The Whale Has Wings Vol 3 - Holding the Barrier (20 page)

Given the strength of the carrier attack on the airfield, the Allied command was certain at least two fleet carriers were standing off Timor, possibly three or four. The Melbourne was ordered to pull back as soon as her planes had been recovered; her escorts would then move southwest to be in a position to meet up with the withdrawing Dutch force, and then join with the RN carrier force heading east. Unless a direct threat was made to Darwin, the Melbourne was not to engage the Japanese carriers.

Hope by the defenders that the runway would soon be operational was dashed at 1200 when a large raid was detected approaching from the north. Despite the precarious nature of the takeoff, four Sparrowhawks and two P-40's managed to get airborne. This proved to be a strike by Japanese army planes out of the Celebes. The reports from the carrier planes had stated that the airfield had been destroyed, so the fifty bombers were attacking without escort. This led to the defenders shooting down ten of them for the loss of only one P-40, the pilot parachuting safely. The remaining planes plastered the remaining airfield buildings and runways, causing considerable damage and effectively closing the airfield. The Sparrowhawks managed to get down on fields nearby, along with the remaining P-40, but two of the planes were damaged and non-operational after their landings. The airfield repair crews resumed their work, but estimated that even if no more attacks took place, at best a runway would be operational for fighters by the morning.

While the Japanese had been attacking Timor, their carrier force had been recovering their strike. Losses had been light, and it was expected to make new attacks in support of the landings once they had taken place, although as the attack had revealed the presence of a carrier, an anti-shipping strike would be held back as a precaution. The planes would however prove useless against the attack that took place late in the afternoon. One of the RN submarines that were patrolling the area had found the carriers. Although the speed of the carrier force made interception very difficult, the T-class boat managed to set up an attack run, firing six torpedoes at the Akagi. Due to the poor presentation of the target four of the torpedoes missed. One hit the carrier forward, causing her to slow to a stop as water poured into the gaping hole in her hull; the second torpedo suffered a rare failure, merely thudding against the hull outside one of the port boiler rooms. The submarine then went deep and quiet, to evade the inevitable counterattack. Although prosecuted with considerable effort, the submarine was never held and finally slipped away, ready to report once it was dark.

The Akagi was a large ship, and the torpedo had fortunately not caused severe internal damage, although she had taken on a considerable quantity of water. Her speed was however reduced to some 16 knots in order not to cause further damage, and it was thought that this would make her too vulnerable for further action. If an enemy surface force or carriers found them (and although the escorts claimed the submarine destroyed, no debris had been seen and the claim was regarded as uncertain), the ship would be in severe danger. As the invasion force was starting to make its attack, and so it was expected the island would soon fall to the Japanese, the decision was taken to withdraw the carriers. Air support would be from the Celebes, and it was expected that an airstrip would soon be available on Timor to allow Japanese fighters to base there.

The IJN did not know until the following morning that in fact the landings had been a disaster. Heavily weakened by the air and surface attacks, the Japanese landed around 1,000 men in the face of defensive artillery fire and troops which matched their numbers and had artillery support. By nightfall the Japanese only had a tenuous hold on their landing area, having lost half of their force dead or wounded. The defenders were still holding the high ground, and after intense efforts the airfield had been repaired enough to allow fighters to take off. That would bring a most unpleasant surprise to the Japanese that morning.

The IJN decision to withdraw the carriers to the north had put them out of immediate range of Allied attacks. The other submarines in the area were too far away to close, and the boat that had attacked had, by the time it had made the necessary report, been positioned badly even though she attempted to close that night on the surface. The Japanese, well aware Allied submarines were in the area, were conducting heavy A/S patrols from daybreak, not allowing the submarines to close with them.

The poor communication between the Japanese Navy and Army had caused a delay in the air force in the Celebes realising that they would have to support the landing on their own. The original plan had been for the carriers to make another dawn strike to suppress the airfield and also the landings, but in the event it was not until midday that they sent another raid over the island. By that time it was too late to save the landing. Attacked at dawn by artillery and then subjected to air attack, first from the fighters and then from six Beaufighters that had managed to get off the airstrip, and outnumbered by the defenders, the invasion had effectively failed by 1000. The Japanese started to withdraw their ships at this point, one destroyer already damaged by a pair of Beaufighters. This withdrawal would in fact manage to save the remains of the force - the defenders spent the morning attacking the landings themselves, and that afternoon had to fight off another attack on the airfield. This time the bombers were escorted, and three defenders were shot down for the loss of two Japanese fighters and three bombers. The airfield was again unserviceable until additional repairs were made.

While the decision to withdraw the Melbourne in the face of a strong Japanese carrier force was criticised, it was seen as the correct one, although it meant the carrier was not able to attack the withdrawing Japanese invasion force. The Japanese landings took an additional two days to suppress and defeat completely, although with the strength of defenders it was never in great doubt. The situation on the island remained delicate, with continual small attacks being made on the airfield from the Celebes, but these were not capable of stopping the Allies from bringing in additional reinforcements, although it did make using the airfield to stage fighters through to Java more difficult.

On investigation, the underwater damage to the Akagi was fortunately not severe, and her propulsion plant had not been affected apart from temporary shock damage. She would however be out of action for some six weeks while her hull was properly repaired.

Feb 19th

General Dwight D. Eisenhower is appointed as Chief of the War Plans Division for the US Army.

Feb 20th

Major General Ira Eaker, who is to command the 8th Air Force, arrives in the UK by air with six staff officers to select a headquarters site and prepare for the arrival of American troops.

Task Force 11, consisting of the USS Lexington, the USS Ticonderoga and their escorts, is located and attacked by Japanese Navy land-based aircraft as they approach Rabaul on New Britain. After losing the element of surprise, a decision is made to abandon the mission, and the task force commences to withdraw. The USN is uncertain as to the number of aircraft based at Rabaul, so the task force deliberately lingers in its withdrawal so as to temp the Japanese to attack at long range. The tactic is a success; over the next day, some 25 enemy planes are shot down for the loss of two fighters as the Japanese attempt to attack without fighter escort. The information is collated at Pearl Harbor, where the lack of escorts is considered to be significant after the British reports reporting a lack of an expected aircraft build-up in operational theatres.

President Quezon has been evacuated on board the submarine USS Swordfish. He is accompanied by his wife and two children. Vice-President Osmena and other Philippine government officials are also evacuated

Feb 21st

The U.S. War Department orders General Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces, Far East (USAFFE), to move his headquarters to Mindanao Island and then go to Australia. The War department intends to have the General take command of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific, although this plan has not yet been discussed with their Allies.

Feb 22nd

Five Allied ships leave Fremantle, Western Australia, with 69 USAAF P-40s, motor vehicles and U.S. Army troops destined for Tjilatjap, Java. The convoy includes the seaplane tender USS Langley carrying 32 assembled P-40s.

President Roosevelt orders General MacArthur, Commanding General U.S. Army Forces, Far East (USAFFE), to leave the Philippines.

As it seems likely that the Japanese will make another attempt to invade Timor (especially if Java can be held as hoped), four RAF Whirlwind planes are sent to Darwin to provide long-range reconnaissance cover around the island.

HMS Audacious leaves the dockyard on her way to collect her escorts, destination Singapore. While her air group has been training during the final fitting out, her crew are still relatively inexperienced. Further workup will be done on passage, but unless the need for her is critical, Somerville intends to allow time for a further training period at Trincomalee. The ship will sail via the Cape; this is both to allow for the training, and to hopefully make it easier to hide the ship's presence. Somerville is hoping this new class of carrier will be an unpleasant surprise for the Japanese.

Feb 23rd

Shells fall on the US mainland again. The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-17 fires 25 rounds of 5.5-inch shells from a range of 2,500 yards at the Bankline Oil Refinery at Ellwood, California, 12 miles west of Santa Barbara. Little damage is caused, but the shelling causes panic in the local defence forces.

Feb 24th

Six German divisions cut off at Demyansk in the northern sector of the Moscow front are resisting the Russian efforts to destroy them. The Demyansk pocket and other similarly defended localities are frustrating the Soviet offensive.

One unusual part of the Demyansk operation is that the 100,000 men in the pocket are completely cut off and are being supplied with food, fuel and ammunition by air. All types of aircraft are being used. Junkers Ju52 transports are the main workhorses, but bombers are also carrying in supplies, protected by every available Bf109.

Supplies are also being airlifted into another fiercely defended pocket around Kholm. It is even more dangerous here, for the airfield is in range of Russian artillery and the Germans are being forced to drop supplies by parachute or land them by glider.

The effect of the pockets of resistance is to break up the cohesion of the Russian front. The Russians cannot maintain their offensive and the Germans cannot regroup effectively. Both sides are now showing signs of exhaustion. The Germans lose more men from frostbite than from gunshot, and the Russians are simply becoming exhausted.

Beginning at 0710 hours, TF 16 (Vice Admiral Halsey) raids Wake Island to destroy Japanese installations there. SBD Dauntlesses and TBD Devastators from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and SOC-1 Seagulls of Cruiser Scouting Squadron Five from heavy cruisers USS Northampton and USS Salt Lake City bomb installations in the atoll. The bombardment unit consisting of USS Northampton and USS Salt Lake City and destroyers USS Balch and USS Maury (Rear Admiral Spruance) shells the atoll.

The combined efforts of the USS Enterprise's planes (bombing and strafing) and ships' gunfire sink two guardboats and two Kawanishi H6K4 Flying Boats on the water; F4F Wildcat pilots later shoot down a third H6K4 near Wake at about 0830 hours. One SBD of VS 6 is lost.

Feb 25th

The RAF commences a campaign against the Italian mainland and Italian possessions in the Mediterranean. Home-based squadrons will attack targets in Northern and Central Italy, as well as Sardinia and Corsica, while the Middle East Air Force (in conjunction with the French Air Force in North Africa) attacks Southern Italy, Sicily and the remaining Italian island possessions. The intent is both to damage Italian installations (particularly military ones) and to stretch the Italian defences over a large area.

The convoy of merchant ships that resupplied Singapore arrives at Alexandria. It is scheduled to load up with more supplies and troops - the Australian 1st Armoured Division and a Brigade of the French Foreign Legion. Alexander is waiting for these reinforcements before going on the offensive in Malaya (although he realises that it might be necessary to divert some of them to Java or Sumatra).

Feb 26th

Following the reports of the raids by US carriers in the Pacific, the Japanese Navy discusses plans to destroy Allied naval power in the Pacific and SE Asia and to support the Army landings, in particular those aimed at the vital oil installations.

The next planned Army operation is the invasion of Java. This will be supported by land based planes (both Army and Navy), and by up to three light carriers. This is considered sufficient; the Royal Navy is thought to have one fleet and two light carriers operational (with another fleet carrier possibly under repair), however one of their light carriers is isolated in what is seen as a misguided defence of Northern Australia. If the RN carriers do interfere, the IJN considers it has sufficient assets available to sink them. Allied surface units are seen as less of a problem as they will be vulnerable to the Japanese air power, and indeed might be useful in drawing the Allied carriers into an unequal fight. If the need arises, two more fleet carriers should be available at short notice

The IJN's next task is to repair the Akagi and make the Carrier Striking Force operational again. This will give them five fleet carriers, enough to conduct heavy strikes on two targets or an overwhelming strike on one. Ideally, the first use will be to destroy the Allies' carriers. Whether the first strikes are made in the Pacific (against the USN) or in the DEI (against the RN) will depend on the situation at the time. The second strike will then proceed to destroy the Allied carriers in the other theatre. While it is realised that the size of the Pacific means it may not be possible to completely destroy the enemy carriers, it is expected to sink enough to stop any meaningful offensive action for a considerable time. This will allow the Army to consolidate its gains and secure the vital oil fields in Borneo and the Dutch East Indies.

The Navy's preferred strategy will be to lure the enemy into a decisive battle with its carriers and heavy surface units, aided by their submarines. In particular, the presence of battleships and torpedo-armed cruisers will mean any damaged enemy carriers will not escape.

Feb 27th

The USN code breakers find evidence of a Japanese build-up prior to an invasion of Java. As yet they have not completely cracked the Japanese codes, but what they have, plus traffic analysis, is enough to indicate that a major thrust to invade Java is imminent. Unlike some of the recent Japanese operations in Borneo and Timor this is expected to be a major operation. Accordingly Alexander authorises reconnaissance flights of likely anchorages and airfields, accepting that some of these will be defended. He also asks Somerville to start positioning his forces to counter such an operation.

In a daring raid on France tonight Parachute Regiment soldiers seize top-secret German RDF equipment. The paras had been specially trained for this operation, jumping from their Whitley transports at night into snow near the clifftop target at Bruneval, near Le Havre.

Major John Frost charged with four men through the front door of the enemy chateau overlooking the site, shooting as he went. Royal Engineers, guarded by paratroopers, tore out the aerial and other essential parts of the Würzburg tracking device with crowbars. Enemy bullets hit the equipment as they worked. For a time afterwards it seemed as if the escape route down a cliff to a beach rendezvous was blocked by a cliff top machine-gun post, whose bullets hit Sergeant-Major Strachan in the stomach. Then a team of paras which had landed off the drop zone joined the fight after a forced march. Hit by unexpected fire the German gunners fled.

On the beach, survivors of the raid waited for their RN pickup. The paras embarked with the secret equipment and, as instructed, brought with them a captured RDF operator. They lost three dead and six captured.

At the same time, taking advantage of the confusion of attacking two targets simultaneously, Royal Marine Commandos landed from a submarine, target one of the coastal airfields. The Commandos were escorting four RAF pilots, whose targets were some of the Fw190 fighters on the base. The guards were completely surprised by the night attack, and the Commandos held the base for an hour, despite the attempts by the Luftwaffe personnel to retake it. This allowed two of the pilots to escape in captured Fw190's. The Commandos then made a fighting retreat to the coast, where they were to be picked up by RN coastal forces. Sadly, only one-half of the unit made it - the second part found that local troops had blocked off their escape to the beach, and later surrendered at dawn. The two planes were flown to a British airfield as planned, where they would be flown and analysed.

The US carrier Langley is attacked en route to Tjilatjap in Java. Nine unescorted Japanese bombers attempt to attack the old carrier (which is serving as an aircraft transport), but the attack is broken up by Sparrowhawk fighters operating from a forward base in Java. The defenders shoot down three of the bombers. Although the Langley is hit by one bomb and damaged, she later successfully delivers her cargo of 32 P-40 aircraft. The US freighter Sea Witch delivers another 27 crated P-40's, and these are given priority as the command in Java are expecting more Japanese raids now their air force is established in the Celebes.

Feb 28th

The first RN-escorted convoy to travel up the US East Coast arrives at Halifax (via New York). As a contrast to the heavy losses being taken by independently sailing ships, only one ship from the convoy was lost (and that a straggler). This is considered a great improvement, however later that day Admiral King learns that, despite his orders to the contrary, US merchant ships have been part of the convoy. He issues orders that the merchant captains of those ships be arrested for disobeying orders. This causes problems. The ships are in Canadian-controlled Halifax harbour, and due to what is termed 'administrative problems' the MP's there seem unable to find the captains. He also demands to know why the Royal Navy is not fulfilling the agreements made (that US ships on the East coast would be under US control), and is informed that the ships involved were not part of the convoy, having merely been travelling in the same direction. He does not take this explanation well.

March 1st

The issues over the East Coast US convoy escalates when a direct order is sent from the US Navy that no US-flagged or controlled merchants ships are to go with RN convoys under any excuse, and that any captain found doing this will be court-martialled. This causes outrage among the US skippers already risking their lives to deliver cargoes, who feel that the protection provided by the US Navy is inadequate (many of those same captains have experience of cross-Atlantic convoys). They bluntly tell the USN officers giving them the new orders that until the situation is resolved, they will not sail. On being told that means court-martials, it is pointed out even more bluntly that that is better than drowning. Although all this is currently supposed to be secret, a number of reporters are already around some of the naval bases and ports concerned and showing an interest. This is slightly embarrassing to the Royal Navy, who had hoped the results of escort would be kept quiet and merely encourage the USN to take advantage of their hard-learnt expertise. However the RCN officers involved seem to be rather more generous with the information they give to reporters, although at present the information is restricted and they are unable to publish.

March 2nd

The rations of the US-Filipino army on Bataan are reduced again, this time to one-quarter of the normal daily food allowance. The trapped troops supplement their diet with horse and water buffalo meat and even lizards. Disease is taking a heavy toll on the 95,000 men on Bataan and Corregidor - especially malaria, malnutrition and diarrhoea.

The Australian government finally declares war on Siam.

March 4th

The Japanese Imperial General Staff decides that once the occupation of Java is complete, to expand its conquest to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Fiji Islands and American Samoa. Taking the Fijis and Samoa would cut America's supply line to Australia.

General MacArthur, (Commanding General U.S. Army Forces, Far East), begins reorganizing his forces in the Philippines in preparation for his departure. The Composite Visayan-Mindanao Force is divided into two commands. Brigadier General William F. Sharp retains command of forces on Mindanao; the Visayan forces are placed under Brigadier General Bradford G. Chynoweth. MacArthur's plans envisage the formation of two more commands. Major General George F. Moore's harbour defence forces on Corregidor and other islands in Manila Bay will constitute one, the forces on Luzon the other.

General MacArthur informs Rear Admiral Rockwell, Commandant of the Sixteenth Naval District, that he has been instructed to leave Corregidor. The plan is for him and his party to board the submarine USS Permit which is scheduled to leave Corregidor on 14 March. 

The issues over the convoying of US ships off the East Coast of America, and the refusal of merchant captains to sail unless they are convoyed, reaches Churchill and Roosevelt. Both are annoyed, for different reasons. Churchill bluntly informs Roosevelt that the heavy losses of tankers can no longer be tolerated, and they either go in convoy or stay in port. Even though the RN escort forces are stretched, they will provide escorts, but he points out that it would be better if the USN escorts them, and this will look better politically. He also notes that it is not going to be possible to sit on the US press much longer, and that if news of the current situation gets out, it will be damaging.

March 5th

Japanese Imperial General Headquarters issues Navy Directive No.62 ordering Commander-in-Chief, Combined Fleet, upon completion of the Java operation, to annihilate the remaining enemy force in Dutch New Guinea and to occupy strategic points of that territory. The objectives of the occupation are to survey the country for possible sites for air bases, anchorages and oilfields, as well as to secure a good communication and supply line with British New Guinea.

A Japanese convoy bound for Huon Gulf, New Guinea, sails from Rabaul, New Britain Island, during the night of the 5th/6th.

Roosevelt orders the USN to sort itself out over convoys. Merchant ships WILL be escorted, with no arguments. Admiral King is furious, but is bluntly informed that he can be replaced if he won't obey the command - while Roosevelt does not want to do this, an Admiral who doesn't follow his orders is useless to him. When it is pointed out that the USN doesn't actually have the escorts available, a compromise plan is reached for the short term; ships will be escorted during the day, and go into port at night.

March 6th

U.S. Lieutenant General Stilwell, Commanding General American Army Forces, China, Burma, and India, confers for the first time with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in Chungking.

General Alexander gives provisional acceptance for a campaign to drive the Japanese out of northern Malaya. This operation as envisaged requires the 1st Australian armoured division, which will not be in place for some three weeks, but it is hoped that unless it has to be diverted to Java it will be possible to attack before the monsoon sets in. The idea is to first break the Japanese defensive line, then strike north-west to control the coast and to allow the army to join up with a force striking south from Burma. This will give them control of the west coast, and they will then wheel and strike behind the Japanese defensive line with an armoured thrust. The RAF will both support and attempt the maximum interdiction of the Japanese coastal supply route. Success will not only recover all of Malaya, but will allow Singapore to be supplied even if all the DEI and Sumatra fall. Alexander's main problem is that he does not know how much of his force will be needed to support the Dutch in Java, and Park is still concerned over the 'missing' Japanese aircraft.

March 7th

While returning from a reconnaissance mission over Gasmata and Rabaul in the Bismarck Archipelago, the crew of an RAAF Hudson based at Seven Mile Airstrip, Port Moresby, sights a convoy of eleven ships heading for Salamaua. These contain troops of the South Seas detachment. This catches the Allies by surprise; they have been readying their forces for the soon-expected invasion of Java, and the Royal Navy forces are to the west of the DEI. The Allies only have a light force in the area, but on sighting what seems to be an invasion force a brigade of the 8th Australian Division is ordered to be ready for operations. This reserve brigade has been held at Darwin for possible action in the DEI, and ships are available at Darwin to allow at least part of the Brigade to be shipped (although this will mean a temporary hold in fortifying Timor). The Canadian Brigade that recently landed at Sydney will be moved to Darwin in its place, allowing it more time to acclimatise.