Turning Point

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Turning Point Page 28

by Michael Veitch

Kittyhawks xii, xiv, 54–60, 62–3, 66, 68–77, 86–7, 90–1, 93, 121–2, 124–6, 128, 133–4, 138–9, 143, 145, 151, 153–5, 157, 173, 174–82, 208, 214–15, 246, 251, 262, 291, 294 304

  Kittyhawk A29-92 218

  Koebule 12, 165

  Kokoda 8, 17, 26, 116, 149

  Kokoda campaign 4, 320

  Koreans 115, 162, 177

  Kotz, Private Jim 229

  Military Medal 229

  kunai grass 30, 86, 228

  Kure SNLF 113

  3rd Kure SNLF 259, 261–2, 273–4, 279, 283, 289

  5th Kure SNLF 114–17, 149, 158, 179, 183, 193, 224, 255, 274–5, 279, 283, 289

  Lae 11, 59, 60

  Latorre, Private 168

  Lever Brothers 11, 12, 18, 33

  Lexington 16, 118

  Liberator AL-515 131–3, 211

  Libya xv, 59

  lice 80

  Lifebuoy soap 11

  Livingstone, Lieutenant Pat 281

  Lockheed Hudsons 71, 151, 181, 246, 251–3, 259

  Loudon, Sergeant Ian 247

  Lowood 69, 91

  Lundy, Sergeant Neville 76

  Lyne, Captain Ronald 204–5

  MacArthur, General Douglas 16, 19, 43, 98, 153, 193, 286–7, 305, 309

  McCarthy, Dudley 47, 94

  Macdhui 23

  McFarlan, Private Don 286

  McGilvery, Private Merv 295

  McKenzie, Sergeant Jim 145, 159–61

  McLennan, Private Harry 229

  McLeod, Flying Officer Albert 126

  Maitland, Lieutenant Colonel George 100, 102

  Maizuru SNLF 113

  malaria xii, 6, 35, 49, 80–1, 144–5, 159, 200, 205, 249, 254, 309

  death from 102

  Malaya 7, 8, 79, 113, 114, 151, 167, 181

  Manchuria 113

  mapping 39, 119, 301

  Marauders 304

  Margetts, Major Athelstane Garfield 31–2, 35, 38–9, 47–9

  Marquis, Sergeant Paul 281

  Marshall, General George 309

  Marston, North Carolina 36

  Marston matting 6–7, 36, 37, 47, 52, 58, 71, 90–1, 264

  Mason, Paul Edward 109–10

  mass grave 308

  Matheson, Captain 222

  Matson, Bill 250, 254

  measles 35

  Meldrum, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander 94, 144, 165, 187, 265, 290

  Middle East 15, 21, 42, 50, 79, 100, 165, 197, 215, 288

  Midway 8, 111

  Miethke, Captain Geoff 200, 207, 223, 228, 231–2

  Miles, Lieutenant Colonel Edward ‘Ted’ 239, 265

  Military Cross 96, 193

  Greek 309

  Milne Bay 7, 92, 119

  airstrips at 18, 33, 71

  Allied Bay at 13

  Allied personnel at 79

  Allied view of 13, 15

  atrocities committed at 313–17

  Australian soldiers captured at 315–16, 321

  battle at 3, 12

  first land defeat of Japanese 8

  harbour at 19

  initial establishment 43

  initial inspections at 19

  Japanese at 3–5

  Japanese capture of 121

  Japanese invasion of 130

  Japanese view of 14

  location 10

  population 11

  rainfall at 5, 13, 34

  track 8

  turning point, as 9

  victory at 6

  weather conditions at 5, 51, 64, 88, 100, 153, 174, 196, 215

  Milne Force 6, 42, 81–3, 95, 97, 98, 100, 141–2, 171, 254, 264, 289

  Milne, Sir Alexander 10

  missionaries 12, 40

  Mitsubishi Zeros see Zeros

  Mitsumi, Platoon Commander 163, 177

  Moji, Captain Chikanori 117, 119–20, 157–9, 162–3, 176–82, 257–62, 284, 300, 302

  Morris, Major General Basil 12, 15–19, 81–2, 142

  Morrow, Private Anthony 135, 137

  mosquitoes, malarial 6, 49, 81, 102, 123

  Motieau Creek 190–1, 231, 235, 298

  moustache 87, 261

  mud xii, xiv, 5, 34, 66, 70–1, 80, 89–90, 167, 172, 174–6, 183, 195, 199, 203, 215, 221, 240, 249–50, 255, 257, 262, 270, 274, 285, 289

  Mullins Harbour 17, 18, 39, 142, 196, 267

  Munro, Flight Sergeant Stewart 211–12, 214

  Nagasaki 3

  Nakajima, Lieutenant Commander Tadashi 106–8

  Nankai Maru 149–50, 155, 157–8, 170

  Nauru 14

  New Britain 16, 44, 51

  New Caledonia 14, 107

  New Guinea 14, 15, 18

  campaign 115, 170

  deployments to 69

  New Guinea Force 82, 193, 306

  Newcastle 22, 75, 97

  Newcombe, Sergeant Jack 144

  Newman, Flight Lieutenant Norman 80, 218

  Nishizawa, Hiroyoshi 76, 105

  No. 1 Strip 33, 37, 44, 48, 52, 58, 65, 69, 71–4, 84, 131

  No. 2 Operational Training Unit 62

  No. 2 Strip 71, 79

  No. 3 Strip 71–2, 143–5, 188, 198, 221, 239–40, 243, 251, 255, 257, 262, 263–72, 289, 294–6, 302, 305–7

  No. 8 Fighter Control Unit 123

  No. 37 Radio Direction Finder (i.e. radar) Unit 23, 122

  No. 74 anti-tank hand grenade 202–3

  Normanby Island 138, 154, 245

  North Africa 79, 221

  O’Brien, Corporal John 237–8, 270

  Distinguished Conduct Medal 238, 270

  O’Keefe, Lieutenant Tom 144–5

  Olivier, Flying Officer John 211

  Orphant, Private George 191

  Owen Stanley Range 4, 10, 14, 17, 51, 54, 118, 303

  P-40 Kittyhawk fighters 59, 75, 87, 214

  Papua 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 198

  Eastern District of 26

  Territory of 8, 11, 22

  Papua New Guinea 13, 90

  Papuan labourers 20, 25, 35, 47

  Papuan people 310

  ghastly fates of 321

  Japanese brutality towards 27, 313–17

  unspeakable suffering of 313–17

  women, brutality towards 314–15

  Papuan villages 28

  Paton, Lieutenant Bruce 39–41

  Paton, Private Jim 39

  Pearl Harbor 110

  ‘perforated steel planking’ (PSP) 36

  Perry, Commodore Matthew 320

  Pettet, Squadron Pilot John 140

  the Philippines 8, 113, 114, 117

  Piper, Flying Officer John 139, 248–9

  ‘Polly’ 180

  Port Moresby 3, 8, 11–17, 21–4, 26, 29, 38, 44, 51, 56, 60, 69, 73, 79–81, 84, 92–3, 100, 103, 104, 116–17, 125, 135, 149, 176, 193, 246, 248, 250, 251, 267, 287, 323

  airstrips at 14

  assault on 17

  burial of Gurney at 85

  defence of 86

  fight for 91

  harbour 21

  Japanese campaign to take 52

  post traumatic stress disorder 61

  Pozières 96

  prisoners of war

  Australian, at Milne Bay 315–16, 321

  Prisoners of War Convention 1929 316

  quinine 6, 49, 80

  Quinn, Sergeant Scottie 39

  Rabaul 7, 8, 14, 16, 23, 84, 105, 107, 110, 114, 117, 137, 149, 259, 299–301, 304

  base at, 56, 74, 108–9, 115

  fall of 44, 119

  harbour 118, 151

  Japanese base at 115, 210

  US airmen on 209

  Rabi 11, 106, 111, 119–21, 149, 157, 183, 205, 210, 240, 259, 270, 296, 299–300, 313–15

  airstrip at 150

  Allied base at 275

  battle of 179

  capture of 136

  operation 158, 177, 301

  plan 116

  village of 200, 203, 239

  radar 7, 122

  radar operators 23, 38


  radar sets 45

  Radford, Lieutenant David 290

  radio silence 45, 56, 124

  radio traffic 93

  Ramsden, Sergeant Albert 312

  Rich, Captain Mackendrick (Mac) 25, 26, 28, 44

  Riddell, Sergeant Roy 153, 211–14, 216

  Ridley, Sergeant Don 168–9

  Ridley, Warrant Officer D.R. 95

  rifles 4, 38, 50, 167, 186, 233. 269, 278, 282, 292

  .303 xi, 79, 122, 172

  fire 225, 242

  ringworm 80

  roads 47–8, 88, 196

  destruction 34

  new, building 35–6

  Robertson, Flight Lieutenant Henry 151–5, 252

  Robinson, Lieutenant Herbert 166, 169–70, 172, 190, 270, 272

  Rollingstone 42, 43

  Ross, Lieutenant Jim 29

  Rowell, Lieutenant General Sydney 82, 96, 99, 193–5, 287, 306

  Royal, Private Thomas 135, 137

  Royal Air Force (RAF) 87

  132 Squadron 127

  Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 52, 58, 69

  birth place of 126

  Kittyhawks see Kittyhawks

  North Eastern Area Command 68, 69

  Officers’ Club 70, 253

  pilots xiii, 174, 181, 209, 248, 251, 304

  RAAF Base Garbutt 89

  RAAF Operations 89–90

  relocation of camp 254

  uniform protocol 248

  victory, role in 304

  Russia 113, 127

  Ryan, Captain Basil 239–40

  Sakai, Saburo 76, 105–6

  Salamaua 11

  Samarai 11, 25, 74

  Island 73, 85, 104

  Samoa 14

  Sanderson, Captain 222

  Sanderson, Lieutenant Roger 185

  sandflies 80

  Sandy Creek 198

  Saratoga 110

  Sasebo SNLF 113

  5th Sasebo SNLF 115, 136, 139, 158, 183, 259

  Savo Island 110

  Schlyder, Lieutenant Eric 83

  Schmedje, Captain Theo 203–4, 221–2, 231, 234–5, 238

  Scott, Lieutenant A.R. 228, 231

  Second World War 7, 8, 95, 98, 99, 107, 197, 202, 298, 319

  Seven Mile Strip 78, 251, 303

  Sheldon, Flying Officer Mark 126–7

  Shelley, Warrant Officer Frank 130

  Shoho 118

  Shokaku 118

  Short, Leading Aircraftsman John 73

  Singapore 7, 114, 116

  Sino-Japanese War 113

  Sleeth, Staff Sergeant Sidney 280, 282

  Solomon Islands 107–9, 121

  campaign 121

  Southall, Ivan 62, 174

  Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) 7, 112–13, 298, 313

  3rd Kure SNLF 259, 261–2, 273–4, 279, 283, 289

  5th Kure SNLF 114–17, 149, 158, 179, 183, 193, 224, 255, 274–5, 279, 283, 289

  5th Sasebo SNLF 115, 136, 139, 158, 183, 259

  5th Yokosuka SNLF 259, 273, 274, 283, 296

  casualties 114

  parachute regiments 113

  regiments 113

  shocking acts by 114

  Spencer, Sergeant George 232–5

  Spitfire 61–2, 87, 125, 126 128, 253

  SS Both 198

  Stanley, Owen 10

  Steel, Captain Phillip 188

  Steele, Sergeant Stan 243–5, 255, 305

  Military Medal 24, 305

  Steele’s Clearing 245, 255

  Stephen’s Ridge 264–5, 278, 283, 296, 303

  ‘sticky bomb’ 202–3, 226, 228, 233–4, 241, 297

  Stirling Range 10, 13, 34, 166, 184, 198, 200, 240

  strafing xiii, xiv, 93, 74, 124, 133, 151, 155, 179, 188, 192, 211, 213, 217, 247

  Strong, Bishop Phillip 12

  Struss, Liaison Officer 43

  Swan, Captain Geoff 290, 292–3

  Tainan Kokutai 76, 105, 213

  Tanikaze 150

  Tasman 44, 46, 49

  Tatsua 150

  Taupota 115, 136–7, 143

  taxiing aircraft 70, 91

  technological advances 82

  Tenryu 150, 259–60, 300, 302

  tents 5, 6, 87, 215

  Thomas, Wing Commander Frederick 89

  Thompson submachine guns 201, 244, 302

  Thurlow, Private George 160

  Timor 7, 114

  Tobruk xv, 42, 50, 221, 288

  Tokyo Bay 320

  ‘Tokyo Trials’ 317

  Tomahawk 58

  Townsville 18, 20, 23, 29, 42–3, 48–9, 54, 60, 64, 68–9, 84, 89, 92, 103, 110, 132–3

  Traill, Sergeant Arthur 293

  Trobriand Islands 68, 85

  tropical ulcers 36

  Truscott, Squadron Leader Keith

  ‘Bluey’ 61–4, 70–1, 126, 174, 176, 179–80, 218, 251, 253

  Tsukioka, Commander 136–9

  Tucker, Flying Officer Arthur 91–2

  Turnbull, Squadron Leader Peter xiv, 29, 54–60, 64–7, 70, 78, 88, 124, 179, 211, 215–18, 251, 323–4

  ‘ace’ 58

  crash of 217

  death of 217–19, 251, 307

  Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) 58, 215

  Turnbull Field 307

  Turner, Lieutenant Bill 303

  Twelve Mile Strip 54, 59, 64, 70, 78

  Type 92 ‘woodpecker’ machine guns 278

  Type 95 Ha-Go infantry tanks 115, 170, 172, 183, 201, 256, 269

  United Nations 316

  United States 118–19

  Urakaze 15, 178

  US 22nd Bomb Group 304

  US 41st Fighter Squadron 303

  US 43rd Engineering Regiment 48, 264, 266, 280

  US 46th (General Service) Engineering Regiment 20, 24, 26, 32, 38, 264

  US 80th Fighter Squadron 303

  US 96th Engineer Battalion 19

  US 101st Coast Artillery Battalion 32

  US 709th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battery 266

  US Army Air Corps stores 255

  US Army Air Forces 64, 303–4

  US Army Corps of Engineers 36

  US engineers 79, 90

  US Marine Corps 112

  US warships 109

  USS Mississippi 320

  ‘Val’ bombers 210–11, 214

  Vasey, George 194, 286

  Vickers machine guns 23, 266

  Victoria Line of Communication Area 309

  Vize, Bombardier Raymond 243

  Volunteer Defence Corps 18

  Wagu Wagu Creek 11, 185, 189, 314, 315

  Wahahuba 177, 261, 284, 296

  Beach 274, 313

  Waigani 48

  Wanielista, Private Walter 20

  war crimes 317

  Warwick Light Horse 96

  Waterways Experiment Station 36

  Wawn, Flight Lieutenant Clive ‘Bardie’ 34, 64, 76, 125–6, 129, 133–4, 253

  Webb, Sir William Flood 311

  enquiry into atrocities or breaches of warfare rules by 312–17

  Webley service revolvers 124, 253

  Western Desert 96–7

  Western Front 5, 96, 283

  Whitton, Private Walther C. 95, 166–7

  Wildcat fighters 110

  Wiles, Major Harry 145–6, 160, 187, 200

  Wilkinson, Flight Lieutenant Jeff 154, 252, 307

  Winen, Sergeant Mick 235, 237, 242–3

  Wirraway 73, 87

  Woodlark Island 68

  Wootten, Brigadier George Frederick 50, 69, 83, 96, 142, 156, 267

  World War I see First World War

  World War II see Second World War

  Yamashita, Lieutenant Joji 213

  Yano, Commander Minoru 261–2, 283, 299, 303

  Yoder, Lieutenant Colonel Leverett G. 19, 20

  Yokosuka SNFL 113

  5th Yokosuka SNLF 259, 273, 274, 283, 296

  Yorktown 117

  Yushukan War Memorial Museum 320

  Zeros 55
–7, 59–60, 73–6, 79, 93, 105, 108–9, 121–5, 128, 130, 133–5, 174, 210–11, 213–14, 216, 303–4

  Type 32 variant 56

  First taste of war: en route to Milne Bay, some men witnessed the sinking of the MV Macdhui, struck by Japanese bombs while at anchor in Port Moresby, 18 June 1942. Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria, H98.104/3705

  Part of the Lever Brothers’ coconut plantation which would be transformed into the Milne Bay garrison and airstrips. Courtesy of Bruce Whealey

  Some of 76 Squadron’s pilots in their tropical camp. Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott is second from left. Author’s collection

  Major General ‘Silent Cyril’ Clowes, the man who would win the battle of Milne Bay, only to be shunned by MacArthur and Blamey soon after. Australian War Memorial, 013337

  76 Squadron’s popular and brilliant leader, Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull. His death during the battle was a bitter blow to the unit. Author’s collection

  75 Squadron Kittyhawk pilot, Flying Officer Arthur Tucker posing in his full flying kit. There would be little need for much of it at the low altitudes of Milne Bay. Courtesy of Peter Tucker

  75 Squadron’s redoubtable Medical Officer, Bill Deane-Butcher. The conditions of the camp were beyond anything he could have imagined. Courtesy of Richard Deane-Butcher

  The runway in the middle of nowhere: No. 1 Strip, Milne Bay. Later renamed ‘Gurney Field’ in honour of Australian aviation hero, Charles Gurney. Courtesy of Bruce Whealey

  The Japanese finally discover the Milne Bay garrison. Lucky snap of a low-flying Zero over No. 3 Strip, during the attack on 4 August 1942. Courtesy of Arthur Tucker

  The weariness of the job showing on their faces. 75 Squadron pilots head to their aircraft once again to strafe the jungle, in September 1942. Left to right: Flying Officer Bruce Watson, Sergeant Cec Norman, Flight Sergeant Roy Riddell, Flight Lieutenant Archie Hall and Flight Lieutenant Nat Gould. Australian War Memorial, 026658

  A Kittyhawk of 76 Squadron battles the mud of No. 1 Strip. None of the pilots had ever seen anything like it. Australian War Memorial, OG0061D

  A few days before the battle began, a USAAF Liberator bomber made an emergency belly landing at Gurney Field, providing the Australians their first look at this famous American aircraft. It would later be strafed and destroyed by Zero fighters. Courtesy of Margaret Whealey

  The Milne Bay mud. Flying Officer Geoff Atherton (middle) looks on as a jeep is bogged in the tropical mire. Courtesy of Arthur Tucker

  A stranded landing-barge, wrecked stores and cratered beaches mark the site of one of the Japanese landing areas at Milne Bay. Bomb crater courtesy of one of 6 Squadron’s Hudson bombers. Australian War Memorial, 026620

  Soldiers wade through a swampy jungle clearing in a still from this famous footage taken at Milne Bay by Damien Parer. Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria, H98.100/2411

 

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