Zero Hour in Broome: The untold story of the attacks on northwest Australia in 1942

179 Pages·2010·74.407 MB·English

by  Dr Tom Lewis & Peter Ingman

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Zero Hour in Broome
Dr Tom Lewis & Peter Ingman
Zero Hour in Broome
First published 2010
Avonmore Books
PO Box 217
Kent Town
South Australia 5071
Australia
Phone: [phone]
www.avonmorebooks.com.au
National Library of Australia Cataloguing Data
Author: Lewis, Tom, 1955-
Title: Zero Hour in Broome: the untold story of the attacks on Northwest Australia in 1942
/ Tom Lewis & Peter Ingman.
Edition: 1st ed.
ISBN: 9780957735156 (pbk.)
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, Japanese.
World War, 1939-1945--Australia.
Broome (W.A.)--History.
Other Authors/Contributors: Ingman, Peter, 1971-
Dewey Number: 940.544
Printed by Everbest Printing Company
Desktop Publishing by Diane Bricknell
Tom Lewis and Peter Ingman © 2010
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Contents
Foreword ............................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1 : Broome Attacked from the Air ................................................................. 9
Chapter Two: Through Japanese Eyes ....................................................................... 23
Chapter 3: March 1942 -War in Western Australia .............. :. .............................. 33
Chapter 4 : 3 March 1942 -Other Events .................................................................. 65
Chapter 5 : Evacuation ................................................................................................... 77
Chapter 6 : From Broome to Port Hedland ............................................................... 93
Chapter 7 : Attacked Again ........................................................................................ 107
Chapter 8: Avoiding the Blame ................................................................................ 121
Chapter 9 : The Java Evacuation Myth .................................................................... 137
Afterword ........................................................................................................................ 147
Appendices ....................................................................................................................... 153
List of Works Consulted .............................................................................................. 173
Index ................................................................................................................................. 179
ZERO HOUR IN BROOME
Foreword
In February 1942 the northwest found itself literally on the front-line of the war with Japan,
while the town of Broome became strategically significant in regard to the aerial evacuation
ofJava. The peak of events was the devastating 3 March air attack. Aside from this, however,
the bigger picture across the northwest, as well as the later attacks on Broome, have received
little attention since the publication of the Official History of the Second World War by the
Australian government.
As well as activities of a military nature, various civilians made worthy but little known
contributions during this period. For example, against the background of threatened invasion,
many of the Asian population of Broome worked extraordinarily hard in re-building the
airfield in just three days and then evacuating the lugger fleet. This was at a time when their
families had not been evacuated with the white population. To have such activities on the
historical record is a valuable addition to Broome's proud and diverse heritage.
I commend Zero Hour in Broome to anyone interested in the history of our region as well
as the wartime history of those dark days of early 1942. In addition, Broome continues to
celebrate its unique aviation heritage, so to have a strong aviation history element in this work
is most welcome. Zero Hour In Broome will be an invaluable resource for many years to come.
Councillor Graeme Campbell
President
Shire of Broome
Broome, Western Australia, May 2010
PageS
ZERO HOUR IN BROOME
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Albany
Western Australia showing military airfields and points ofi nterest in early 1942. The "northwest~
as described in this publication, is generally taken to mean the area between Port Hedland
and Wyndham.
Page 6
ZERO HOUR IN BROOME
Introduction
Zero Hour in Broome is the product of a desire by the authors to examine the wartime
events in northwestern Australia at the start of 1942, with an emphasis on early-war
types of aviation. While key individual events have been examined in some detail by earlier
researchers, this is the first publication to combine them under a broader perspective. The
authors are indebted to the earlier work of Merv Prime and William Tyler in regard to the 3
March attack, and to Bill Loane in regard to the ship Koolama. As these writers in particular
had contacted relevant veterans in the 1980s and 1990s, no attempt was made to replicate this.
Early on it became apparent that many aspects of the subject matter had been very thinly
researched, to the extent that the Australian Official History of the World War II was a
universal source. However, this version contained inaccuracies, the worst of which was a gross
overestimation of the number of Dutch evacuees being airlifted through Broome. Another
issue was the Official History giving disproportionate attention to the Qantas experience.
While probably not the original intention, the result was a somewhat skewed version of events.
Perhaps the most serious omission was the failure to convey the complete and total lack of
organisation in regard to the flying boats, which contrasted with the reasonably efficient
evacuation centre run by the USAAF in conjunction with land-plane evacuations. From a
broader perspective, the lack of initiative conveyed by General Plant's short-lived Western
Command is a key finding.
Coverage begins loosely with the start of the Pacific War but in particular from early February
1942 when the first Java-Broome flight was made. All of the Japanese aerial activity over WA
during 1942 is covered, through to the third attack on Broome in August. On land the period
covered is through to mid-April, when a reorganisation of the Home Army took place and 3
Corps took over in W A. Also, from that time invasion fears generally subsided. A fascinating
selection of aircraft were involved in the northwest operations, and much detailed information
has been provided in this regard. For some readers this may be a lesser interest, in which case
the narrative can be read independently.
The authors wish to thank Kylie Jennings and the volunteers of the Broome Historical Society
for providing free access to their archives. Thanks also to Brett Lappan at the Shire of Broome
and David Vincent for providing aviation photographs; and Ron and Pat Lewis, and Kaylene
Anderson for their comments on the draft. ~
Page 7
ZERO HOUR IN BROOME
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_ ~I? Approximate
Location FI i
_ 80 Wrecks
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Indian
Ocean
o 1 mI ile Roebuck Bay
Broome and approaches, 1942, showing where the flying boats were destroyed.
PageS