Australia’s War Diary – Final Installment

August, 1945. 50 Years Ago…

August 1 – Japan. The US 3rd Fleet, reinforced by the British Pacific Fleet, continues to roam at will in Japan’s home waters, shelling industrial areas along the coasts and sending squadron after squadron of aircraft to bomb and strafe cities and disrupt communications. Japan’s remaining war industries are crumbling under these blows, and those of the B-29 Superfortresses of the US 20th Air Force, which are scattering fire bombs and explosives on the industrial centres. Air bombardment has cost the Japanese 806,000 casualties, including 30,000 killed. Since the loss of Okinawa, General Kawabe, commanding the Japanese Army Air Forces, has withdrawn his aircraft (some 5000) from the fighting altogether so that there will be a force intact and ready to resist an Allied invasion when it comes. Borneo. RAAF and AIF activities ease during August because, with the expected end of hostilities, it is believed that there is no further point in risking lives unnecessarily. The last recorded operation by 31 Squadron occurs when two Beaufighters, A8-114 (F/O C Gleeson & Stewart) and A8-174 (W/O R Roberts & Sgt B Phillips) make a rocket strike against Kuching radio station and leave it badly damaged.

August 3 – Australia. S/Ldr F Gillespie is to lead an 87 Squadron detachment of two Mosquitoes to the 1st TAF, to Labuan via Morotai. While taking off, A52-605 flown by Gillespie swings to port and crashes in flames. He and his navigator F/O Frank Haymes are severely burnt. They are transferred to No 1 Medical Receiving Station Darwin but Gillespie’s condition deteriorates and he dies on August 5.

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