittyhawks continue attacking scattered enemy motor transport, but F/Sgt J. Craig is killed, shot down by AA fire.

June 5 — Britain: 25 rocket-firing Typhoons attack the “Hoarding” radar equipment at Cap de la Hague. W/O J. Pugh of 175 Squadron RAF and two others are shot down. Before June 6, AEAF aircraft fly 1,668 sorties against German radar stations.

June 6 — Operation Overlord: The massive Allied invasion of Normandy. Aside from the roles played by RAAF squadrons, Australians are sprinkled liberally throughout RAF units. The first Australian loss is from 464 Squadron. Mosquito NS897 is the only aircraft lost by No. 2 Group overnight. S/Ldr A. Oxlade is lost, but navigator F/Lt Shanks managed to bale out and hides for three months until liberated. The last Australian loss occurs during 609 Squadron’s final D-Day mission; W/O George Martin bales out and is hidden by French patriots.

June 6/7 — Britain: 1,065 RAF aircraft bomb railway and road centres. P/O F. Knight & crew of 460 Squadron fail to return from Vire. 456 Squadron begins a string of successes over the beachheads, destroying several He 177s. Beaufighters of 455 Squadron attack E-boats near Cherbourg.

June 7/8 — Britain: More successes for 456 Squadron; S/Ldr B. Howard and P/O R. Hodgen claim several He 177s. A raid on Juvisy claims F/Sgt W. Pearce & crew of 466 Squadron.

June 8/9 — Britain: The first 12,000lb “Tallboy” bombs are used by 617 Squadron on a railway tunnel near Saumur. Australian pilots involved include F/Os A. Kell, R. Stanford, I. Ross, and D. Carey.

June 10 — New Guinea: 30 Squadron Beaufighters attack barges near Wewak. Eight Kittyhawks of 78 Squadron sight a single enemy aircraft; F/Lt Baker sends it crashing in flames. This is the last Japanese aircraft to be shot down by the RAAF over New Guinea.

June 11 — New Guinea: 30 Squadron’s new CO, W/Cdr P. Gibson, and Cpl Murphine are killed in a takeoff crash in Beaufighter A19-115.

June 12 — Australia: The Japanese send a “Dinah” reconnaissance aircraft over Darwin. Spitfires of 452 Sqn, led by F/O K. Gamble, shoot it down near Point Blaze.

June 12/13 — Britain: The first German flying bomb (V-1) attack occurs. W/Cdr Hampshire and F/O Condon of 456 Sqn bag a Ju 88.

June 13 — New Guinea: F/O C. Harvey of 78 Squadron bales out into the jungle near Hollandia. Guided by a Piper Cub for three weeks, he is eventually rescued by a Walrus on July 4.

June 15 — Britain: 455 Squadron Beaufighters attack a German convoy off Holland, sinking a naval auxiliary and a minesweeper.

June 15/16 — Britain: Nearly 250 V-1 flying bombs are launched; 73 explode in London. Allies make the launch sites (“No-ball” targets) a top priority.

June 16 — France: 453 (Spitfire) Squadron encounters 12 Bf 109s over Caen, scoring several victories.

June 19 — Britain: The first Australian to destroy a V-1 is W/O R. Adcock of 3 (Tempest) Squadron RAF. By the end of the fortnight, 16 Australians claim one or more V-1s.

June 21/22 — Britain: Bomber Command attacks German oil plants. 467 Squadron loses two Lancasters, while 463 loses one.

June 23 — Britain: On “anti-diver” patrol, F/O K. Collier of 91 Squadron exhausts his ammunition at a V-1. He uses his Spitfire’s wing to “tip” the V-1’s wing, forcing it to crash out of control in a field.

June 24/25 — Britain: 739 aircraft attack flying bomb sites. 463 and 467 Squadrons suffer heavy losses over Prouville, including W/Cdr D. Donaldson. 22 Lancasters are lost in total.

June 27 — Australia: No. 2 Squadron makes its first strike with new B-25 Mitchells, attacking Lautem West airfield on Timor.

June 30 — Britain: Beaufighters of 455 Squadron attack a German convoy off Holland. F/O J. Cox makes a perfect belly landing despite wounds. F/O E. Collaery is lost after ditching, but navigator P/O H. Pearson is rescued by a launch after being covered by Allied fighters.