Australia’s War Diary

June 3 – Australia.

Four Liberators from 23 Squadron raid Cape Chater airfield on Timor. Four enemy aircraft are wrecked on the ground and another is destroyed by six strafing Spitfires from 548 Squadron RAF. North Borneo. The original plan for landings at Labuan Brunei Bay had assumed close air support would operate from Tarakan but, because it is not ready, Sanga Sanga has to substitute. This means a loss of effort for OBOE 6. After extensions to parking areas at Sanga Sanga, Nos 22, 30 and 31 Beaufighter squadrons fly in and now carry out their first sweeps. Six Beaufighters of 30 Squadron strafe oil tanks at Bangsal, three catching fire. They strafe oil derricks and about 20 buildings, killing one Japanese in the tower of an oil derrick and scattering others into the jungle. Six Beaufighters of 22 Squadron, led by F/Lt B McSharry, bomb and strafe Brunei town, destroying two buildings with direct hits.

June 4 – Britain.

461 Squadron is officially stood down, although its final Sunderland flight will be on the 18th. At a cost of 14 aircraft and 86 aircrew in action, it has flown 18,649 operational hours, sunk four U-boats, shared in destroying two more and damaged several others. On the 20th, it will be disbanded and its personnel will begin repatriation home to Australia. The unconditional surrender of Germany in May has brought RAAF Headquarters in London major problems concerning the future employment of air and ground crew. There are some 13,500 Australians in Britain, western Europe, Gibraltar, Iceland and the Azores; another 2500 in the Middle East and Mediterranean and over 1000 in India and Burma. Plans exist to include RAAF Lancaster squadrons in the RAF’s “Tiger Force” which is to move to the Pacific for strategic bombing operations against Japan and the RAF is keen to retain the specialist 462 Squadron for testing radio countermeasure equipment. A continuing role for the other Article XV units is in doubt, although 464 (Mosquito) and Nos. 451 and 453 (Spitfire) Squadrons are being considered for the air echelon of the British Army Zone of occupation in Germany. Nos 459 (10 April) and 455 (May 25) Squadrons have already disbanded. On May 1 1945, the 13 RAAF units based in the UK held only 2646 Australian air and ground crew. The major administrative problem therefore lies with the many other aircrew scattered throughout the RAF. There are no RAAF squadrons into which they can be redeployed in India and Burma. They can only be regarded as a pool for the RAAF in Australia which is currently facing an acute manpower shortage for its planned expansion to 53 squadrons. 56 Australian Aviation June 1995

June 8 – Bougainville.

To outflank strong enemy positions in Buoi plantation, a reinforced company of Australian troops lands at Parton plantation on the Bonis peninsula. All goes well until the second wave of landing craft grounds on offshore coral and draws close range enemy fire. The Japanese quickly surround the Australian perimeter and the intensity of fire prevents the landing of ammunition and stores. Air support is given by Boomerangs of 5 Squadron and RNZAF Corsairs. F/O G Ellis, first over the area, directs artillery fire onto a heavy machine gun position.

June 9 – North Borneo.

During a four aircraft raid on Beaufort township, Beaufighter A8-156 of 30 Squadron hits trees while pulling up from a bombing run, crashes and bursts into flames. Lost are F/O G McKenzie & Sgt W Gilfillan. Bougainville. Australian troops on the Bonis peninsula are slowly pushed back to the beach. They request air strikes and F/O G Ellis of 5 (Boomerang) Squadron leads in 12 Corsairs. In the afternoon, F/O J Witford guides another 16 Corsairs. Witford notes that enemy shells are falling around barges and some Australians are sheltering from enemy fire behind a barge broadside to the beach. The Australian commander decides to evacuate. Italy. 458 (Wellington) Squadron is officially disbanded. The unit established a distinguished record as one of the most successful anti shipping squadrons operating over the Mediterranean.

June 10 – Borneo.

Supported by a combined American and Australian naval and air bombardment, Australian troops land with little opposition at the three selected beaches in the Labuan Island/Brunei Bay area, North Borneo. Only one Japanese aircraft attempts to interfere. It drops a bomb at 0600, just missing a landing craft, and makes off under a hail of anti aircraft fire. The first landing is made by the 24th Brigade at Hamilton Point at 1017 and by 1030 tanks and troops have advanced 1400m inland. The Labuan airfield is secured by last light. Landings at Muara Island and Brooketon are equally successful. Bougainville. Australian troops at Porton plantation evacuate. Boomerangs and RNZAF Corsairs patrol over the area to keep down hostile fire but another barge containing ammunition and equipment is hit and destroyed. South of Porton, F/O Witford spots two men coming from a mangrove swamp. He signals for a rescue launch, drops rations and then guides rescue boats in through the reefs. Three Beauforts of No 10 Local Air Supply Unit arrive to drop rafts to the stranded men but because of intense enemy fire they cannot reach them. The Australians suffer 23 killed and 106 wounded but heavier casualties would have resulted had it not been for the air cover. Australia. Three Mosquitoes of 87 Sqn are detached to Cocos Islands to take photographs of Singapore at the request of the Supreme Commander South East Asia Command, Lord Louis Mountbatten. Five hours from Learmonth airfield on the Exmouth Gulf across the Indian Ocean and approaching Cocos, the weather rapidly deteriorates making it impossible to find the atoll. Of the three VHF radio sets on the aircraft, only one receiver is serviceable but reception is poor. For three more hours, they circle, hoping for a break. Out of fuel, Mosquito A52-606 (F/Lt Langsford DFC & F/O Tozer) has to belly land on an outcrop of coral which turns out to be North Island, some 25km from the main Cocos group. They are uninjured and will be rescued by launch next day. Meanwhile, the other two Mosquitoes are at last able to receive a bearing from Cocos Control and a moment later a section of Spitfires from 136 Sqn RAF, sent up to locate the Mosquitoes and guide them in, is sighted. They land without mishap, their tanks almost empty. Line up of 5 Squadron Boomerangs on Bougainville. (George Hunt)

June 11 – Borneo.

Six Beaufighters of 31 Sqn, led by S/Ldr J Black, bomb and strafe enemy tunnels in areas indicated to them by the commander at Labuan. Meanwhile, after taking off from Sanga Sanga to support the Labuan landings, two other 31 Sqn Beaufighters, A8-39 and A8-191 collide and crash into the sea. Three aircrew, F/O J Cowley, P/O M Wall and Sgt A Johnston, are killed while W/O J Holmes, the pilot of A8-39, is rescued with only concussion and lacerations. Returning from the strike, F/O G McGrath and F/O P Jobson in Beaufighter A8-177 overshoot the strip and finish up on very rough ground. They are shaken but unhurt. A8-177 has to be written off. 22 Sqn also suffers when Beaufighter A8-42 crashes on takeoff. F/O R Scott is killed but his navigator survives. A Beaufort of No 9 Local Air Supply Unit, taking off to spray insect killing DDT at Brunei Bay also crashes, killing the three members of the crew. Three other Beauforts carry on with the mission.

June 13/14 – Borneo.

Japanese air reaction to the invasion of North Borneo continues to be exceptionally weak. A Nick approaching Labuan during the night is shot down by an American Black Widow night fighter.

June 14/15 – Borneo.

A Japanese aircraft appearing over Labuan is engaged by searchlights and AA guns from the shore and ships in the harbour. It crashes into the sea.

June 15 – Britain.

After a fortnight less than four years of distinguished service, 456 Squadron, the RAAF’s only night fighter unit, is officially disbanded. Its air-to-air tally alone includes 41 enemy aircraft destroyed (38 by Mosquitoes, 3 by Beaufighters), 4 probables and 7 damaged plus 24 flying bombs destroyed.

June 17 – Borneo.

Two Kittyhawks of 76 Squadron, piloted by the CO, S/Ldr P Jones, and P/O M Furze, are the first two operational aircraft to land on the rough strip at Labuan.

June 18 – Borneo.

S/Ldr Jones and P/O Furze fly the first operation from Labuan. Finding two enemy aircraft on the ground at Keningau, they strafe and destroy them. RAAF Spitfires and Kittyhawks now take over responsibility of close air support from the Beaufighters. Twelve Spitfires of 457 Squadron, led by S/Ldr B Watson, had left Morotai en route via Zamboanga and Palawan on the 17th. They arrive but, because of the poor condition of Labuan strip, two Spitfires crash on landing and are written off.

June 19 – Borneo.

RAAF Spitfires carry out their first operations from Labuan. Austers fly four sorties to assist army operations at Labuan, Weston and Beaufort.

June 20 – Borneo.

Two Spitfires intercept a Dinah approaching Labuan. In 457 Squadron’s first air combat since 1943, F/Lts J Campbell and S Scrimgeour down the Japanese aircraft in flames. Britain. 466 Squadron, now in RAF Transport Command, has spent May and early June disposing of surplus bombs by jettisoning them in the sea and commencing training for long-distance transport duties. On this day it is renamed 10 Squadron RAAF, taking the number of the permanent Sunderland squadron which simultaneously ceases operations with Coastal Command. The latter’s personnel will insist that it continues to be the “real” 10 Squadron. Between June 15-19 they have been ferrying its Mk III Sunderlands to Wig Bay in Scotland for disposal. In return, Mk.V Sunderlands, previously operated by 461 Squadron, have been taken on charge. Official notification is received that 12 Sunderlands are to be dispatched to the Pacific, departing on July 3 in four flights of three.

June 21 – Borneo.

Main Japanese resistance on Labuan Island is overcome, only mopping up of isolated pockets of the enemy remain.

June 22 – Australia.

The two remaining Mosquitoes of 87 Sqn’s detachment at Cocos return to Coomalie Creek. Bad weather had prevailed over the Indian Ocean for most of the time during their stay, only one sortie being flown, but not to Singapore as planned. F/Lt Spurgin DFC & F/O Lobb flew to the Christmas Islands in Mosquito A52-604. Their film was flown back to Exmouth Gulf by Catalina A24-65 from No 112 ASR Flight captained by F/Lt Ralph Bulman.

June 23 – Borneo.

After the initial landing and the capture of Brunei town, the 20th Brigade moves southwards towards the oilfields. A detachment of troops land at Lutong on June 23 and capture the Miri field. Spitfires and Kittyhawks from Labuan cover for these landings, while Wirraways of 4 Squadron fresh from Morotai carry out tactical reconnaissance.

June 25 – Borneo.

Since June 19 Liberators of 82 Wing have dropped some 120 tonnes of bombs on Balikpapan and environs, destroying oil facilities and AA emplacements. Raids are to be stepped on heavily fortified coastal areas in preparation for the invasion of Balikpapan scheduled for July 1.

June 26 – Borneo.

82 Squadron has joined 457 and 76 Squadrons at Labuan and begins operations with a close support attack for the 9th Division at Miri. In the afternoon, four Kittyhawks strafe Keningau airfield, scoring hits on a fuel dump and camouflaged huts but P/O L Collins of 76 Squadron crashes and is killed.

June 28 – Pacific.

Tarakan is operational at last. Apart from Austers which have been operating there for some time, W/Cdr C Read and F/O Beasley of 30 Squadron land in the first larger aircraft, Beaufighter A8-196, on June 28. Two more 22 Squadron Beaufighters arrive shortly afterwards accompanied by Kittyhawks of 75 Squadron. Later in the afternoon, three Beaufighters escorting eleven Kittyhawks encounter bad weather enroute from Morotai. By the time they arrive at Tarakan, the fuel situation is critical. Beaufighter A8-142 from 31 Squadron crashlands off the runway and two Kittyhawks are written off.

June 29 – Borneo.

Led by S/Ldr Jones, five Kittyhawks of 76 Squadron surprise and destroy a Dinah with its engines running at Keningau airfield. Australia. Taking off from Corunna Downs WA, nine Liberators of 25 Squadron led by W/Cdr John Hampshire, successfully bomb Malang airfield in Java in daylight. Anti aircraft fire bursts well away from the Liberators