The Earliest Air Battles in Australia
Darwin, Australia, 19th February, 1942
by Burbank
The first air attack on Darwin is typical of many of the earliest air actions of the Pacific War in 1942. This account describes the high levels of skill and organisation which characterised the early Japanese operations. But more importantly it highlights the lack of preparedness, the shortage of aircraft and supplies, and the low level of understanding of Japanese capability at that time. However, overshadowing all of these political considerations, is the tremendous display of courage by the allied airman in this theatre, against the most horrific adversity. In this instance, at Darwin, it was air-crews of the USAAF and the USN; but else where it was pilots of the RAAF and RAF in Malaya; the Dutch in Indonesia; and the USAAF in the Philippines. All fought with great bravery, usually against overwhelming odds and often flying technically inferior aircraft. One RAAF commander, at Rabaul, when ordered to defend the town with Wirraways - single-engine observation aeroplanes - responded to RAAF headquarters in Australia with the salute of the Roman Gladiators nos morituri te salutamus, â Å“we who are about to die salute youâ ?.
Prelude to the First Japanese Air Attack
With the raid on Darwin, Australia on the morning of 19 February 1942, the Japanese were covering their southern flank for the invasion of Timor. During the night of the 19-20, they landed on Timor.
The 1st and 2nd Kokusentai comprised respectively of the aircraft carriers Kaga and Akagi, and Hiryu and Soryu, sailed from Palau (west of the Philippines) on the 15th of February bound for Timor and Darwin. They reached their fly-off point, 200 miles north west of Darwin, on the morning of the 19th. The first raid was launched from the carriers and consisted of 71 B5N2's (Kate) level bombers, 81 D3A1's (Val) dive bombers, and 36 A6M2's (Zero) fighters led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. (There is a discrepancy in the number of Japanese aircraft reported as participating in the carrier-borne strike. Analysis of observer reports of the raid concluded the total to be 81 aircraft, whereas a contemporary Japanese report records 188 carrier aircraft launched (Hermon Gill, 1985). As each of the four aircraft carriers had a complement of 66 aircraft (plus reserves) at the time of the attack (Chesneau, 1984), the second, higher number seems most likely.)
Co-ordinated to closely follow this first strike were 54 twin engine land-based bombers of the 1st Air Attack Force flying from Kendari on the island of Sulewasi. They were G3M2's (Nell/Tina) and G4M1's (Betty) of the Takao and 1st Kokutai's.
At the time the Japanese attack flew off their carriers, a US Navy PBY Catalina was patrolling 140 miles north of Darwin, and was the first aircraft to encounter the incoming force. Some of the Japanese fighters then made a diversion to Bathurst Island, from where radio messages warning of the approaching raid were being sent to Darwin, and the transport aircraft there was destroyed on the ground.
Earlier in the day, 10 P40s of the USAAF 33rd Pursuit Squadron (17th Pursuit Group) had departed from Darwin for Java to join their sister units who had previously staged through Darwin on their way to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). They were in formation with the single B17 present, which was providing navigational guidance for them. (On their staging ferry flight from Brisbane to Darwin two RAAF transports had accompanied them). However weather reports from Java were unfavourable, and the fighters had to return to Darwin, where they arrived just before the Japanese. No RAAF fighters were based in the Darwin districts at this time, and RAAF aircraft were either bombers (Hudsons) and patrol/light attack aeroplanes (Wirraways), or support types.
Using 243 planes, the Japanese would, in the two raids that day, drop approximately 114,620 kilograms of ordinance consisting of at least 683 separate bombs. At Pearl Harbour, by contrast, they had used 350 planes, dropping only 271 bombs and torpedoes with an all up weight of approximately 146,400 kilograms.
Allied Aircraft Present on 19th February, 1942 in the RAAF North West Area (administration district)
17 Hudsons 2 and 13 Sqns RAAF
14 Wirraways 12 Sqn RAAF
10 P40s 33 Pursuit Sqn, USAAF
1 B24 USAAF
1 B17 USAAF
1 Fairey Battle RAAF
3 Moth Minors RAAF
#3 Beechcraft transports USSAF
3+ PBY Catalinas (USS William B.Preston) USN
1 Empire Flying Boat Qantas
Airfields dispositions on the morning of the 19th were:
RAAF Darwin: 9 Hudsons, 10 P40s, 1 B24, 1 B17.
Civil Aerodrome Darwin: 1 Fairey Battle, 3 Moth Minors, #2 Beechcraft transport,
Batchelor (70km south): 9 Wirraways
Daly Waters (500km south): 8 Hudsons (uncrewed)
Darwin Harbour: 3+ PBY (with tender USS William B.Preston), 1 Empire Flying Boat
Bathurst Island (80km north-east): #1 Beechcraft transport
(# these are listed in some sources as DC3s of the 22nd Transport Sqn, USAAF)
The Aerial Battle
(Transcribed from Raynor, 1995)
At about 0920 hours Lt. Moorer; still heading North in his PBY at a height of about 2,000 feet and 140 miles from Darwin, sighted a merchant ship. He immediately descended down to 600 feet to investigate. It wasn't an empty sky - Moorer's machine was seen by the 9 escorting Zeros from the Kaga led by Lt. Yasushi Nikaido. Only seconds later the flying boat was hit by fire from a Zero fighter flown by NAP I/C Yoshikazu Nagahama. The PBY having been struck the port engine and fuel tank burst into flames. Moorer skilfully made an emergency landing and he and all the members of the crew were able to evacuate the blazing wreck before it blew up. In the distance the merchant ship which they had been so keen to investigate was making its way towards them. The vessel proved to be the Florence D. This ship with an all-Philippine crew had been chartered by the U.S. Navy to make supply runs from Australia to Corregidor with arms and ammunition. Moorer and his men were taken aboard and given medical attention. The Captain informed him that his crew would be delivered to Java, the ship's first port of call.
After the attack on the flying boat Nagahama had attempted to join his attack group for the flight to Darwin. On climbing to altitude he was unable to locate the force and so he proceeded on to Darwin independently. He and the other 8 Zeros, now also proceeding independently would in fact reach the target ahead of the main attack force.
The American P40 Kittyhawks that had arrived on 15 February were to fly to Java. At 0915 hours in Darwin the pilots of the 33 Pursuit Squadron U.S.A.A.F under Major Floyd Pell had, after a delayed start, taken off from the R.A.A.F Base. As ordered, they were to proceed to Java via Koepang. They formed up on a B17 bomber that was to carry out the navigation role for the flight.
At 0930 hours Pell and his P40s were advised by radio that the weather conditions were against them and that they should return to Darwin. At the Bathurst Island Mission Father McGrath, one of the volunteers with the Navy coast watching scheme, was alerted by native islanders of the approach of aircraft from the North. Father McGrath moved quickly to the room containing his tele-radio. The Priest was ready immediately to report to radio VI.D. Darwin.
By about 0938 hours the P40s were back over Darwin and Major Pell landed at the R.A.A.F with 'A' flight coming in behind him. The 5 remaining fighters of "B" flight remained aloft to provide top cover.
At Nightcliff about 130 yards back from the coast line at Headquarters of the 2/14 Field Regiment A.I.F. the second in Command of the Unit Major Ron Hone picked up the phone to call the R.A.A.F. The reason - for a short while the P40 Kittyhawks had been seen at a height of about 8,000 feet and north of Nightcliff. Machine gun fire was heard. To begin with this had not created a lot of excitement, as the R.A.A.F. bombing range was located quite close and the men were familiar with the sound of aircraft firing their guns. This time it was different. One of the P40 Kittyhawks was seen to be trailing smoke and within seconds it had plunged to its doom. Major Hone reported the event and the R.A.A.F. replied that, "If this is an air raid we know nothing of itâ ?. While Hone was on that call a second fighter was seen to crash. Major Hone now contacted Larrakeyah Barracks - at 0946 hours. The War Diarist of the General Staff 7 M.D. recorded at 0950 hours that Post No.M 4 reported 6 aircraft approaching from seawards at great height, unable to identify. TOO (Time Observation Occurred) 0938 hours.
Now a third P40 was in trouble. What was the explanation for the P40 Kittyhawks being attacked? The answer lay with the 9 Zeros from Kaga that had attacked Lt. Moorer's PBY 90 miles to the North at 0920 hours. No longer with the main force and on a different height, speed and track, they had made a direct course for Darwin. By now Nagahama, who had brought down Lt. Moorer in his PBY that morning had arrived alone and ahead, not only of the main Japanese force, but also the remainder of his comrades from the Kaga Flight. When he began his engagement the 5 aircraft had for a time appeared to be 6 and this was indeed what had first been reported by the 2/14 Field Regiment. The other 8 Zeros from his group were also fast approaching and they in turn entered the air battle. Nagahama had been the first to spot the patrolling P40s of "B" flight and immediately attacked. Lt. R. Oestreicher spotted the enemy fighter and gave the alarm â Å“Zeros!â ?. The Americans had split up, but the Japanese pilots had been savagely efficient and in no time at all two of the P40s were down. Lt. Jack R. Peres was the first to fall - he had not had time to react and his plane plunged into the water off Gun Point. Lt. Elton S. Perry was next to be hit, also crashing into the sea, a victim of a second Zero. It was only the beginning. Lt. Max R. Wiecks was now attacked and his aircraft was shot to pieces. Wiecks managed to bail out, where he spent some time in the water before reaching land. Other Japanese Zero aircraft were now in the fight and Lt. William R. Walker had also been engaged. Turning and twisting in vain, his aircraft was hit and he was himself wounded in the left shoulder. Despite this he was able to make an emergency landing at the R.A.A.F base. Within a short period the whole of "B" flight had been downed with the exception of Lt. Oestreicher. The early arrivals from the Kaga had thus despatched four P40Es. It was all seen from the ground - George Horwood who had just about finished unloading the 3.7-inch ammunition for the anti aircraft when more or less above his head was the fighter aircraft in a dogfight. "The fighters lasted no time at all".
At about 0945 hours Fuchida had crossed the Australian coast around Koolpinyah before turning West over the Noonamah area for the final run up to Darwin. Nagahama's flight had headed in from the North West direct for the shipping in the harbour....................Perfect V formations of Kates continued over the Harbour at about 8-10,000 feet. They ignored the Anti Aircraft fire and released their bombs straddling the Neptuna at the Wharf.
While all this was happening the pilots of the 5 remaining P40s at the R.A.A.F base had attempted to get airborne to engage the enemy.. Major Pell got up but before he could take evasive action was set upon by Zeros from the carrier Hiryu. At about 80 feet he bailed out - his chute just opening before meeting the ground. Though alive he was set upon by another Zero from the same carrier, strafed and killed. About this event S/Sgt Fishback of the Headquarters Battery 147 Field Artillery reported to the author:
"I was a patient at the Berrimah Hospital when this happened. Berrimah was so close to the R.A.A.F field. The Zero chased Major Pell right over the slit trench that I had crawled into. They seemed a lot closer than 80 feet. I thought that Zero was going to come right into that slit trench with me"
Lt. Charles W Hughes taxiing for take off was hit while still on the ground - he was dead at the controls of his aircraft. Lt. Robert E McMahon was able to get into the air and in fact engaged a group of Zeros. At this point his under-carriage lowered due to battle damage or mechanical failure thus restricting his capacity to take evasive action. The Zeros pounced firing at the P40. His engine began to burn but he did manage to send a burst of fire into a Val Dive bomber where the rear gunner was seen to collapse over his weapon. In danger of being roasted alive and though slightly wounded in the leg, McMahon was able to bail out and land safely.
Lt. Burt Rice was also able to take off as was Lt. John G. Glover. Rice was immediately set upon and his machine went into a flat spin. Lt. Rice was able to bail out and during his descent he was circled by Lt. Glover who in his turn was also attacked by Zeros. With his plane almost uncontrollable, Glover made it to the boundary of the R.A.A.F where his landing took the form of several cartwheels totally destroying the aircraft. Amazingly he emerged from the wreckage and was assisted to safety by an Australian soldier possibly from the Aerodrome location of the 1/54 Anti Aircraft Search Light Company. Men had been watching from their slit trenches near Bagot Hospital. One American P 40 pilot was seen fighting for his life over the area. The fighter started smoking just South of the (nursing) Sister's house over the main road on the Eastern frontage of the Hospital. Both aircraft were at a very low altitude of under 200 feet. so low, in fact, that the pursuing Zero had to climb to miss a tree.
Machine gunning of the slit trenches situated 50 yards around the East side of the hospital did occur, however, no bombs were dropped in the area
The second wave of bombers, 54 land-based aircraft from Kendari, arrived over Darwin about midday. The had no fighter escort and bombed the airfields unopposed.
Casualities and damage to Darwin were severe. Approximately 250 people were killed, mostly in ships on the harbour. Eight ships were sunk with at least 14 more damaged, and severe damage was done to the port and airfield facilities. Fifteen aircraft were destroyed - including nine of the ten P40's which so bravely tried to fight overwhelming numbers of Japanese. The QANTAS flying boat was able to take-off between the two attacks and escaped successfully to Groote Eylandt, 350 miles east of Darwin.
Five Japanese aircraft were confirmed destroyed, and five more recorded as probables. Lt. Oestreicher of 'B' flight, which first engaged the Japanese, was credited with shooting down one A6M2 Zero, and two D3A1 Val's, before landing safely. His aircraft was subsequently destroyed on the ground at the RAAF base. One of the japanese pilots, Sergeant Hajimi Toyoshima, who was flying a Zero from the Hiryu, ditched on Melville Island whilst trying to return to his carrier. He ignomiously became the first Japanese prisoner of war to be captured on the Australian mainland.
Lt. Moorer who survived his ordeal, was reported as having very pertinent comment on the attack.
(transcribed from Raynor, 1995)
The 22 February also brought rescue for passengers and crew of the Don Isidro and Florence D (which had rescued Lt. Moorer's crew). Radio VI.D. Darwin was advised by Father McGrath of "shipwrecked mariners hereâ ?. Since 19 February, members of the crew of Don Isidro had eventually come ashore in 2 groups at Bathurst Island. Eleven had died on the beach.
The H.M.A.S. Warrnambool was sent to pick up the survivors and returned 73 of them to Darwin, although 2 of these were to die shortlv after returning to the Port. Warrnambool also picked up people from the Florence D. The Warrnambool had during the rescue of the crew members been subjected to air attack by a Japanese reconnaissance plane. In spite of this she had completed the mission. One of those rescued was Lt. Thomas Moorer who had piloted the PBY shot down in the curtain raiser to the raid on 19 February 1942.
On 23 February Warrnambool entered Darwin harbour and Moorer was informed of what had happened and was able to see the massive damage for himself. Despite his own many near escapes from disaster, he was quoted as saying "Hell, it's lucky we weren't around here during the attack. We could have been killedâ ?.
(Thomas H. Moorer would later in his career be made an Admiral, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.)
