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HERITAGE SERIES SECRET ACTION OF 305 SMITH &COGHLAN

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SECRET ACTION OF 305

TH E STORY OF RAAF RADAR STATION NO. 305 IN TH E WAR WITH JAPAN

by Norm Smith and Frank Coghlan DEFENCE INFORMATION SERVICES Defence Library Service CALL No. 9*0 Simpson Barracks MACLEOD Vic. 3085 CONTROL No...... —

CRN DEFENCE INFORMATION SERVICES

Q09671183 Royal Australian Air Force Museum First published in 1989 by Royal Australian Air Force Museum RAAF Base Point Cook Vic 3029 Australia

Secret Action of 305. Written in Australia by W.N. Smith 93 Pacific Highway MURWILLUMBAH 2484 and Ron Ackerley Bruce Aldrich Doug Bottger Ernie Brennan F.P.J. Coghlan 5 Laurie Road MANLY VALE 2093 both of whom served with 305 Radar Station during 1942/1943 Copyright © W.N. Smith and F.P.J. Coghlan 1987 Printed in Australia by Impact Printing (Vic) Pty Ltd

National Library of Australia ISBN 1 86252 594 3 George Campbell Tom Connor John Freeman Ray Kelly All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher

Alan McLeod Les Martin ‘Mick’ Sheehy Norm Smith 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We sincerely thank the Australian War Memorial and the RAAF Historical Section for access to their records; former personnel of No. 305 Radar Station for their memories and diary extracts; and our wives, Merle and Penny, for their patience and understanding in the years we have spent on this project. Willing assistance and encouragement was also given by:- Keith Bishop, Charles Hammer, Dr William A. Land, Noel McCormack, Rev. Dr Gordon Powell, M.C.W. (‘M ac’) Rich, Max Sutherland, John J. White (Qantas). Graphic artwork and proof-reading were carried out by Birgit, Lynda and Carolyn Smith and to them we express our gratitude. Norm Smith and Frank Coghlan CONTENTS

PART ONE 11 FOREWORD 13 INTRODUCTION 15 1 MOBILIZATION 22 2 OUTWARD BOUND 31 3 NO. 305 RADAR STATION PERSONNEL JANUARY 1943 38 4 INSTALLATION ON GOODENOUGH 39 5 OPERATION ON GOODENOUGH 51 6 LIFE ON GOODENOUGH 60 7 MAINTENANCE 71 8 STATION DEFENCE 73 9 EMERGENCY 74 10 HANDOVER — TAKEOVER 84 PART TWO FOREWORD 93 11 ABOARD ‘WILL WATCH’ 95 12 INSTALLATION ON KIRIWINA 102 13 KIRIWINA CAMP 105 14 LAND AND PEOPLE 108 15 THE GREAT FIRE 114 16 SECOND EMERGENCY 117 17 VISITORS 120 18 OPERATIONS ON KIRIWINA 124 19 TECHNICAL MATTERS 127 20 HEALTH AND RECREATION 129 MISCELLANY 135 ROLL OF PERSONNEL WHO SERVED ON 305 IN PNG 143 APPENDIX No. 305 RADAR STATION IN JAPAN WITH BCOF147 PART ONE his is an account of the life of a small Australian Radar Station during World War II. It has brought back to me Tvivid memories of an important period of my life, and I am grateful to the authors for inviting me to write a Foreword. For me, acceptance by the R.A.A.F. and enlistment as a Radar Officer marked a very important transition, from the status of an ex-refugee who had escaped from Hitler’s Germany and been received with great hospitality, first in England, then in Australia, to a full member of his adopted country. When the war started I felt I had several kinds of debt to settle, and I tried — at first unsuccessfully — to join the Australian forces. But after I had obtained my naturalization papers in 1941, this became easier. My great teacher, the English physiologist A.V. Hill had written to me about ‘radiolocation’ the new method of detecting and locat­ ing aircraft by reflexion of radio pulses. Professor Hill had himself been one of the three members of the Tizard Com­ mittee which had initiated the whole development of radar as early as January 1935. My teacher probably thought that I might find employment in radar research, but this did not seem practical nor did it appeal to me, and I felt happy when I was allowed to join the R.A.A.F. and to be trained as a Radar Officer. I was, and I still am, grateful to the team of young Aus­ tralians, assembled as No. 305 RDF Station, for accepting me with ease, in spite of my obvious foreign antecedents, and for making our collaboration so successful, in spite of sometimes rather trying circumstances. Of course, we had our periods of frustration — this was unavoidable in an advanced and isolated position, but over all there was an excellent spirit of companionship, an awareness that we were all doing something useful, indeed something of vital importance in an active theatre of war. After I left the unit, I visited many other Radar Stations, and I found the same happy team spirit at almost all of them. And I was most impressed and glad to see how very well that spirit had been recaptured in this splendid

London, July 1986 Authors’ Note Bernard Katz was the first Commanding Officer of No. 305 Radar Station. He is now Sir Bernard Katz and Professor Emeritus at the Department of Biophysics, University College London. In 1970 he was co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. INTRODUCTION

y 1940 Britain had a highly developed radio location system in­ Bstalled along its coastline. A chain of early warning stations was able to detect aircraft or surface vessels approaching its shores by day or night, irrespective of weather conditions. Limited resources of fighter aircraft could thus be deployed to best advantage. Radar (radio detection and ranging) as it became known had far reaching implications in the prosecution of the war and conse­ quently its circuitry, performance and very existence were closely guarded secrets. The British made the new technology available to selected Allied scientists and armed services personnel of whom they demanded the most stringent security requirements. The surging southward thrust of the Japanese war machine in December, 1941, created a great sense of urgency in upgrading the defences of Australia and one consequence of this was that, by the end of 1942, radar technology had become a vital factor in the Aus­ tralian war effort. Manufactured equipment had been procured from England, the United States of America and Canada while Australian scientists and engineers had devised and produced a very satisfac­ tory early warning radar device. Radar was used in the following ways in the defence of Australia:- 1. Early warning of the approach of hostile aircraft or surface vessels. 2. Control of aircraft for the interception of the enemy. 3. Gun laying as applied to shore, anti-aircraft and ships’ guns. 4. Searching for ships and submarines using airborne equipment. 5. Navigation. In the beginning the men who installed and maintained the ra­ dar units were qualified engineers and other skilled persons drawn from the electronic and allied industries. Since the number of such persons available was limited, an imaginative programme for the training of suitable recruits was formulated. Towards the end of 1941 the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Serv­ ices recognised the need for early warning radar equipment that could be dismantled and packaged in such a way that it could be manhandled and transported on land or by aircraft (especially the 16 17

Douglas DC3) or small landing barge. Additionally, it needed to be capable of reliable operation in conditions of high temperature and humidity in tropical areas. It was to be operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to meet the particular requirements of that service. In Sydney the research scientists of the Radio Physics Laboratory, an adjunct of the Commonwealth Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (later CSIRO), were charged with the development of the electronic equipment and manufacturers were engaged to produce it. The lightweight manually rotatable aerial array was constructed in the workshop of the special radar annexe of the New South Wales Government Railways. The framework was fabricated from light metal tubing and could be readily assembled using a minimum number of bolts. The end result was a lightweight air warning apparatus designated LW/AW Mark 1 which proved to be the most successful of its kind to be operated in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II. Simultaneously with the development of the LW/AW radar, select­ ed recruits were trained in basic fitting, electrical technology and radio transmitter and receiver servicing at the RAAF No. 1 School of Technical Training (No. 1STT] based at the old Exhibition Building and using the facilities of the Melbourne Technical College. Similar courses of training were commenced at other places such as Ultimo, Sydney. The intensive training of these men was completed at the Radar School in a high security compound at the Richmond RAAF Base west of Sydney. This final programme of training included the circuitry and operation of the various types of radar already in use in Australia as well as that of the new LW/AW not yet in service. Radar operators were also trained at Richmond. These were recruits or remustered personnel such as wireless operators and wireless air gunners whose aptitude tests had shown them to have the superior skills required for this work. They had been told that they would be engaged in highly secret operations, the details of which were restricted by most stringent security provisions. A number of these radar mechanics and operators were sent via embarkation depots to No. 1 RAAF Personnel Pool (No. 1RPP) encamped in the bush near the Ross River a few miles west of Towns­ ville. From this pool came the technical personnel for several radar stations to be temporarily set up on a testing basis at Kissing Point on the Townsville waterfront before moving to Papua New Guinea. As it was intended to operate many of these newly developed The LW/AW MK1 radar with its manually rotatable array was a triumph /or radar units within the sphere of enemy activity and in isolated Australian designers. This was the type of equipment used by No. 305 fladar situations there was a need for suitable commanding officers. The Station. The BL4 equipment was added while the station was at Kiriwina. positions called for men trained in logistics, versed in RAAF administration and capable of giving leadership in a combat situa­ tion if the need arose. Commissions were offered to men pursuing scientific studies in 18 19

No. 5 Radio Mechanics Course. These airmen were billeted in the old Exhibition Building shown in the background while studying at the Melbourne Technical College. Several of them served with No. 305 Radar Station. No. 14 RDF (Ground] Mechanics Course. Among this group photographed beside No. 1 H angar at Richmond aerodrome are several who later served with No. the various Australian universities and persons with science degrees. 305 R adar Station. Among those who accepted the challenge was a physiologist from University College, London, then doing research work at Sydney Hospital. He was Dr Bernard Katz, M.D. (Leipzig), PH.D., D.Sc. (London). After completing a course in RAAF administration at Ormond College, Melbourne, he spent a short orientation period at No. 13 Radar Station at Cape Otway where P/O R.L. Harrison was in command. P/O B. Katz was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 305 Radar Station while P/O Young and P/O Harrison were assigned to Nos 304 and 306 respectively. The rank of P/O (Pilot Officer) was the usual entry rank for those receiving commissions in the RAAF. It is proposed to record the story of No. 305 Radar Station. After the fall of Rabaul to the Japanese in 1942 the Royal Australia Navy had set up and supported the ‘Coast Watchers’. These were, in the main, men who had lived in the islands pre-war and were familiar with the environment and the people. From precarious van­ tage points these intrepid men reported, by radio, movements and concentrations of enemy ships, aircraft and troops. Nearer to, but well forward of the Allied bases, the Australian Army placed the ‘Spotters’ along the north coast of New Guinea, among the D’Entrecasteau Islands, the Trobriand Islands and the islands east of Milne Bay as far as Woodlark Island. Members of These Hadar Operators completed training at Richmond 9-3-42. Several served the First Australian Army Signals were placed in these areas during with 305 Radar Station. the period April to August 1942 by Captain M.C.W. (Mac) Rich and Lieutenant Ivan Champion. Both of these officers were members of 20 21

ANGAU which was the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit kilometres) inside Japanese-controlled territory and was not made formed at the outbreak of war to be responsible for the administra­ safe from enemy attack until the American forces secured Kiriwina tion of those parts of Papua and New Guinea not in enemy hands. in the Trobriand Islands towards the end of June of that year. Mac and Ivan were long term residents of the Territory, familiar The spur for the publication of this story may be found in the with its people and places. For the important work of establishing book TWO STEPS TO TOKYO published in 1945 and written by The spotter outposts and rescuing downed airmen they sailed the M.Y. Rev. Dr Gordon Powell with whose kind permission the following LAURABADA. This motor yacht was formerly used by the Lieutenant- extract is quoted. Referring to 305 he wrote:- Governor of Papua and got its name from the native word for ‘South “These boys were a gallant band and to them, and to many like East Trade Wind’. them, Australia owes a colossal debt. Part of the price which they It was the task of the RAAF to introduce the revolutionary new gladly paid was that their work should be utterly secret and, for technique of radar into this system of reporting from advanced posi­ the most part their next-of-kin did not know where they were or what tions and, in so doing, complete a screen forward of the Allied bases they were doing. When the time comes to lift the veil of secrecy, that the Japanese would have great difficulty in penetrating without it is to be hoped that all these boys (because most of them were detection. Without the valued support of ANGAU in organising na­ very young) will receive the recognition deserved. The establishment tive assistance and co-operation these RAAF operations would have of their pioneer unit was typical of the life they all faced.” been much more difficult. This is the story of No. 305 Radar Station which was one of The compilers of this history, ex F/Sgt radar mechanic Norm the first to assume an aggressive role when it was thrust into ‘No Smith and ex Sgt radar operator Frank Coghlan, served with 305 Man’s Land’ on the northernmost point of Goodenough Island early during its pioneer operations. in January 1943. At this time 305 was some eighty miles (130

MV LAURABADA used by Mac fiich and Ivan Champion to place Army 'Spotters' at vantage points in the islands north of Milne Bay.______22 23 to check. Paint was used to mark all packages with ‘305 RS’ and a serial number. An inventory of the contents of each package was made out in duplicate. P/O Katz was supplied with a fireproof strong 1 box for the custody of classified documents. The final accumulation of gear was packed in such a way that there were only five items MOBILIZATION that could not be carried comfortably by one or two men. Radar equipment supplied to No. 306 Radar Station was uncrat­ ed at Kissing Point so that the technical personnel of the three sta­ tions could have experience in its erection. Towards the end of November, with preparations for departure n October 1942 the RAAF ‘Pool’ near the Ross River, several miles complete, radar mechanic Joe Lynam (not to be confused with Noel) Iwest of Townsville, was comprised of a large number of tents of No. 306 Radar Station invited members of the three stations to surrounding messing facilities all scattered among regrowth trees. a farewell party at the home of his parents at 131 Francis Street, With the seasonal storms the area alternated between a dust bowl Townsville. There was much appreciation shown for this hospitality and a wetland. From there the personnel of various musterings were as, for most of them, it was the last time they were to step inside temporary members of a labour camp, travelling to and from the a home again for upwards of two years. busy wharves at Townsville where they manhandled the thousands Excitement ran high among the twenty four members of No. 305 of forty four gallon (200 litre) drums filled with fuel needed for the Radar Station as they were assembled on the Townsville waterfront war effort. on the morning of 2 December 1942. There they went aboard the Radar mechanics Keith Blundell, Bob Lawson, Ray Kelly and ‘CORIOLANUS’, a Short Empire flying boat, the civilian version of Norm Smith were relieved to be posted to No. 305 Radar Station the Short Sunderland, owned and operated by QANTAS. P/O B. Katz as were radar operators Noel Lynam, Alan McLeod, Allen Nichols, remained behind in Townsville to obtain several outstanding items ‘Tassy’ Viney and Jack Williams. During November P/O Bernard Katz of equipment and to ensure that all items were forwarded by Doug­ took these men from the ‘Pool’ each day on a search for supplies las DC3 to Ward’s strip near Port Moresby. mission among the various depots in and around Townsville for all those items required to set up an early warning (LW/AW) radar sta­ tion — some thirty tonnes all told. Meanwhile there were more postings to the unit of radar opera­ tors, wireless operators, a cook, a messman, and a fitter. The cook, Tom Connor, and the messman, Mick Sheehy, worked with others of the same musterings to provide the midday meals at Kissing Point, on the sea front at Townsville, where Nos 304, 305 and 306 Radar Stations were being assembled simultaneously. Many of the items required for forthcoming operation in Papua New Guinea, were not readily available but P/O Katz pursued every source of supply with great persistence. For example, after all nor­ mal efforts had failed to secure much needed mosquito nets he went higher up the ranks of command until he received the required num­ ber of nets which were withdrawn from issue to the Women’s Aux­ iliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) stationed in Townsville. Much of the technical equipment was received packed in transit cases but there were many small items that had to be put in standard pine packing cases with screwed lids and rope carrying handles more suited for human carriers in the jungle. The Commanding Officer saw to it that every care was exercised in packing such fragile We flew from Townsville to Port Moresby in this Qantas flying boat. items as electronic valves even to the extent of unpacking a case 24 25

The flying boat surged noisily across the water with Magnetic Radar Station at Dobadura near Buna on 29 December. From that Island to starboard and Castle Hill to port. Finally it struggled into station, as his replacement, came experienced mechanic Bill Hum­ the air to make its way northward at an altitude of about three thou­ phries who joined us on 2 January 1943. Barney Toomey, nursing sand metres. For the time being there was no feeling of going to orderly, also joined the unit. He had been on No. 18 Training Course war for the airmen as the magnificent spectacle of the Great Barri­ at No. 1 RAAF Hospital at Laverton and had done additional train­ er Reef, beset on the eastern eastern extremities by the foaming ing on the treatment of tropical diseases. white fringe of the Coral Sea, was revealed below them. After a He came to No. 305 from the hospital at Seven Mile Strip out from brief stop at Cairns the Australian coastline soon disappeared to Port Moresby. The final but very important postings to the unit were be replaced some three hours later by a view of the Owen Stanley the five guards bringing the unit strength to one officer and twenty Range supporting a massive overlay of cumulus clouds. Perhaps the nine other ranks ranging in age from 17 to 35 but mostly 19 and most striking thing about the terrain around Port Moresby, to the 20 year olds. newcomers, was the natural contour line well down the mountain On his arrival at Port Moresby P/O Katz mustered all hands at side where the rain forest ceased rather abruptly and the hills, clad Ward’s Strip to make a thorough check of the equipment. The work with kunai grass and scattered eucalyptus trees staggered down coincided with an extremely heavy downpour of rain which flooded to the shore through a haze of heat. the whole area. There was a frantic scramble to raise all gear above On disembarkation the airmen were billeted at Konedobu, in ground level while keeping it covered at the same time. The men galvanized iron huts, near the base of ‘Ack Ack Hill’ so named for worked feverishly and none more energetically than Tom King who an obvious reason. Adjacent to these quarters was open land had undressed and placed his clothes in a dry place. He was, of unceremoniously scarred by slit trenches which were covered by course, offered good-natured advice on the precautions to be taken timber and dirt leaving an opening at one end. Some barbed wire to protect vital parts of his anatomy when packing heavy cases. A entanglements were strung along the foreshores. tent was erected near the equipment and a slit trench dug nearby. That evening high-flying Japanese bombers raided Port Moresby The men were rostered in pairs for guard duty at the airstrip while and the new arrivals stood around outside the huts to watch the the unit remained at Port Moresby. Slit trenches were a must as 3.7 inch (94 millimetres) anti-aircraft guns in action. The enemy planes the Japanese often dropped bombs in that area. flew directly overhead and soon whirring pieces of shrapnel from Frank and Eddie were mounting guard at the strip one night the exploded shells, falling all around, jolted the men into motion when the Japs dropped ‘stick bombs’. These were anti-personnel towards the safety of the covered trenches until now disregarded bombs fitted with a stick which protruded from the nose of the mis­ as something for the faint of heart. One airman’s dash ended abruptly sile causing it to explode about a metre above the ground spreading when he was engulfed in a hole he failed to spot in the darkness. shrapnel in all directions. Some Americans dived for cover, face Alan McLeod ran pell-mell into the barbed wire entanglements and down in a shallow drain at the edge of the airstrip. Unfortunately had difficulty in extricating himself. He sported some painful their rear ends were no lower than ground level and several were scratches and claimed the doubtful honour of being the station’s nicked on the fleshy part of the buttocks. The Australians were sur­ first war casualty. Thereafter, when the air raid siren sounded, a prised next day when these wounded were lined up on parade and much more dignified approach was made to the safety of the trenches. each presented with the Purple Heart decoration. Three of the original postings to the unit left it at Port Moresby. Stopover time in Port Moresby was a busy period for Doug Bott­ Fitter G. Booker was replaced by J. Groome and stores clerk S. ger as there was much paper work to be done. He was the senior Warburton was replaced by clerk Doug Bottger. Radar operator W. airman and had seen action at Milne Bay, Papua, where Australians Sullivan was posted to another unit on 29 December. Two experienced inflicted the first land defeat on the Japanese. That experience, with radar operators were posted to the station. Frank Coghlan and Eddie No. 75 Squadron, had made him conscious of many of the problems Collon had operated the American MAWD (Modified Aircraft Warn­ our station was likely to encounter. Doug was also instructed at the ing Device) of No. 103 Radar Station on Stradbroke Island, east of Headquarters Wing at Port Morseby in the use of a secret code for Brisbane, before going north to operate the English-manufactured communication between the radar station, its base and fighter con­ equipment of Radar Station No. 26 at Cape Cleveland near Towns­ trol sector. There were 31 encoding cards — one for each day of ville. Becoming bored with the inactivity at Cape Cleveland they any month — which were shuffled each morning and one chosen applied to be posted to Papua New Guinea and were sent to No. at random. Within the first few groups of any transmitted message 305. Radar mechanic Ernie (Curley) Brennan was posted to No. 50 was hidden the key identifying the card in use that day. This system 26 27 was not very flexible as it did not permit one radar station to communicate directly with another. Therefore, it was not long be­ fore a new code was introduced specifically for radar stations and i t . jsiio t H£2taaa McnharA J&ta X''A5P5l.) known as ‘RADMIN’, an acronym of radar administration. Station P/O Katz knew that the radar gear was to be put ashore from ..Ci£Sioar: .Qom wanting JlQ.. .30.5 .Imiq .... at present a ship and no landing facilities would be available. He discussed locatsd in _-apua a 'ree as follows that:- this matter with P/O Keith Bishop (Flying Officer the rank next above 1 . In consideration of the Service Institute Pilot Officer) who had been directed to assist with the installation of No. 21 (Base) Wins, 521 R.A.A.F., Port Moresby, advancing the Service Institne of . .No,.3Q5.39419.Station of the station. The upshot was that F/O Bishop and his men prefabri­ ______----rT77-the sum of 7777777777---- cated a raft using eight 44 gallon (200 litre) empty fuel drums en­ I will guarantee the repayment: of that amount in closed in a bolted hardwood framework. This was done at No. 138 accordance with Section 2 herejf. Radar Station, a Canadian-manufactured unit sited at Waigani swamp not far from Port Moresby for ground controlled interception so advancedrvancer3 —will be repaid---- i.a‘eash on or before the PIBSI’IBSI.IWr.PF.WW.W^r if ihe ft1.1? ...... (GCI) of aircraft. The raft was suitably marked for speedy reassembly ...... is movted from the administration and dismantled for transportation. of Bo. 21 (Base) Wins, R.A.A.F. , Port Moresby prior to the 1/ 6/19 43 , then the repayment will be effected Bernard Katz also gave thought to the welfare of the men under prior to the date of that removal. his control and applied to No. 21 Base Wing, RAAF, Port Moresby, 3. ’ .That at all times a careful check will be for an advance of funds to purchase stock so some limited luxury kept over the Service Institute purchases in order to items such as sweets, tobacco and cigarettes could be available when ensure that unsaleable lines are not accumulated and the station was established. thereby cause losses to the Service Institute. The amount granted initially was thirty pounds (sixty dollars) but 4* " In the event of ray handing over the co x,land of .3Q5 .59349 ...... this guarantee following his strong representation this was increased to eighty will form part of the Hand Over•- Take Over effected. pounds (160 dollars) on 25 December. Immediately before departure from Moresby a pay parade was arranged so that the men would have cash to make purchases. To further ensure the success of the mission P/O Katz approached the officer-in-charge of ANGAU in Port Moresby for advice and any Ciominanding No. 303 Radio Station assistance that might be forthcoming. As a result of this approach sl A, A. P. , ANGAU issued the following directive:- Port Iloresby, PAPUA. AUSTRALIA!? UTLITAJT^ V0RC3M.

A.N.G., 16 .-DSC 42* TO ALL 0.0*3. A.D.O'g. AND P.O1*. -• • -4-.V $t, appreciated IT all possible

assistance be rendered to Pilot Officer KATZ* the bearer of this meao.

X. 4 Major. P.P.S. 2 2 /s ->

~[) £ • Kv ^ ^ *-3

%^.~n t ^ ly wtO. ^ /<^Trro f! H 28 29

A supply of trade tobacco was also obtained being the standard the rear of the truck hung over space and the rear wheels were currency for payment of indentured native labour at that time. It perilously close to the edge. The driver was quite blase about his was in individual tightly twisted black sticks, about twelve cen­ daily trip up and down the mountain but we noticed that the door timetres long and one centimetre thick. Attractively coloured labels had been removed from the truck cabin on the driver’s side. Radar bearing a likeness of Lord Beaconsfield (Disraeli] and marked ‘Em­ operator Ray Burton went up to the Kokoda Trail in search of his pire Brand’ and ‘Made in Virginia’, adorned the tobacco cartons. brother, Harry. After much footslogging and many enquiries he lo­ Tom Connor and Mick Sheehy worked in the cook house and cated his brother at a Staging Camp waiting to rejoin his unit on mess at Wing Headquarters while the station was in Port Moresby. the Trail. Harry Burton was opening his Christmas parcels when Tom had to requisition sufficient rations from the Army Store to pro­ Ray located him. Likewise radar mechanic Bob Lawson successfully vide for the men over a period of one month after moving to the found his brother, the meeting being a morale booster for both of operating site. The supply was made up of canned bully beef, canned them. A number of us clambered down to the base of the spectacu­ M&V (meat and vegetables], canned fish (‘pregnant goldfish’ as it lar Rouna Falls and swam in the turbulent water. was christened because of the predominance of gritty fish eggs rather Christmas Day 1942 was spent pleasantly enough at the RAAF than flesh), canned fruit, canned vegetables, powdered egg, pow­ Headquarters mess and from then on the men were required to be dered milk, dehydrated mutton, dried fruit, sugar, salt, tea, cocoa ready to move at short notice. and a large quantity of army biscuits. These latter items were flat­ tered by the name biscuits as they were more akin to four centimetre squares of plywood but claimed to be more nourishing. Tom was an opportunist with an eye for a good deal and was able to barter some of the above supplies for a large drum of flour on which, there­ after, he kept a close watch. Nineteen year old Barney Toomey, nursing orderly, who was to be in charge of the men’s health requirements for the next few months was issued with nothing more than a basic first aid kit. There was no morphine or any other effective pain killing drug although the risk of severe accidents had to be deemed high and there was the distinct possibility of wounds due to enemy action. No item was provid­ ed for dental care. Fortunately we did have supplies of the new ‘wonder drug’ sulphanilamide which proved to be extremely valuable. Before the end of December, the station was ready to move and it was a matter of waiting for a suitable small ship. Advantage was taken during this wait to give the men combat drill. This vigorous activity in the hot and humid conditions caused feet problems. Noel Lynam was still hospitalized when the unit left Port Moresby. With time on their hands the men moved about Port Moresby and the hinterland hitch-hiking on the endless stream of American transport trucks driven at hair raising speed by ever-obliging Ameri­ can negroes. Some of the men visited the two RAAF radar stations operating near Port Moresby. No. 29 Radar Station was an Australian- made unit, forerunner of the LW/AW, situated on a hill overlooking the area. The other was the GCI station at Waigani swamp. Some of the men ventured up into the mountains as far as the commence­ ment of the Kokoda Trail. On this trip up the mountain the truck driver had to negotiate a notorious corner cut into the cliff face and where the road turned back on itself so acutely that the truck could not go around on full lock. Reversing was necessary so that 30 31

2 OUTWARD BOUND

y the end of December the airmen were becoming tired of the Binactivity but their enthusiasm resurfaced when it was announced that Nos 304 and 305 Radar Stations were about to move farther afield. On 5 January a loading party was despatched to Ward’s Strip while the remainder of the personnel proceeded to the wharf to receive the loads of equipment and stack it in the hold of a grey- painted motor vessel of modern appearance owned by Burns Philp & Co. Ltd and flying the British flag. The M.V. MULIAMA, displace­ ment 700 tonnes, length 52.7 metres, beam 9.5 metres and draught 4.1 metres, had been built in Hong Kong in 1937 by the Wampoa and Hong Kong Dock Co. Ltd. Wearing shorts and boots only, the airmen, bare backs glisten­ ing with perspiration, toiled in the sauna-like conditions within the hold, forward of the bridge, stacking the gear under the watchful eye of the bosun. When the loading was completed and the hatches secured the airmen, with their kit and firearms, were accommodat­ ed on the partly covered after deck. F/O Keith Bishop and five men of his No. 2 Mobile Installation Unit also boarded the ship after load­ ing the landing raft. After slipping her moorings at 0800 hours on Wednesday, 6 January 1943, the M.V. MULIAMA left the protected waters of Port Moresby, passed through the outer reef and set a course for Milne Bay. Mountainous seas from that breeding place of cyclones, the Coral Sea, were rolling in onto the southern coast of Papua New Guinea. The sturdy vessel plunged into each wave as it rushed at her on the starboard bow, rose buoyantly with water cascading over the bows and, with a rolling motion, impaled the next wall of water. Blown salt spray swept the vessel from stem to stern. Initially this was all very exhilarating but by midday only those few men who were able to withstand the sickening gyrations of the ship accepted the meal of steaming hot M&V. Most were either sitting forlornly around the deck with white resolute faces or claiming frontage at the port railing where the prevailing wind ensured that they didn’t get their own back. Built by Harland and Wolff of Glasgow, Scot­ land, the seven cylinder oil-burning engine had to muster all of its 148 horses to drive the vessel into the teeth of the adverse seas and wind. 32 33

Mounted on a platform above the bridge was a rather inade­ quate looking defence facility in the form of a solitary Bren gun. This gun had to be manned and when Eddie and Frank climbed up onto the pitching platform to do their stint the former, much to Frank’s amusement, soon changed colour as he was overcome by sea sick­ ness. Laughter, however, was short lived as they were both soon hanging over the rail. The following morning a number of distraught men were recumbent near the scuppers where they had spent the night in genuine distress unprotected from the elements and soaked to the skin. Toilet facilities could only be described as primitive. Much acrobatic talent was required to project the rear end of one’s anatomy over the side of the pitching ship whilst desperately grasping the steel hawser of the ship’s railing. Later on the second day the seas abated somewhat and as the vessel turned northward into China Strait there was a revival of activity on board. We slipped by the beautiful island of Samarai with its encircling strand of coral sand overhung by coconut palms. As it proceeded into the reaches of Milne Bay the M.V. MULIAMA came under the surveillance of No. 301 Radar Station estalished at Kanakopi on the southern shore of the bay. A normally air-borne ASV (air to surface vessel) radar unit had been adapted for ground The radar station was transhipped at Gili Gili wharf. The M.V. ANSHUN is shown use and set up with a y&gi antenna system (similar to a present day half-submerged having been shelled by a Japanese warship. television antenna). The main objective of the station was to monitor surface vessels entering Milne Bay. This had become desirable as, the airmen toiled continuously to store all the equipment in the hold on several occasions, Japanese cruisers had entered the bay under of the S.S. TUNG SONG completing the work by 0400 hours on cover of darkness and shelled the foreshores. No. 302 Radar Station Saturday morning. Being exhausted and hungry the men opened a was operated with similar equipment at East Cape, the north eastern case of canned food branded ‘Ardmona’ expecting to enjoy a can extremity of the bay. Later when these stations had completed their of peaches or pears. Keith Blundell confidently used his bayonet role in the war effort their numbers were assigned to LW/AW sta­ to open a can but found it to contain carrots! A factory that normally tions which operated elsewhere. On Friday, at 1800 hours, the M.V. canned fruits had diversified to meet the needs of war. MULIAMA tied up at Gili Gili wharf near the half-submerged M.V. The S.S. TUNG SONG had a distinctive oriental name and ap­ ANSHUN which had been sunk during an incursion of the harbour pearance. The high wooden bridge resembled the facade of a joss by Japanese warships. house; the whole contraption standing high out of the water present­ The rigours of the voyage from Port Moresby made it imperative ed a top-heavy appearance. It had a gross tonnage of 558, a length that the men have some undisturbed rest to recuperate. They slept of 56 metres, a beam of 8.86 metres and drew only 3 metres of water where they disembarked — on the ground, on top of kit bags or cargo making it suitable for transporting the radar personnel and equip­ or wherever they could lie down as exhaustion overtook them. The ment through shallow waters and coral reefs to their respective malaria rate at Milne Bay at that time among Allied servicemen destinations. The propulsion plant had been modified from coal to was around eighty per cent. It would seem almost certain that those oil burning. of us who had not already contracted malaria certainly did so that The six cylinder steam engine had been produced by the Taikoo night as the mosquitoes were unrelenting. The Japanese co-operated Dockyard and Engineering of Hong Kong and was rated at 47 horse and did not send their aircraft to raid Milne Bay that night — a power (35 KW). This boat which flew the British flag was manned distinct possibility at the time. Revitalised, the men commenced un­ by merchant seamen, most of them Chinese. loading the equipment onto the wharf at first light the following day, At 0800 hours 9 January, 1943 the loaded ship left Gili Gili bound the work being completed at 1800 hours. After the evening meal 34 35

for Normanby Island where No. 304 Radar Station was to be sited. A lookout was established and the twin barrelled .50 inch calibre machine gun mounted on the stern was manned. Everyone hoped that the rather weak defences of the boat would not be put to the test during this trip through an area frequented by Japanese air­ craft the warships. However, the trip to Cape Pierson, Normanby Island, was over a calm sea, beneath a cloudless sky and with no sign of enemy air or sea activity. In retrospect it appears that the absence of Japanese aircraft in the area at that particular time may have been due to their Rabaul based aircraft being heavily engaged in the Solomon Islands where they were facing severe reverses. Conditions aboard the transport were certainly below tourist class. The smell and conditions below deck where we slept and ate were not particularly attractive. Live pigs and poultry shared the space with us and the Chinese crew. The livestock were, of course, the source of fresh meat for the crew but the odour of the animals and their droppings combined with the aroma of the ship’s laundry draped across hissing steam pipes, was hardly conducive to either pleasant dreams or hearty appetites. We dined mainly on the bananas brought aboard at Milne Bay. The unloading of the equipment and personnel of 304 was com­ pleted by dusk on Sunday, 10 January. The method of unloading the drums of fuel was to simply push them overboard and float them ashore. Following Tom Connor’s example the cook for No. 304 had also acquired a drum of flour at Port Moresby. When this was pushed overboard and promptly plummeted to the bottom of the sea Tom made some firm decisions for the care of his drum of flour. During the day the personnel of No. 305 were able to go ashore and marvel at the beauty of the land and its luxuriant tropical growth nurtured on rich chocolate coloured volcanic soil in nature’s own hot-house. F/Lt John Rundle (Flight Lieutenant, the next rank above Flying Officer) had been a missioner for the Methodist Church before he was evacuated during the Japanese attack on the islands north of Papua New Guinea. He received his commission as a Padre in the RAAF. No. 305 was going into the area where he previously had carried on his work and Padre Rundle boarded the boat at Milne Bay as his knowledge of and influence with the natives would be of great assistance. The help of the natives and their approval of the presence of the Australians was important because any ‘fifth column’ activity by disgruntled local inhabitants could easily cause the destruction of such a forward-placed small unit. On Monday the S.S. TUNG SONG proceeded to Dobu Island in the channel between Normanby and Fergusson islands. The news of the pending arrival of Padre Rundle had preceded him and when the boat dropped anchor a flotilla of overladen single outrigger ca­ noes was soon milling around it. P/O Bernard Katz and Padre John 36 37

Rundle went ashore that evening to talk with the Tongan missioner, extremity of Goodenough Island. The Japanese landing barges had Jonathan Fonua, who had bravely continued to ‘hold the fort’ despite been destroyed on 25 August by machine gun fire from the Kitty- the threatened occupation of the islands by the Japanese. Padre Run- hawks of Nos 75 and 76 Squadrons, RAAF. The edges of Mud Bay dle’s presence during the following week was one of the contributo­ were encompassed by extensive mangrove swamps in which mosqui­ ry factors to the speedy arrival of the station at its operating site toes and sand flies abounded and those fascinating throw-backs to in spite of the many difficulties encountered. pre-historic times commonly known as ‘mud-skippers’ preyed on them The boat steamed around the south of Fergusson Island into the and other small crabs and insects. Mud-skippers are actually small strait between it and Goodenough Island. As it proceeded its prob­ amphibious fishes (PERIOPHTHALMINAE) usually no more than 10 ing bow flushed out streams of flying fish which fanned out flashing centimetres long. They spend their time on the mud flats and only back the sunlight from glistening scales before re-entering the shim­ occasionally hop into a puddle to moisten their bodies. mering surface of the sea. Soon after rudely scattering a large school A suitable point for disembarkation was chosen farther up the of manta rays which resembled giant subaqueous birds the boat coast at Beli Beli near to where a small stream entered the strait. entered the shallow waters of Mud Bay and dropped anchor at 1700 The RAAF personnel were not impressed by the attitude of the mer­ hours. chant seamen who refused to man the steam winches as they regard­ Many problems confronted P/O B. Katz at this point. Although ed this as a job for stevedores. Fortunately, within our group, some the S.S. TUNG SONG was more than thirty kilometres from the desired airmen had knowledge of steam powered machinery and late that landing place the captain of the ship declared that he could not afternoon had the unloading operation well under way. Keith Bishop and would not try to take the boat any farther and that unloading and his men soon had the drum raft assembled and over the side would commence thereabouts at first light next day. It appeared into the water. A line was run ashore and in no time the raft was that the Japanese fliers were using the very high mountains of Goo­ shuttling between boat and shore. The drums of fuel were floated denough Island as a navigational check in their flights south from ashore but Tom Connor saw to it that his precious drum of flour Rabaul to attack Allied positions in Papua New Guinea so a strict received special treatment. The ship’s boat was used to take the blackout was enforced that night. The Commanding Officer had larger crates of technical equipment ashore. The loaded boat was already engaged the services of a number of native workers and manoeuvred into the small stream and the crates were slung ashore these were aboard the ship. We spent some time with them writing using a block and tackle attached to a conveniently overhanging tree as best we could, in the dark, a list of the most common words in limb. A transit camp was set up on shore and a number of the air­ the native language. Spelling was a matter of guesswork judged from men spent the night there. The unloading was completed by 1300 sounds. In the weeks that followed most of the Australians became hours the next day 33 January, which coincided with Bill Humphries’ familiar with many of these words. 21st birthday. S.S. TUNG SONG immediately departed so that the From the beginning the airmen treated the natives with respect enemy’s attention was not attracted to the landing party and for and this respect was returned with interest. A close rapport existed its own safety. between the members of 305 and the native people at all times. Stand- over tactics were never used and the natives always used the respect­ ful address of ‘Taubada’ (literally translated — tau = man — bada = big) when speaking to the Australians. A number of close friend­ ships developed between natives and airmen. One young islander, Kasiki by name, was delighted to be renamed ‘John’ as he was about thirteen, the same age as a John — brother of one of our men — back in Australia. Early next morning the foreshores were examined for a suitable landing point. The airmen were surprised to see evidence of recent military activity in the area near Mud Bay in the form of trenches and fire positions. It became known subsequently that infantry of the 2/12 Battalion had been put ashore there on 22 October, 1942, by H.M.A.S. ARUNTA to deal with survivors of the Japanese Milne Bay invasion force who had been marooned on the south eastern 38 39

4

INSTALLATION ON GOODENOUGH

PERSONNEL OF No. 305 RADAR STATION Landed on Goodenough Island he next problem to be solved was the transportation of all gear Tand personnel over difficult terrain to the proposed site or to 13 January 1943 move it by sea to the most convenient landing point. P/O Katz decided that the latter was the better alternative as he was able to acquire Commanding Officer 5051 P/O Bernard Katz ASD. the use of two mission launches which had been hidden in the area Radar Mechanics 49291 LAC Blundell K.W. under the supervision of ANGAU officer Lt. Rutledge whose base 42133 Cpl Humphries WT. was across the channel at Mapamoia on Fergusson Island. Bernard 61381 LAC Kelly E.R. Katz was given all possible assistance when he presented the memo, 61589 LAC Lawson R.O. which he had the forethought to obtain from Major Elliot-Smith (chief 43954 A/Cpl Smith W.N. administrator of ANGAUJ before leaving Port Moresby. Furthermore Radar Operators 76700 LAC Burton R.D. the native crews were adept in navigating the dangerous channels 60210 Cpl Coghlan F.RJ. among the maze of reefs. The first load was despatched on the smaller 60615 LAC Collon E.H. launch on 15 January with the advance party which landed on the 79110 LAC Freeman J.A. small beach at Cape Lahaye, a distance of more than twenty 76515 LAC Lynam N.J. kilometres north of Beli Beli. 76704 LAC McLeod A. Padre Rundle led the advance party a short distance inland to 45665 A/Cpl Nichols A.J. the village of Kwaiboga where he received an enthusiastic welcome. 31452 LAC Viney C.H. All able-bodied people in the village were recruited to help establish 58767 LAC Williams J.S. a camp for the Australians and to transport goods inland to the chosen Communications 75253 LAC Peach F.W.J. Teleg. site, a distance of more than three kilometres. Saturday 16 January 37062 LAC Sedgley H.J. W/T Op. was marked by incessant driving rain which was not unexpected 43189 LAC Simpson J.M. W/T Op. as it was the season of the north west monsoon. This made the task 43190 LAC Trotter G.R. W.O.M. of the native pilot much more difficult as he took his place at the Fitter DMT 25986 LAC Groome J.E. bow of the launch to pick a passage through the reefs. Low cloud cover hid our movement along the coast from prying Japanese recon­ Orderly Room Clerk 43002 Cpl Bottger D.I.M. naissance aircraft which could have been in the area. Medical Orderly 41320 Cpl Toomey B.H. Priority number one was to make the technical gear operational Cook 22385 LAC Connor T.J. so it was moved first of all. Crated antenna bays had to be transport­ ed on the cabin of the larger launch. This boat had a narrow beam Cook’s Assistant 36359 LAC Sheehy H.B. and a rounded bottom and listed alarmingly when weight was placed RAAF Guards 54112 LAC Ackerley R.K. on the gunwhale. Some difficulty was experienced in lifting the first 56342 LAC Campbell G.H. crate from the raft to the top of the launch’s cabin. Suddenly the 42745 Cpl King T.McK. launch and raft titled towards each other tipping the men and the 67116 LAC Martin L.L. crates into the sea. As the water was shallow no harm was done. 63014 LAC Wordsworth R.K. Once the technical equipment was moved Tom King and the other guards, Ackerley, Campbell, Martin and Wordsworth were left to 40 41

see to the movement of all other gear with the help of the natives. On Sunday morning 17 January, Keith Bishop and Tom King lift­ ed packages to the shoulders and heads of a team of carriers and, having sent them on their way, took a cooling plunge in the sea. After waiting some time they went to see why the carriers had not returned for another load. They were surprised to find the first packages taken by the natives abandoned on the track a short distance from the beach. They soon discovered that an ardent convert of the mis­ sionary, John Rundle, had harangued the carriers that Sunday morning with the theme, ‘Six days shalt thou labour,’ with such success that they dropped their loads forthwith. Keith was able to explain that exceptional circumstances existed and they finally agreed to get on with the job. By midday 18 January all equipment had been moved to Cape Lahaye and Beli Beli had been abandoned. Each airman carried his personal gear and firearms to the site at Mwananoia where the station was to be established. Along the same track walked a long line of native people of both sexes and all ages chattering, laughing and balancing miscellaneous articles on fuzzy heads with nonchalant ease. Bernard had gone ahead with the advance party to choose a site for the station and a suitable camp area. The position chosen for the radar was within an extensive expanse of man-high kunai grass about thirty metres back from where the grassy slope met up with the dense, green rainforest extending down from a 2,566 metre mountain. This point offered an arc of sweep for the radar beam of more than 200 degrees towards the north. In practice the commanding officer’s choice proved to be a very good one for the backdrop of jungle and surrounding kunai grass effectively camouflaged the installation. Some three hundred metres within the jungle, native women, under Keith’s supervision, cleared undergrowth and debris from the P/O Bernard Katz on the beach where a landing w as m ade to reach Mwananoia. selected camp site. Another band of women began weaving matting from the fronds collected from sago palms bythe native men. These men also cut poles in the forest and used them to erect the frame­ were ready for occupation. Each radar mechanic had been issued work of two large huts for living quarters and another for use as with a wooden box containing what were considered essential tools a mess hut, store and cookhouse. All joints on these structures were ‘airmen for the use of’ and the inland trek was somewhat of an secured by tying with lawyer vines — not one nail was used. A smaller endurance test as the rather heavy boxes were in addition to their hut was erected to serve as an orderly room (unit administrative personal gear, firearms, webbing and some ammunition. Everyone centre) it being the only one to have a floor, a fairly unsatisfactory was thankful that the launches were available and they didn’t have one made of round poles. A tent was erected for the Commanding to carry a lot over difficult terrain for more than twenty kilometres Officer near to the orderly room. It rained incessantly and drains from Beli Beli. had to be dug around the living quarters so that the earthen floors Nearby a clear mountain stream tumbled over water worn basal­ did not become flooded. The camp was well hidden under the rain tic rocks and a suitable pool was chosen as a place for ablutions forest canopy and to inquisitive eyes it would appear to be a native and washing of clothes. A standing order was that there be no con­ village. When the men struggled in with their belongings the huts tamination of the stream above this point as the water was to be 42

used for human consumption. Drinking water was to be stored in a galvanized iron tank brought along for the purpose and set up near the cook house. There was a general muster of airmen and natives who formed a human chain from the tank to the creek. All available buckets were filled at the stream and passed backwards and forwards along the chain until the tank was full. As all water in the tropics was regarded as unsuitable for human consumption unless proven otherwise, Barney Toomey chlorinated the water to destroy any harmful bacteria which it might contain. Subsequent tests proved that the water was free from harmful organisms. For personal use each man had an individual water purifying kit packed in a small tin about the same size as a wax vestas (waxed matches] box with a hinged lid. The box contained tablets used to purify the contents of the issue water bottle and detasting tablets to make the treated water more palatable. Within a few days a deep pit had been dug for use as a latrine and a standard open air ‘two holer’ seat positioned above it. At several vantage points around the camp site a hole was dug and filled with stones into which the spout of a large funnel was placed. These urinals were colloquially referred to as ‘Piss-a-phones’ or ‘Pee-an-olas’. Native women worited in the pouring rain to clear ground ready for the erection of huts to house the radar men.

No. 305 Badar Station was erected in a grassy area just to the left of the track close to the base of the hill. No. 2 hut completed.

The nursing orderly set hismelf up in a tent near the orderly room. The ‘hospital’ was a tent containing one folding canvas stretcher 45 44 and a mosquito net. Several native workers were assigned to the nineteen year old ‘Doc.’ to help cope with camp hygiene. Doug Bottger lived and worked in the orderly room hut. There he attended to clerical matters as directed by the C.O., encoded and decoded messages and handled the sale of our aforementioned ‘luxuries’. Trade tobacco was used to pay the village people for services rendered. The black rope-like sticks of tobacco soaked in arrack were eagerly sought. They were paid a total of fifty sticks for building a large hut and somewhat less for smaller structures. Every worker, irrespective of age or sex, was fairly paid. The native workers recruited by ANGAU were permanently employed at the station and paid by senior guard Tom King at regular intervals. Printed newspaper for rolling cigarettes was regarded as small currency. The efforts of the Australians to encourage the natives to enjoy a somewhat more hygienic smoke were fruitless. Offers of cigarette papers or No. 1 hut completed. It is also shown on page 44 as it was after being demolished sheets of toilet paper were steadfastly refused in preference for a by a falling tree during a fierce toprical storm.______sheet of newspaper. The result was a maximum of smoke with a m in im um of tobacco and a ‘cigarette’ about sixteen centimetres long.

The radar station was provided with much assistance by the people of this village. Fruit and vegetables were supplied from their gardens at regular inter­ vals. Tom Connor bartered for the produce with tinned meat and trade tobacco. The Orderly Room in the course of construction. This was Doug Bottger's domain.

After the village people had completed the programmes of con­ struction and transportation we organized a feast for them. Two laundry coppers were filled with rice and bully beef (‘bullamacow’ in pidgin English) and the glutinous mass was cooked over an open fire. This feast and accompanying sing-sing further cemented the harmonious relations between the airmen and the natives. It was hoped that, as a result, any enemy activity on the island would be reported and that is precisely what did occur some weeks later. The technical personnel were at work early on 19 January com­ mencing the installation of the radar and associated equipment which No. 1 living hut being constructed by the men from the village shown above. was being delivered by the village carriers ably supervised and 47 46 assisted by the RAAF guards. Each of the heavier crates was its selected site. Raising the tower with its attached antenna required suspended between two poles and successfully carried inland along the efforts of ‘all hands and the cook’ and it was in position by mid­ a track rendered quite slippery by heavy rain and many tramping afternoon. We were constantly annoyed by large numbers of native feet. The steep banks of a stream that had to be crossed presented bees, small black non-stinging insects, that persistently alighted on difficulties but the native boys inched the cases down and up the and crawled over bare perspiring backs. slippery slopes with much good humour and laughter. When a number of carriers were stuggling up the creek bank with the transmitter crate they lost their footings and the case came down upon an unfortunate native who had been unwise enough to have been lifting underneath the box. Everyone, including the victim, laughed uproariously.

Local head-men with F/O K. Bishop, P/O B. Katz and Cpl Doug Bottger.

Meanwhile the fitter, Jack Groome, set up the two 2.5 KVA, 240 V.AC, 50 cycle petrol-electric power units at the edge of the forest and erected a waterproof covering for them using two tarpaulins. A power line was run to the radar installation and suspended on several convenient small trees. Another line was run to provide pow­ er for light in the plotting tent. Jack Groome was a quietly efficient mechanic who chose to sleep under the same cover as his noisy charges to make sure that they gave uninterrupted power twenty There was the young village girl walking up the track with arms four hours per day. akimbo, grass skirt swaying while balancing on her head the The wireless operators and radar operators erected an American demolition box containing several kilos of TNT. Atop the box which type tent to house the radio gear and the plotting table. This tent was marked ‘explosives’ was taped a red canister containing was placed some seventy five metres from the power units because detonators. She was immediately relieved of the burden which had of the noise created by the exhausts and to prevent interference evidently been picked up, unobserved, at the beach. to the wireless communication equipment by the ignition systems John Rundle had now completed his contribution to the estab­ of the engines. Wireless-operator-mechanic [WOM] Dick Trotter lishment of the radar station and departed 20 January, soon to return strung a ‘Windom’ antenna (a simple horizontal half-wave antenna to Australia where he met an untimely and tragic death in a jeep fed off-centre) between two convenient trees to orientate the main accident. lobe towards Milne Bay, some 130 kilometres to the south. Contact The base of the LW/AW was soon assembled and set level on was made with No. 8 Fighter Control Unit at Milne Bay on 21 January. 48 49

In spite of all the checking and rechecking at Townsville and Port Moresby part of one telephone was found to be missing. Two- way communication was necessary between the operator on the radar set and his partner in the plotting-cum-wireless tent. A satisfactory system was devised by the mechanics using two dynamic earphone sets, two push-to-speak carbon microphones, a single 1.5 volt dry cell and three inter-connecting lines. When the radar equipment was checked on air for the first time it was found to have several malfunctions. The TR (transmit receive] switch was found to be set up for a type of glow gap which differed from the type supplied and the holders had to be repositioned. Several other minor adjustments had to be made. Difficulty was experienced in making waterproof the cover immediately beneath the array and much ‘Bostik’ — a sticky black sealant packaged in a tube — was used. A compass was used to fix magnetic north and the angle meas­ uring circular scale on the tower adjusted to allow for the magnetic variation from true north of 6 degrees 30 minutes east then current for that location. A special feast was held for the village people in recognition of their help. By Monday 25 January all faults had been rectified and those circuits affected by humidity dried out and stabilsed; the output of the transmitter tested fair and Bernard Katz signalled Milne Bay stating that No. 305 Radar Station was fully operational as from 1200 hours that day.

Most of these native workers came from Fergusson Is. The Australians are L to R Jack Groom, Doug Bottger, Bernard Katz, Keith Bishop and Tom King.

Radar mechanics Keith Blundell, Norm Smith, Bill Humphries, Bob Lawson and Ray Kelly erected and maintained the radar equipment. 50 51

5 OPERATION ON GOODENOUGH

mmediately after the station became operational, aircraft were Idetected at a distance of 127 miles [204 km). There were communi­ cation problems with Milne Bay from the beginning. We found this most frustrating as we had worked so hard to get the station on the air and yet were not consistently able to pass on our very valua­ ble information to Fighter Control. Bernard Katz signalled Milne Bay requesting permission to proceed there to iron out the problem. Permission was refused but there seemed to be some improvement in communications thereafter. The main problem was not so much with the wireless equipment or its management but with the Dick Trotter, Jim [Pud] Simpson, Frank Peach and Jack (Sedge) Sedgley were topographical situation, atmospheric and ionospheric conditions and responsible for wireless communication. the allotted transmission frequencies. At the relatively low frequencies used, the extremely high noise level due to electrical storms made it very difficult, at times, to receive signals. Lightning strikes were an ever present worrying hazard. Considering the con­ ditions it is abundantly clear that our wireless operators and those at Fighter Control did a fine job. To cover all possible avenues of Japanese air attack the radar operators searched an area south-west (approximately 240 degrees) clockwise through north to south-east (approximately 120 degrees). After some five or six searches of that sector a complete 360 degrees sweep was made. Thus, Japanese raids were detected from whatever direction they may have emanated. Enemy forces occupied most of the north coast of New Guinea, had their largest base in the SWPA at Rabaul, another large base at Gasmata and were, of course, still very strong in the Solomon Islands. As the station was on the main flight path between the major Japanese bases and Allied positions there was an almost uninterrupted string of plots, both hostile and friendly, being fed to Figher Control. Our operators also became adept at detecting storm centres within the range of the equipment and reports of these proved an invaluable aid to Allied pilots in evading areas of turbulence. Whilst the radar equipment had a nominal range of 130 miles (209 km) it was not uncommon to detect high flying aircraft at ranges of 150 miles to 180 miles (290 km). Unusual atmospheric conditions and temperature inversions sometimes gave freak ranges, even beyond 52 53 these limits. Permanent echoes (PE’s) were reflections from high terrain and operators performed their tasks so well that they received reports operators soon became familiar with the location of those hills and from Fighter Control such as, ‘Good work! Covering all reports from mountains which always appeared on the cathode ray tube. Addi­ you with aircraft’. The station had begun to establish a fine record tionally there were other PE’s which only appeared irregularly when of efficiency and reliability. climatic conditions varied. At Goodenough Island some of the A duty radar mechanic was in charge of each shift and was prominent PE’s came from the mountains near Cape Nelson on the held accountable to the Commanding Officer for the continued efficient discharge of duties by all members of the shift. While the New Guinea mainland and the extinct volcanoes on Fergusson Island. No PE was received from the rather large but very flat island of equipment operated normally is work load was light but in the event Kiriwina. of a malfunction he was expected to effect repairs with a minimum A continuous watch was imperative and the radar mechanics, of delay. Most faults in the electronic circuits were anticipated by radar operators and wireless operators were rostered in such a the mechanics interpreting the meter reading log which was kept with great care. They were able, in most cases, to complete appropri­ fashion that their shifts progressed systematically around the clock. ate repairs and adjustments during the daily ten minutes maintenance Originally the shift changes were at 2359, 0400, 0800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 hours but it was soon changed to 2359, 0600, 1200 and period done if and when there was no aircraft activity. Whenever 1800 hours. The men worked one shift on and two off with a longer the station was about to go off the air for maintenance the code stand down about every ten days. Two radar operators were on duty word to alert Fighter Control was ‘peanuts’. at any one time alternating between the display screen and the plot­ Installation officer, Keith Bishop, organized the camouflaging ting table. At first they changed positions each half hour but later and sand-bagging of the lower framework of the ‘Doover’ (radar set) at hourly intervals. During the changeover of operators the equip­ and so provided the operators with some protection from possible enemy attack. However this essential action worsened the already ment was manned by the duty mechanic. Indeed it was on such a poor air circulation in the darkened, humid and confined space in changeover that mechanic Ray Key detected a flight of fifty Japanese which the operators worked. To add to their discomfort, warm air aircraft which was subsequently tracked by 305 and other stations became hotter as the blower motor forced air past the cooling fins to Port Moresby where it was routed by Allied fighters. On the plotting table was a map of the area extending beyond of the ‘micro-pups’ (VT90 transmitting valves). As the heavy aerial the station’s maximum operating range. Overlaying the map was a array had to be continuously turned by hand through a geared crank perspex sheet on which a grid was etched. A long cursor, graduated the men were, most of the time, bathed in sweat. During the day in miles coinciding with the scale of the map, had the zero point shifts when an operator left the stuffy twilight zone surrounding the display oscilloscope he was hit by the glare of the tropical sun. pivoted at the position of the radar unit on the map. Lettered strips The position was rectified somewhat when dark glasses were placed along two adjacent sides of the map provided a means of identifying any one square on the grid. When the plotting operator provided for use by the operators but the problem of heat in the received the bearing and range of a target the cursor was used to confined and darkened operating area was not overcome and the mark the position on the perspex grid using a chinagraph pencil. operators suffered for the sake of efficiency in detecting targets. The square on the grid in which the mark fell was identified with The technical personnel had their time taken up with the the two appropriate letters. The operator then mentally pictured operation of the radar and ancillary equipment. Routine but the square as being divided into a 10x10 grid and estimated the nevertheless important work around the camp was in the care of position of the plot within that smaller grid identifying it with two other musterings aided by the employed ANGAU natives. In April 1942 the military administrations of the two territories (Papua and figures. A typical plot could thus be E15 0931 CH78 10 giving plot number, time, position and approximate number of aircraft. New Guinea) were combined into ANGAU which became responsible Our wireless operators worked under stress much of the time. for the administration of those parts of the country not in enemy Transmitting distance to Milne Bay was only around 130 kilometres hands. They pressed into service virtually every able-bodied native to assist in the war effort and this gave invaluable support to many but the use of frequencies above about seven megahertz was prevent­ ed as the ground wave was intercepted by high mountains and the Allied operations. At our station the ‘boys’ (at that time the general term for native skip distance prevented the use of the sky wave. Therefore lower men) attended to the cutting and carrying of wood to the cook house frequencies, which are very prone to interference by electrical storms, but had to be used. However both the wireless and radar and the general tidiness of the camp area under the direction of the guards and the cook. An outstanding leader among the boys was 54 55

one named Tomalina and, though a great exhibitionist, was a very likeable person. He delighted in the reward of a cake of ‘Siren’ laundry soap. With this and accompanied by much singing and laughter he would lather himself from head to toe in the nearby creek. When he had finished these noisy ablutions he covered his body with coco­ nut oil so that his magnificent ebony black physique was displayed to best advantage. His final cosmetic touch was the addition of two flowers to his luxuriant hair. After these final adornments he head­ ed in the direction of the nearest village with the avowed and well publicised intention of strutting his charms before the native ladies. These efforts were undoubtedly successful as he always returned to camp with much less spring in his step. Fishing excursions were the cause of great excitement among the boys and the village people who got the extras. This meant a walk to Cape Lehaye and a trip by native canoe with single outrigger to a place where schools of trevally were plentiful. One of our chaps would toss a grenade into a selected spot and usually upwards of a hundred fish, each weighing about half a kilogram, were collect­ Tomalina and friend ready to visit the local village. ed. This regular supply of fish expertly cooked by Tom Connor and his helper, Mick Sheehy, was a welcome addition to the otherwise monotonous menu. The natives refused to collect fresh water fish resembling a perch which abounded in a deep pool at the base of a waterfall up the mountain side. They were evasive when ques­ tioned and the reason for the taboo was never explained.

Morning work parade ... Cpl King, an Army guard and F/0 Bishop. Tomalina holding rifle at the slope. One grenade thrown into the creek estuary stunned many fish which were quickJy collected by the natives. 56 57

On the 26 January the station received its first visitors, Group Immediate steps were taken to establish a telephone line be­ Captain C.S. Wiggins, F/Lt Gunther and F/O Houghten who brought tween the radar station and the army headquarters at Vivigani. This with them the first mail to be received by the men since leaving line — single wire with earth return — was run by Keith Bishop Port Moresby. G/Cpt Wiggins was making a survey of radar stations and his men, several of whom were electricians. The tedium of the in the Papua New Guinea area in order to write a report now held project was broken on one occasion when one of his men climbed in RAAF records*. The promotion of our Commanding Officer to the a tree to secure the wire so that it could be suspended high across rank of Flying Officer was also confirmed. *Refer to AIR WAR a stream. He was vigorously attacked by large red ants which were AGAINST JAPAN...George Odgers. lurking among the leaves causing him to make a rather precipitous Elements of the Australian Army (Drake Force) had arrived on descent. One of the native boys then ascended the tree and secured Goodenough Island by this time and set up a base at Vivigani some the line despite the continued attention of the ants. The land line twenty two kilometres south east of the radar station. They set up was in operation on 7 February. an elaborate hoax aimed at misleading the Japanese as to the strength The Army at Vivigani had received an anti-aircraft gun and am­ of their force. Unoccupied tent camp sites were established at selected munition but no trained gun crew accompanied it. Nevertheless their points and inter-connecting tracks marked out using a Bren gun CO, Capt. McWaters, had the gun set up and asked to be informed, carrier. Washing was hung on lines and other indications of over the land line, when the next Japanese raiders were on a flight occupancy contrived. At other points bogus defence positions were path over the island. They were determined to show their objection established. Dummy anti-aircraft guns with palm tree stems to Japanese pilots who dared to fly over ‘our island’. Since the men simulating barrels were camouflaged to complete the deception. The were not trained in the use of the gun they had to lower the barrel presence of an Australian battalion, made to look like a brigade, to the horizontal to load it. Soon after we were able to inform them gave a sense of security to our members. On 3 February Lt Colin that Japanese planes were returning to New Britain on a path across Baker led 43 infantrymen of the 5th Division from Vivigani to Goodenough Island. While watching the Japanese flying over at about Mwananoia where we were located. From that time on the RAAF 7000 metres we saw two shell bursts at about half that altitude. guards were responsible for guard posts near our camp and This performance provided some entertainment for the Army and equipment while the Army men patrolled the outer perimeter and Air Force lads but, fortunately, brought no reprisal from the Japanese were encamped in the jungle some distance away. fliers who continued on their way. Lack of mail was probably the most important factor affecting morale. Bernard Katz made every effort to improve the frequency of deliveries with limited success. His patience finally ran out when he was required to meet Noel Lynam arriving on a supply boat at Vivigani. His first words to Noel were, ‘Did you bring any mail?’ When Noel shook his head and said, ‘No, but there are letters for the Army’ Bernard expressed his annoyance. Immediately he returned to camp and radioed a signal to Milne Bay, ‘Mail for Army, none for 305. Why?’ After that mail was forwarded whenever the opportunity to transport it arose. By February the RAAF base at Milne Bay had acquired the M.V. OOMOOBAH for the purpose of delivering supplies and mail to out­ lying RAAF stations among the islands. This motor vessel, a timber- hulled pleasure cruiser, taken over for service in the RAAF marine section, was owned by P.S. Arnott of biscuit fame. While it was in service in the Milne Bay area the engineer aboard was the famous pre-war New Guinea aviator, Ray Parer now grounded from flying because of age. At Milne Bay it became the often difficult task of This village headman arrived at regular intervals escorting women laden with Sgt Alan Kesby — Alan had arrived there with the pioneer group fruit and vegetables to trade with our cook. Tom Connor, in the white apron, that had established No. 37 Radar Station — to obtain and deliver w as very efficient at bartering. to the OOMOOBAH the supplies requisitioned by the outlying radar 58 59

stations in the area. The boat was armed with Oerliken guns, one Eddie and Frank were operating the ‘Doover’ on the midnight mounted on the bow and the other on the stern. to 0600 hours shift on 3 March when they plotted a single aircraft Towards the end of February the OOMOOBAH left for its first which came from the direction of Gasmata in New Britain. It circled suppy rim to our station at Goodenough. Aboard were P/O V.B. (Bruce) the island of Goodenough appearing and disappearing from the Aldrich and P/O A. Hurst who were to take over Nos 305 and 304 screen at maximum range. This flight path seemed to indicate that Radar Stations respectively after a settling-in period. The boat first the enemy reconnaissance plane was trying to pin point the radar delivered supplies to No 302 Radar Station at East Cape before station or to map its effective search area by taking field strength proceeding to No 304 at Cape Pierson, Normanby Island. Next stop readings. The next day an unidentified high flying aircraft appeared was at No. 305’s landing point which was marked by a single pole over Goodenough and it was presumed to be a Japanese reconnais­ driven into the sea-bed about fifty metres off shore at Cape Lahaye sance plane probably taking photographs. Whenever enemy aircraft west of Kikwanauta. Supplies of canned food and much welcomed flew over the island the airmen kept well under the trees. On the mail were brought ashore. With mixed feelings we said farewell to following day six Japanese bombers heading in our direction were Keith Bishop and his men when they left on the OOMOOBAH for detected by the radar. Their eventual target proved to be Vivigani Milne Bay. They had made a great contribution to the successful and no attempt was made to bomb us. Obviously the enemy recon­ establishment of our station. naissance aircraft had been unable to find either the ‘Doover’ or On 21 February 1943 all RAAF radar stations on the mainland our camp site. The latter could have been mistaken for a native village of Papua and New Guinea and the outlying islands came under the as was planned. control of No. 41 Radar Wing established on Razor Back, a ridge On 6 March another large flight of enemy aircraft was detected near Port Moresby. at 120 miles (193 km) approaching from the north to attack supplies Bernard was surprised, to say the least, when he received a coming ashore at Beli Beli. We watched the Japanese planes as they visit from Capt. Wilde, Capt. Wade and Lt. Solinger, all of the U.S. approached in their typical ‘V’ formation and as they pattern bombed Army and P/O Young of the RAAF on 24 February with the news their target. On their return from Goodenough Island to New Britain that 305 was to be replaced by an American unit. The Australian they were plotted to a range of 138 miles (222 km). station was giving excellent results and now it was being directed to repeat the performance in a still more advanced location. However the changeover did not occur until May. One of the American visitors was a surveyor and he fixed the precise position of 305 by ‘shooting’ a star and using the 7 p.m. time signal from the short wave service of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

M.V OOMOOBAH finally arrived with much needed supplies. 61 60 At night a mosquito net, well tucked in under a folded blanket, was just as important for keeping at bay snakes and spiders as well as the malaria-carrying anopheles and other species of mosquitoes. 6 These nets were really sandfly nets with a mesh much smaller than the normal mosquito net. Some were in the shape of a rectangular LIFE ON GOODENOUGH box with calico top, netting sides and calico bottom which was opened to allow access. The technique was to climb inside and tuck the bottom calico under the body thus sealing out the smallest of insects. Although effective against things that crept, crawled, slithered or flew during the night, the nets were not conducive to cool sleeping conditions. Because of this we always slept in the raw. It was also ur living quarters in the form of native huts had woven palm wise to take boots and some clothing inside the net as rather large leaf walls half way up to the overhanging gable roofs. This allowed O and vicious-looking scorpions found a ready haven in them after good ventilation and the entry of sufficient light during the day time dark. Leaving the net in the middle of the night was hazardous enough for reading and letter writing. However the thatched roofs and walls without the added problem of hostile creatures in ones boots or provided a haven for all types of denizens of the rain forest. Skinks scuttled about the earthen floors catching the patches of sunlight trousers. Even if the petrol electric power supplies could have supplied filtering through the trees. Ants invaded everything, beautifully the electricity there were neither wire nor fittings to supply light coloured butterflies floated by during the day and equally large but to the living quarters. There was no supply of torch cells and candles more sombrely decorated moths fluttered about at night. One could were used sparingly. Those men not on duty would often sit around lie beneath a mosquito net at dusk and watch a bulbous grey spider, in groups and talk in the darkness before retiring often to listen to silhouetted against the failing exterior light busily constructing a our limited source of music. Every member of 305 on Goodenough large, surprisingly strong web. His intricate geometric pattern was well remembers ‘Gandhi’ (Jack Williams) and his portable wind-up often destined to be reduced to a clinging mess as it entangled some HMV gramophone and his three 78 rpm records. Forty one years not over-amused airman going on the midnight shift. later Ray Burton said, ‘I can still hear them! ’ and immediately quoted the titles — ‘Frenesi, When a Black Man’s Blue, Five O’clock Whistle, Adios Aquita Alinda and Golden Wedding (Williams’ favourite).’ Ray Kelly referred to the first tune as ‘skating music’ because it recalled happy associations back home. This gramophone caused great con­ sternation among the natives when it ‘sat’ on the ground and belched out music. Indeed the strident sounds of Artie Shaw’s clarinet filtered through the surrounding rainforest at unpredictable hours of the night or day for ‘Gandhi’ was a radar operator doing shift work and he usually had a before and after session. He had his eighteenth birthday on Goodenough Island having faked his age to join the RAAF. His nickname was derived from his unshaven head and normally unclad body. Because of the lack of torches those going on shift at midnight had to grope their way along the narrow track through the jungle between the quarters and the ‘Doover’. Often this was in pouring rain and in order not to get lost in such conditions it was necessary to keep one hand in contact with the single strand telephone line strung on the trees along the track. Besides the occasional python and the spider webs strung across the track there were the eerie cold lights emanating from the fungi that flourished on the decaying Interior of No. 2 hut. Frank Peach in foreground. Alan McLeod reading PIX and John Freeman.______debris on the jungle floor and the blinking lights of fireflies dancing 62 63 among the trees. Those airmen who were privileged to witness the display of flashing lights from thousands of fireflies milling around a tree near the plotting tent one night will never forget it. We did have three hurricane lamps but these were needed for more pressing operational purposes and were unavailable for general lighting. As there was a kerosene supply for these lamps the airmen ingeniously improvised permanent alternatives by inserting a short length of rope through a hole in the lid of a screw top jar which was filled with kerosene. Such lamps were kept alight twenty four hours per day and had many side benefits. As well as providing light the naked flame was used to light cigarettes or fires and to some extent the fumes discouraged mosquitoes. Because matches, other than wax vestas, were virtually useless in the moist tropical conditions these improvised inventions were extremely useful. Two days after the station became operational a severe storm developed accompanied by cyclonic winds. Eddie had been on night shift and was asleep in one of the huts during tis day. He awoke to the rending sound of a tree trunk splintering and rushed from the hut as the falling tree demolished it and exposed the personal belongings of the men to the pouring rain. Ray Kelly returned from the morning shift to find his gear thoroughly drenched. The fallen This hut was demolished by a falling tree during a fierce storm. tree had landed squarely across Bob Lawson’s stretcher which fortunately was vacant at the time. Tents were erected and work commenced to repair the hut which was re-occupied two days later. Advantage was taken of periods of sunshine to dry out gear as fun­ gus grew on damp articles within a few hours. The station quickly settled down to a good working routine and having arranged their living quarters to their satisfaction the men had time on their hands. Many of them had come straight from specialist training and had not been subjected to much of the dis­ cipline given so much emphasis on the mainland of Australia. Since the musterings were in small groups that worked at various tasks in which they knew they were doing a worthwhile job there existed a general feeling of satisfaction. Bernard Katz was well aware of this and did not impose any unnecessary or irritating restrictions on the men and there were no disciplinary problems worth noting. Off-duty men in groups of two or more were permitted to go on walkabouts returning to the station by nightfall. They ranged in all directions visiting nearby villages where they were invariably offered the refreshing juice of freshly picked coconuts. Eddie and Frank who were good mates were on walkabout about 5 kilometres west of the station in the Mabuwa/Ufaufa area when they came across another camp that was part of the army deception plan. Bay Kelly, Noel Lynam and Flay Burton with local children. This bogus camp was also visited by Alan McLeod on a walkabout with two native boys. Eddie and Frank had each brought a .22 calibre single shot rifle with them from Australia and on these excursions 64 65

Eddie and Frank with .22 Rifles shooting birds for natives in exchange for fruit. Large kapok trees shaded the Methodist Mission Church at Wataluma.

Mick Sheehy, Frank Peach and Tom Connor on walkabout. Sedge and Bob demonstrate how to open coconuts to enjoy the naturally cool juice. 66 67 would shoot birds for the natives in exchange for bananas and other The morning dew is stardust fruits. Dropped the previous night, Flocks of pigeons frequented the rain forest feeding on a variety Jewels on a grass green carpet Reflecting the new day’s light. of berries, especially the fruit of the banyan tree which is very similar Now the birds are harmonising to the large ‘fig’ trees that abound in the rain forests of north eastern Their greetings to the day, Australia. These pigeons were often shot by station members on My spirit is once more rising walkabout to augment and add variety to the food supplies. My heart again is gay. About ten kilometres east of the station at Wataluma was the Methodist Mission where activities were now in abeyance. Airmen A number of airmen set themselves the task of learning useful who visited it noted the well kept native constructed church and words and phrases of the local language which had an ucomplicated grounds well shaded by large kapok trees. Those who did not like grammatical structure. It was dicovered that the languages pertinent trudging about the island in the debilitating heat and high humidity to the various D’Entrecasteaux Islands had assimilated many words pursued other activities within the camp. Most men wrote letters from the Dobuan language as Missioner John Rundle had drawn regularly. One approach was to write a few lines each day until teachers from far and wide to be trained at Dobu where the Gospel the mail was due to be sent out and then submit the letters for cen­ according to St Mark had been translated into Dobuan and used sorship by the C.O. Blatantly obvious remarks like, ‘This island is as a teaching text. This was then used throughout the islands by good enough for me.’ could not hope to be missed by the censoring his pupils. scissors. The odd airman let his whereabouts be known by using ‘Foreigners’ or ‘foreign orders’ were artifacts painstakingly a complicated code but practically all considered the practice produced using whatever materials and tools that were available. dangerous as the safety of the station depended on its location being Mother-of-pearl and green snailshell acquired by trade with the unknown. Most men had a code of communicating thoughts of a locals, silver coins, brass shell cases and perspex from crashed air­ personal nature and of no interest to a third party. Everyone wrote craft were some of the materials from which airmen fashioned such letters hoping for replies each time mail was received and their things as rings, brooches, pendants, vases and jewel cases to be importance as morale boosters was expressed well by Frank Coghlan sent home to the ones for whom they cared and who were constantly when he penned the following verse at Goodenough, January 1943. in their thoughts. Others simply traded with the local people and sent home such items as grass skirts, wooden knives, woven fans, and pieces of coral, snailshell and pearlshell much of which never LETTERS FROM HOME reached their folks at home, being lost, damaged or pilfered in transit. Your letters seem to me Malaria was the main threat to the health of the men. The first Just like a magic wand preventive drug taken was quinine, one tablet being taken at the Which conjures up for me Beauty, in a plain palm frond. evening meal along with a salt tablet to replace salt lost due to ex­ cessive perspiration. Salt tablets seemed the size of a horse pill and But in the days of waiting For your magical reply, if taken whole could quickly produce nausea and vomiting. Some It seems a dark cloud’s creeping people were affected more than others and the susceptible ones either Across the azure sky. ceased taking them or devised ways of holding them in the mouth, The awe inspiring sunset, when issued under supervision, until it was convenient to spit them The frail bright butterfly, out. Continuous intake of quinine made the men partly deaf and Become just another insect when the first new postings arrived on the station they wanted to And a day about to die. know why everyone was speaking so loudly to each other. Included When things then seem their gloomiest with the first supplies brought by boat was a quantity of the new And my spirit h as fallen low, anti-malaria drug, atabrine. This drug did not cause deafness but There comes once more your letter That sets my heart aglow. the yellow dye was exuded through the pores of the skin to colour yellow all white wearing apparel. However its suppression of malaria was near to one hundred per cent. Despite the preventive measures taken Jack Groome became extremely ill with malaria and because there was no means of sending him back to a treatment area this 68 69 became a matter of great concern, especially for Bernard. Aspirin cared to attend a sick parade. In most cases treatment was required and cold water sponges were used to try to reduce his high body for tropical ulcers on feet and legs due in many instances to cuts temperature. Several severe attacks left him very weak. and abrasions received while fishing on the reefs. A little native A painful condition known as ‘coral ear’ was contracted by many girl, perhaps no more than 5-6 years old, was brought to the camp of those who swam in the sea. Minute coral polyps which floated one day by her older brother — a lad about ten. The little finger about in the sea were blamed for this agonizing ear infection and on one hand was missing and the bloody oozing stump had been it was soon realised that ear plugs should be used. Alan McLeod’s wrapped in banana leaf. The boy explained that his uncle had died right ear became so inflamed and painful that he could not eat solid the previous night and to appease his spirit a member of his family food and it became almost unbearable doing his shift on the ‘Doover’. had to sacrifice a body part. Being the youngest of the surviving Bernard Katz who always worried about the welfare of the men, relatives, the girl was nominated and her father had performed the managed to arrange for a small army boat to call in and pick up mutilation. Sulphanilamide powder applied to the wound for a few Alan and take him to the newly established hospital at Vivigani. days by the ‘Doc’ saved her from probable infection and death. Our At very short notice Alan collected a few essentials which were leading work boy, Tomalina, became dangerously ill with pneumonia carried by Noel who had kindly offered to escort him to the beach. and he was carried off to Vivigani where the RAAF Mobile Works He was taken aboard a 10 metre motor boat about dusk and the Unit had set up a hospital. A week later he had recovered and walked tedious journey through the passages among the reefs began. An back the distance of twenty two kilometres showing remarkable hour or so later the boat struck a submerged reef, stuck fast and resilience. could not be freed. The tide was racing out very quickly as it does Most of the natives indulged in the revolting habit of chewing in the haphazard openings in coral reefs and it was not long before betel-nut taken with lime obtained by burning coral. Chewing the the boat rolled over and submerged with only part of the railing nut caused intoxication and saliva made reddish by the lime and visible. Twenty odd people had to cling to the railing to prevent the betel-nut was prone to dribble from the mouth, down the chin and swirling currents dragging them onto the razor sharp coral. Flares onto the chest. This, with glazed eyes and an expansive smile show­ were sent up and members of an Army lookout were able to organize ing blackened teeth, did not present a very dignified appearance. a rescue boat manned by natives who knew the reefs well. The res­ Moreover one had to beware as their behaviour was unpredictable cue craft could not closely approach the wreck so the survivors had when under the influence of the drug. Tom Connor felt the natives to make their way over about 10 metres of submerged coral with may have been play-acting and exaggerating the effects of betel-nut, rifles held above their heads and several fell into holes receiving decided to try it himself. His face glowed lobster red, his eyes dilated nasty gashes. Alan arrived at the hospital at 2000 hours and the and he was left in no doubt of its powerful punch. doctor found that the drum of the ear had been completely eaten There were no supplies of alcohol on the station and this led, away and nothing could be done to save his hearing. In due course at times, to experiments with ‘jungle juice’. One of our members who he was transferred back to Brisbane. had a twenty first birthday coming up decided that such an impor­ We were very health conscious and paid much attention to clean­ tant event should be celebrated in proper style. He therefore set liness and personal hygiene. Clothes were washed regularly, socks about preparing, some weeks in advance of the date, a batch of what more often than anything else. Special attention was paid to feet he called ‘coconut toddy’. Holes were bored in the tops of fresh green after washing in the creek by carefully drying between the toes and coconuts and he inserted into these, dried currants and raisins using Johnson’s Baby Powder available for purchase from our limit­ received in a parcel from home, and any other supposedly potent ed ‘luxury’ stock. It was soon clear that, despite every care, some ingredient which could be scrounged. The whole concoction was were more susceptible to tropical skin diseases than others. then sealed by plugging the holes and put aside to brew and mature. Sulphanilamide, acriflavine, gentian violet and tincture of iodine were The potential party-makers were neatly arranged under his ‘bunk’ used on tropical ulcers, skin rashes, ringworm and tinea. Boots were to await the auspicious day. Periodic inspections and soundings in­ worn at all times once out of bed because of the danger of hookworm dicated that action was occurring inside these brewing delights. Held infestation on land and deadly stone fish in the shallows near the close to the ear, their rumblings were definitely ominous and volcan­ reefs. Each man had been issued with two pairs of boots so that ic in nature. Daily predictions were made as to the ultimate strength one pair was usually dry. The army type boots were generally and effect of the brew at the time of the projected celebration. preferred to the lighter Air Force issue. Plans were noisily and odoriferously cut short in the early morn­ Our nursing orderly provided medical care for all natives who ing hours, about three days before the birthday, when one of the 71 70 coconuts exploded. In rather quick succession another two went off like mini-bombs. At 0200 hours, by the flickering light from a piece of rope in a jar of kerosene, a premature party was held by the now wide-awake, occupants of the hut. The toddy had met all 7 expectations and exceeded even the most dire forecasts of its poten­ cy as evidenced by the seedy expressions and headaches later that MAINTENANCE day. The natives were extremely naive and honest and were amused and highly delighted by the appearance and antics of some of our chaps. They would walk long distances to our camp and bring friends who they wanted to impress by showing them the airman with red echanical and electrical equipment was affected by the hot hair and there would be delighted ‘OOHS! and AHS!’ when one of Mwet climate of the tropics which caused problems in main­ our men would remove his false teeth and place them on his opened tenance. Each of the two 2.5 KVA alternators was driven by a Howard palm. two cylinder, air cooled 8 horse power petrol motor. The dry sump four-stroke engine was rugged and reliable for the purpose for which it was designed, namely, to drive a rotary hoe in Australia. In the heat of the tropics the motor’s fan driven air cooling system proved inadequate and after several hours running the engine overheated to the point of pre-ignition and ran erratically. Consequent surging of the power supply gave rise to contraction and expansion of the trace on the oscilloscope making it very difficult for the radar operators to detect weak targets. This difficulty was overcome by alternating the power units after four hours of operation. Jack Groome could not be on duty all the time so the mechanics had to make the changeover on many occasions. Starting these motors was a tricky business and approached by the mechanics with some trepidation. A foot pedal which rotated the crankshaft was used to ‘kick start’ the motor. Unless the pedal was given a very firm push a back-fire from the motor — and it was prone to do just that — could give the operator a nasty jolt. Bob dryly observed that there were plenty of bushes around to break the fall of anyone catapulted into the air. Power was required twenty four hours a day month after month so these motors were taxed to their limit. Continuous maintenance had to be carried out by Jack who did such a good job that the radar was never without power while it operated on Goodenough Island, a period of four months. Wireless communication equipment used was the AT5/AR8 transmitter-receiver and aerial coupling unit designed for air and ground use. It was light to handle, easy to install and easy to operate. A weakness in the wireless set-up soon became evident. Power for what had to be round the clock operation was obtained from wet batteries via genemotors. The noisy little Briggs and Stratton petrol- electric charging unit had to run almost continuously to keep the batteries charged. It, like the Howard motors, was a dead giveaway to our position had any marauding Japanese been close. After the genemotor had been in use for some weeks the section supplying 72 73 the high voltage to the transmitter developed a short in the armature which then resembled a Catherine wheel in operation at the same time giving much reduced output. Mechanics were able to improvise a power supply for the transmitter using ‘Doover’ spares to voltage 8 double the 240 V.AC straight from the alternator. One simple mains power supply should have been available initially so that the other STATION DEFENCE power source could be on standby for emergencies. This became the normal situation at a later date after the battery charger was in need of a major overhaul. The radar electronic circuits performed consistently well. Nor­ mal ageing of valves in stressful situations was monitored by the AAF guards manned a post near the radar equipment and the metering system and attended to during the maintenance period. Rstanding order only permitted access by the Commanding Officer, On one occasion only was the station inoperative for more than operators and mechanics. Strict secrecy was maintained as to nature minutes and this helped greatly in the reliability of the equipment. and performance of the equipment which was to to be destroyed It was discovered later that if the circuits cooled off, condensation if threatened with capture by the enemy. The case of TNT mentioned on the components caused many faults to occur. A valuable modifi­ previously was for demolition purposes in the event of an emergency. cation in the months ahead was the inclusion of electrical heaters A reinforced platoon of Army men under Lt Baker was armed in the cabinets so that the circuits were not allowed to become cool with rifles, Owen guns, Bren guns, and hand grenades while the to the point of water condensation. This, of course further added RAAF men had rifles, Thompson sub-machine guns and grenades. to the discomfort of the operators. The C.O. carried a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver while Jack Groome had brought from Australia an old .44 revolver for which there was no issue ammunition. Being a fitter he was able to modify the ‘tommy gun’ ammunition and use it in the revolver. Regular visual sightings of Japanese aircraft were made and their presence kept the men alert with their firearms always at hand. Trenches were dug under cover along the forest edge facing the ‘Doover’. Lt. Baker decided that the long kunai grass surrounding the technical installations should be cleared for a distance of two hundred metres to prevent any unseen enemy approach and to give a clear field of fire. This had one undesired effect in that it increased the possibility of detection from the air. Fortunately, whilst the Japanese raided other parts of the island, not one bomb was dropped on our site. It was considered that the position of the radar station could not be kept secret for long as the Japanese aircraft flying over and near to the island were bombarded by our transmitted beam. This must have been clearly heard by their radio operators. That the station was not molested in any way by the enemy may have been because they thought it was too well guarded due to the Army’s deceptive measures or they completely failed to realise its value. On the other hand, it may have been because of their unsuccessful attempts to find us. Japanese planes flew overhead in broad daylight obviously searching for the station but the equipment and quarters were so well camouflaged as native huts that, from the air, nothing was apparent. The dense jungle provided immediate cover for the personnel whenever hostile aircraft flew overhead. 74 75 some misgivings as one had to dash about 50 metres across cleared ground to the safety of the trenches after lighting it. Duty operators, Ray Burton and Noel Lynam, felt they were on a hot seat operating 9 the radar in these circumstances. Personnel records, code books and other classified documents EMERGENCY were gathered together ready for destruction. These included the newly acquired RADMIN code which had been dropped into the shallow water near the beach landing site in a watertight container from an American B25 (Mitchell bomber) only days before. Bernard Katz kept aside only those items he considered essential for the con­ owards the end of February 1943 reports were being received tinued efficient operation of the station and he chose to keep in use Tfrom the Coast Watchers of a large build-up of shipping in Rabaul the old code with which the men were now very familiar. He had Harbour. From all sources of intelligence it was expected that the a priority ‘immediate’ signal for Fighter Control encoded and given Japanese were about to send desperately needed reinforcements from to the duty wireless operator for transmission. When we alerted Rabaul to their troops being hard pressed in the Lae area of New Milne Bay the operator there replied in plain language, ‘Forget it! Guinea. Too much Static!’ The words, ‘Emergency! Attack!’ were sent and By 3 March a Japanese convoy had passed south along the west received after some repetition. coast of New Britain, through Vitiaz Strait and into the Huon Gulf. Eddie and Frank were obliged by the Geneva Convention to hur­ After detection of the convoy by an Allied reconnaissance aircraft riedly dispose of their well-loved and useful .22 calibre rifles and there developed what came to be known as the Bismarck Sea Battle. ammunition. They were told that possession of such arms and bullets High altitude Flying Fortresses and Liberators followed by low fly­ were contrary to international agreements and that the Japanese ing Beauforts with torpedoes, Beaufighters, Mitchells and Bostons, would not hesitate to execute anyone caught with such gear. Frank aided by American torpedo boats from Oro Bay, mounted devastat­ said, ‘Reluctantly I wrapped my rifle and about three hundred rounds ing attacks sinking some twelve ships. Three thousand Japanese of ammo, in my waterproof gas cape and buried the lot in the jungle sailors and soldiers were killed while hundreds more drifted about about thirty metres east of our living quarters’. the sea on life rafts and flotsam from the battle scene. The airmen off normal duty spent the night of 7 March in the Due to our isolation we were totally unaware of this battle. We trenches and each man was issued with two hand grenades. Tom were reporting increased air activity at the time but no one in King, the senior guard, made a check and found that one man had authority bothered to inform us of the reason for this. Being ignorant with him his treasured personal possessions, much food, a rifle and of the extent of the action we did not know that many Japanese no ammunition. F/O Katz made his control centre the plotting tent survivors were bring carried by prevailing sea currents towards ‘our from where he had telephone connections to the ‘Doover’, the Army island’. Consequently there was general consternation when a runner at Vivigani and the radio of Milne Bay. arrived from the coast at 1600 hours on 7 March to announce that Then began a night of great tension and anxiety. Exaggerated a great number of Japanese had landed from boats at Waibula about reports from the natives regarding the size of the Japanese ‘invasion five kilometres from the radar station. It was immediately thought force’ had everyone alert and on edge. In pidgin English an excited that the long anticipated enemy attack on our position had become native, under interrogation, indicated that about two thousand of a reality. the enemy had disembarked from a large troop transport. A semi­ Drake Force at Vivigani was alerted by land line immediately. circular perimeter had been cleared from the expanse of kunai grass All station personnel not on duty were ordered into the defensive in front of the radar with a radius of about two hundred metres. positions with arms and emergency rations which were held for such At three equally spaced positions around this perimeter were a contingency. It was important that the equipment and the technical previously prepared shallow trenches. To each of these we sent two personnel not fall into the hands of the enemy and the fire positions airmen both armed with .303 rifles and hand grenades. Their were to be held only long enough for the radar equipment to be instructions were to keep watch throughout the night, challenge any demolished. We had a case of TNT for this purpose. This explosive interloper and fire three warning shots if they suspected danger. was fused and set in place according to the directions supplied and The post nearest to the track entering our area from the direction the short fuse which had to be lit from a match was viewed with of the beach was the one expected to be at greatest risk as we felt 76 77

it would be very difficult for the Japanese to approach from any down weary bodies. When the cause of the explosions became known other direction. These important posts were the responsibility of and the anticipated enemy attack had not eventuated Bernard Katz the trained guards, LAC’s Ackerley, Campbell, Martin and ordered that the motor be started and the ‘Doover’ put back on the air. Wordsworth. The numbers were then made up from those not on During the entire preceding period of silence one lone senior duty. It is impossible to recall at this time how we decided which radar mechanic sat in the ‘Doover’ operating chair with rifle and two men should complete the six to be under Cpl King’s control but fixed bayonet resting on his knees intently guarding the sandbagged it is known that all were hoping they would not be the chosen pair. entrance and ready to ignite the demolition charge. Norm Smith had Venturing off into the inky unknown was a most unenviable the box of wax matches open and in easy reach to enable him to assignment. quickly light the short fuse leading to about three kilograms of TNT The rest of us remained at the ready, trigger happy and alerted thereby making his outpost untenable. The scene was set for a deter­ by the slighest sound even though the steady racket of our noisy mined assault on the world record for the fifty metres dash. Howard motor in the background would have completely smothered At 0900 hours a runner, sent by Lieut. Baker, arrived with the the sound of any stealthy Jap sneaking upon us and would have led rather anti-climactic news that his men had surrounded a small force him directly to us. It was our duty to keep the radar operational of Japanese there were only three survivors of a surprise Bren gun as long as possible to warn of any air attack either on us or on any attack and these three prisoners were blind-folded when brought other Allied positions. Therefore the motor-driven alternator was up the track past the ‘Doover’ later in the day. A working party of a necessary evil. A certain amount of normality was restored by RAAF men was sent to bury the dead and Lieut. Baker who was the efforts of Tom Connor and Mick Sheehy providing brews of hot regarded as a tough soldier stood his men to attention in respect tea during the night. This they had prepared back in the camp kitchen for the dead as the RAAF men placed the bodies in a common grave. under cover. Jack Sedgley, one of our wireless operators, well remembers this About 0200 hours three shots rang out from the direction of the as he, Dick Trotter and ‘Pud’ Simpson were members of the burial frontal outpost. Rifles were cocked, grenades were checked and we party. prepared for the worst. Great relief was expressed when, preceded F/O Katz received a signal requesting him to meet Wing Com­ by a friendly native, Captain McWaters arrived with army reinforce­ mander I.V. McLaughlan, C.O. of 71 Base Wing, the following day, ments from Vivigani. He and his platoon had force marched, in full 9 March, at 1100 hours at Vivigani. It was only then that Bernard battle dress, the twenty two dark kilometres to our position. They was made aware of the events of the Bismarck Sea Battle and knew were exhausted and Captain McWaters had a calming influence on that the Japanese landing on Goodenough were survivors of that everybody when he announced that nothing could be done before action which was spread over the period 3 to 8 March 1943. He daylight and he proposed to have a well earned sleep. was also able to request a replacement of the RADMIN code and, Just before dawn it was decided by Bernard Katz and Captain soon after a new copy was dropped squarely within the camp area McWaters that we could no longer tolerate the hazard created by from a B25 (Mitchell bomber). the raucous Howard motor. The ensuing silence made audible the On 10 March 1943, No. 305 Radar Station received a signal from sound of every cracking twig and made us even more alert as did Milne Bay commending F/O Bernard Katz and all ranks for their the pending daylight — the expected time of enemy attack. At 0430 performance during the emergency and advising that Fighter Con­ hours Lt. Baker led a platoon-strength probing patrol towards the trol was able to make many successful interceptions of Japanese beach. aircraft on the basis of 305’s continuing plots. This was a unique Documents that were confidential but not essential for the experience as normally we were not given any information regard­ continued efficient operation of the station were taken by Bob Lawson ing the results of our early warnings. and Keith Blundell to be destroyed by fire in the creek bed where It would have been very interesting and satisfying to be told in the steep banks and overhanging trees would hide the flames. The detail just how many interceptions were made or what the losses silence that fell over the area after the motor shut down was soon were, either hostile or friendly. Of particular use to a radar station shattered. To guarantee a good fire, Bob and Keith showered the is confirmation of the numbers, type and altitude of enemy aircraft papers with petrol. Unfortunately a few rounds of ammunition had actually encountered by our own forces. In retrospect, one can see somehow been included with the papers and rapid rifle-like explo­ good security reasons for restricting the transmission of such infor­ sions split the air. Tired minds interpreted these as the commence­ mation as it would greatly assist the enemy. We have discussed this ment of the Japanese attack and beads of perspiration began to trickle with former fighter pilots who operated in our area and found that 78 79 they also were only ever told as much as it was deemed necessary for them to know. They were never made aware of the origins of the information which they received by radio when airborne. Coded instructions were simply given in cryptic messages prefaced by ‘Loophole this is Platform’, which advised the sector, altitude, num­ bers, speed etc.

Some of the Japanese survivors of the Bismark Sea Battle were in a very sorry Lieutenant Baker and his men used blindfolds on Japanese prisoners being state. escorted past the radar installation, 8.3.43.______

Just as we were unaware of the reports from Navy Coastwatch- ers and Army Spotters so those two services were unaware of us. The fighter pilots were not told what ‘Platform’ was or its where­ abouts and its sources of warnings. No doubt, this procedure was tactically sound as each source was verified by another before large numbers of aircraft were scrambled for interception. Three Japanese prisoners were taken to the camp area and placed under guard in a small area surrounded by fuel drums. They were suffering from exposure but did not complain. One could speak English and pointed to himself saying, ‘Hurry up! Hurry up! All Japanese soldiers want to die.’ Many Japanese survivors of the sea battle landed on Goodenough Island in the ensuing days but they did not constitute a major threat. Few of them still had arms and they were generally in a sorry state after drifting on the open sea under a relentless tropical sun, in More Japanese prisoners captured by the RAAF and Army guards during March the majority of cases without food, water or cover. Increasing num­ 1943.______bers of them wandered the island robbing the native gardens for food and the Army and RAAF men were busy for some time capturing 80 81

Some Japanese reached Goodenough Island in this type of barge.

food and medicines. Popular with them was our much despised ‘preg­ nant goldfish’ (canned pilchards). At first this was given to them in an opened can with the jagged lid still attached. When one of the prisoners attempted suicide with such a primitive instrument Whenever Japanese survivors of the Bismarck Sea Battle were observed drifting this feeding practice was discontinued and the fish was placed on past Goodenough Island we used this large single outrigger canoe to intercept some other harmless receptacle. In spite of our best efforts to keep them. them alive there were unavoidable deaths. Bodies were buried near our camp in roughly marked graves which were later pointed out them. They seldom surrendered voluntarily as Japanese believed to a padre and a member of the War Graves Commission. The Padre surrender to be the ultimate shameful act whereas they regarded held a short service at each grave. a fighter’s death as the path to glory. Interrogation of prisoners Those prisoners who were fit were marched off under guard indicated that the real reason many of them resisted to the last was to the beach or Vivigani whenever a boat was available to take them that they had been ‘brain-washed’ with the belief that the Australians to Milne Bay. Whilst waiting for such transport one English-speaking killed prisoners (something the Japanese did themselves quite often) prisoner asked about the roundels on a flight of aircraft passing and when they were treated with some compassion they appeared low over the island and when told they were Australian he answered, greatly relieved. Great caution had to be exercised at all times as ‘No Australian planes, only American planes.’ When asked the des­ Japanese troops had a reputation for fanaticisim and they would tination of the recently destroyed Japanese convoy he replied, ‘Port willingly commit suicide if they thought they could inflict casualties Stephens.’ which, of course, is north of Sydney in New South Wales. on their enemies in so doing. Again, when queried about the place of departure of the convoy Many life rafts drifted past the island for the next week or two. he answered ‘Labaul’ instead of Rabaul much to the surprise of the Some of them contained dead bodies but others held sunburnt, RAAF guards who had been using such gems as, ‘Woolworth’s woollen emaciated and dehydrated survivors. We brought them ashore and woollies.’ as passwords believing the Japanese had difficulty in gave them whatever succour we could from our limited supplies of pronouncing the letter ‘1’. Later rumour had it that this Japanese 82 83 had been a wool buyer in Brisbane before the war. There was an accumulation of Japanese barges, rafts and items of equipment on the northern shores of Goodenough Island. Some items like samurai swords, automatic pistols, binoculars and rifles were souvenired but most of them were returned to the sea. On 12 March we went to the beach to meet the M.V. OOMOOBAH carrying supplies and mail. When we arrived the supplies were on the beach but there was no sign of the boat or the mail. There were many liferafts on the shore and we captured several Japanese in the vicin­ ity. An abandoned Japanese landing barge of steel construction about ten metres long and 3.5 metres wide had been strafed from the air and was peppered with bullet holes. The effectiveness of armour- piercing ammunition was dramatically demonstrated by a .5 calibre bullet lodged in the 10 square centimetre section of the solid steel anchor shaft and protruding about 3 centimetres at the point of egress. Mopping up of Japanese parties of survivors was continuing and eighty five had been killed and twenty five taken prisoner. These operations were shared by the Army and RAAF and some of the natives. ANGAU officer, Captain Mac Rich who had set up his post on Goodenough about this time decorated one outstanding native village constable with a Loyalty Medal for his efforts in this regard. We became increasingly wary and alert as the jungle provided excellent cover for enemy marauders who had been reported rob­ bing native gardens. At night, lying in our native huts in the pitch darkness imaginations sometimes led to anxiety that our throats could be slit by Japanese sneaking in silently in their split-toed rubber boots. The slightest noise or twig cracking played upon already tau­ tened nerves. Moving at night along the track to the ‘Doover’ took on a more frightening dimension. The island people were highly delighted with the decisive action taken by the Australians at Waibula. Native workers in our camp decided to ceebrate the event with a ‘sing sing’. With hair well combed and dusted generously with Johnson’s baby powder and using sticks Captain 'Mac' Rich presenting medal to village constable 1943. to represent guns they re-enacted the attacks on the Japanese. Their rhythmic movements were accompanied by melodic singing as these people have a great natural ability to sing in harmony. It was evident that the natives were expressing vengeful jubilation because of the atrocities some Japanese had perpetrated on native men, women and children. 84 85

Hinchcliffe, in his diary, the entry being made following his arrival on the station after a stopover at Vivigani. ‘Good trip lasting four hours. Called in to Wataluma on the way. Native pilot had hard job 10 dodging reefs. On arrival we found a beautiful set-up and what promises to be a grand lot of men. C.O., although only nineteen, is HANDOVER — TAKEOVER one of the boys — very popular.’ Indeed, Bruce had the full support of all the men on the station which he was to successfully command for the next twelve months. Meanwhile facilities were being improved at Vivigani where the RAAF mobile works units were constructing two air strips. On 24 he station was supplied with spare wireless equipment and F/O March a light plane service began operating from Milne Bay to TKatz decided to send two wireless operators to Vivigani on 12 Goodenough three times a week carrying mail and passengers. The March with the spare set to ascertain if a better radio link could regular delivery of mail from home was much appreciated by all. be made with Milne Bay from that point. Towards the end of March the Japanese stepped up their air activity Next day Bill Humphries walked to Vivigani with some of the and launched a number of attacks using heavy bombers from Rabaul Army boys and retrieved the mail that the crew of the M.V. and fighters and dive bombers from the closer base at Gasmata. OOMOOBAH had failed to deliver at Cape Lahaye. On the way they On 28 March an estimated flight of seventy aircraft were detected killed and buried another three Japanese. Many life rafts were dis­ 225 kilometres north of Goodenough. The plotted flight path indicat­ covered on the beach on 14 March and twenty prisoners were taken. ed they were probably bound for the torpedo boat base at Oro Bay. A day later two of these prisoners escaped but were recaptured The Allied fighters were there waiting and shot down many of the soon after. Japanese planes. Similar results were obtained when the Japanese Using initiative and foresight F/O Bernard Katz had guided No. again attacked Oro Bay on 11 April. These flights of enemy aircraft 305 Radar Station through many difficult but exciting times. When often passed close enough to Goodenough Island to be seen from he handed over the command of the station to P/O V.B. (Bruce) Aldrich the station. on 18 March 1943 it had established an enviable record of success. F/Lt O.K. Griffith who had taken No. 50 Radar Station to Buna The next day F/O Katz was on the M.V. OOMOOBAH bound for Milne in December, 1942, was appointed radar officer in charge of the Bay. About this time the two wireless operators returned from Vivigani Milne Bay area and made No. 37 Radar Station at Milne Bay his and reported that communication to Fighter Control from there was headquarters. He arrived at our Station on 28 March, 1943 to brief no better than from our camp. us on the pending movement to Kiriwina Island in the Trobriand In an attempt to overcome the communications problem P/O Sher­ group. He described the features of the island and made reference lock of No. 9 MFS (Mobile Fighter Sector) arrived at Vivigani en to the people living there. It so happened that Tom Connor who is route to our station to discuss the difficulties encountered in an avid reader, had read Dr Malanowski’s writings concerning these contacting Milne Bay. Bruce picked him up in a borrowed Army jeep people and asked the question, ‘Is it true that the girls on Kiriwina for the trip to the radar station over an unmade road. While driving are over-sexed?’ The reply was that the way of life on Kiriwina was through kunai grass with no defined track the jeep plunged suddenly not the same as that in Australia. The reply gave food for thought over a bank into a stream near Wataluma. P/O Aldrich was trapped and prepared the men for some incidents that happened later. It beneath the vehicle in the water. Quick action by the passengers also explained the reluctance of missionaries to say much about and a number of passing natives saved the young officer from a people with whom they had achieved little success. drowning when they lifted the upturned jeep to free him. One of The old Sydney ferry, GEORGE PEAT, because of its shallow the passengers, a guard, suffered a broken nose. draught, was used to deliver the heavy but mobile equipment of the When Bruce took command of No. 305 Radar Station he was American No. 403 Radar Station when it appeared off our landing just nineteen years of age. However he carried on in a most profes­ point on 28 March. This unit, type SCR270, was permanently mount­ sional manner having arrived on the station long enough before F/O ed on heavy trucks which made their way inland to a point some Bernard Katz left to realise that the station was operating efficiently, one hundred metres east of the Australians. Steel matting of the and in his wisdom, did nothing to upset the status quo. It is interest­ type used for temporary air strips was used to cross soft and boggy ing to note the remarks made by another nineteen-year-old, Keith patches. Heavily laden trucks scored a trail from the beach to the 86 87

site clearly indicating its position to any enemy plane that might fly overhead. This was in marked contrast to our attitude as we were fastidious in camouflaging our location and no doubt had avoid­ ed enemy bombs as a result. We were less than pleased to have a giant arrow pointing through the terrain towards our camp. The American station was ready for operation by 16 April and it could operate at the same time as 305 as it was using a different radar frequency. Until they were to take over the Americans were to monitor the Australian station and evaluate their own equipment. They detected aircaft approaching from the north and began report­ ing to Milne Bay forgetting that the Australians would be reporting the same aircraft on the same wireless wave length. The more power­ ful American wireless transmitter swamped the Australian AT5. Standing orders were that all information should be transmitted by morse code but in desperation our duty wireless operator, Frank Peach, plugged in the microphone and in no uncertain terms ex­ pressed his thoughts over the air. An American lieutenant visited the Australian wireless tent soon after and the matter was settled amicably. We were encouraged by the Americans to inspect their radar unit but we kept much tighter security on ours with only the commanding officer, the radar mechanics and the operators having access to the radar set at any time. The technical airmen on duty were rather embarrassed when the American lieutenant arrived Natives celebrated the capture of Japanese by song and dance. to have a look at the Australian set. He was referred to P/O Bruce Aldrich who settled the matter. As the lieutenant said he only had to look at the antenna dipoles to know the approximate operating frequency. One important argument for not allowing people to wander into the ‘Doover’ at will was the distraction that would be caused to the operators who really gave a one hundred per cent effort when they were at work. It was a great pity that the Americans were not given some benefit of the skill developed by our operators who had enjoyed specialist training whereas the Americans had not. A strong air attack on Milne Bay was launched by the Japanese after midday on 14 April. They came in two formations, one from Rabaul and the other from Gasmata. They were detected 217 kilometres north of Goodenough by Noel Lynam who estimated there were 75 enemy aircraft. The flight path plotted was of a zig-zag nature and was considered to be a ruse used by the Japanese to extend their flight time so that the alerted and awaiting Allied fighters would be running low on fuel by the time the attacking planes reached the target. The Japanese bombers and fighters flew to the east of PNG to approach from that direction but No. 37 Radar Station at Many natives danced and sang to farewell the Australians as they prepared Milne Bay had been alerted of this approach as plotted by the early to leave the island. ______warning stations and was able to give the Allied fighters accurate height, speed and direction while the enemy aircraft were still 150 88 89

kilometres away. Minimal damage was done at Milne Bay as the nated operation with the American No. 403 Radar Station. Japanese attack was broken up by our fighters. The members of 305 saw an intriguing pattern of vapour trails left by American Lightnings still pressing home their attack on the Japanese as they flew past our island on their flight back to New Britain. / / o . 3 c ^ '1-rTtT'o*/ That night when we tuned to Radio Australia at 1900 hours we . heard the Prime Minister make the sombre announcement that the -&7s^S>-CVi:A 7rt/T£-r»/f4 *T/f/C. f7/r Japanese threat to Australia was far from over and that Milne Bay was in flames. Sometime later we learnt of the minimal damage ^ s£c\c6y sCCxXi/y .rfitlt o / v C < T ^^ e t r v O y s**>-- *y02£. jo* £s (Uj actually inflicted and realised that the Government had needed a spur at the time to encourage Australians to subscribe to a new war loan. A number of postings occurred during April and May. Radar f-rt mechanics Keith Blundell and Ray Kelly were recalled, the former f/c-- >Cwict, jC.^yir,caf- s//r. ■ *s Ugzzf?xzzy; 2«»-*fe*a^r~ «< to be an instructor at Radar School, Richmond, and Ray to work ''■ < - ■‘ t~ rf-e- . at RIMU, Sydney. They were replaced by Ernie Brennan who returned from No. 50 Radar Station and Mai Mainon. Doug Bottger, the orderly room clerk, had completed his tropical T?/?rr • /~<■» A fa fc * /&£?. ■ T”'■:,_____^ 1^ : tour and returned to No. 1 BAGS at Evans Head, Australia. His replacement, Ron Taylor, arrived at Vivigani on the small mail plane which landed on the emergency strip. Radar operator Doug Bowe arrived on the M.V. OOMOOBAH. On 20 April Frank Coghlan and John Freeman, both radar oper­ ators, were posted to No. 37 Radar Station at Milne Bay. From that station came Keith Hinchcliffe and ‘Bluey’ Blunt to replace them. Abnormal radio communication conditions prevailed in the PNG area during the period 20 to 22 April. 305 was the only outlying radar station to maintain contact with Fighter Control during those «< ?*ctv nights. On 26 April P/O Aldrich received a signal to close down our ,/ .v..^.. — Jif *ttr< f/c ex«J} station and prepare to move out. We went off the air at 2359 hours that night and the Americans took over surveillance of the area. /etc, .^tz, > G w * . yg^U^ /»* * ~ ^ ^ « 1~'-*^C- Boxes in which the equipment had been transported to Goodenough .*-<_ 2* s&y '^rT^'sf f^ //’'ex^ ^ ' //<< rf^-VS — had been used throughout the camp for storing personal items and of-rt™ /'/', ^ xy : f (_ Vex^-^Jco A&. 3y .-&*~

ore than 40 years ago, as a young man itching to get Mto where the action was, I had the great fortune to be posted to join one of our most forward radar stations. No. 305 Radar Station, RAAF, was located well to the north of our air bases in eastern Papua New Guinea and as such was able to provide reliable long range warning of impending air attacks on centres like Milne Bay and Port Moresby. When I was reading the manuscript for this book, put together with much effort and research by Norm and Frank, it all seemed like yesterday, but of course it is not and a generation or more has grown up since. They were exciting times. We were privileged to have been associated with a major technological advance and we certainly did not foresee that radar, used so proficiently by the people of the RAAF stations at that time, would be­ come an essential everyday tool in the years to come. I commend the authors for the documentation of the life of one of our radar stations and hope that readers will sense the atmosphere of adventure, achievement and pur­ pose which was evident at all times amongst the youthful crew of a radar outpost. v b

V.B. Aldrich Brisbane, 23 September 1986 95 11 ABOARD ‘WILL WATCH’

he timber hulled, ketch rigged, two-masted sailing ship, WILL TWATCH*, dropped anchor off the landing point near Cape Lahaye on 10 May 1943. Pre-war it had been a cargo ship sailing between New Zealand and Tasmania aided by its 8 HP (6kW) auxiliary diesel engine. This 93 tonne vessel had been commissioned to transport the radar equipment, the RAAF personnel and Army guards — more than fifty people — their arms and supplies to an island in a for­ ward position and, what’s more, without any kind of protective escort. No wonder some of the men were apprehensive and the skipper of the ship perturbed. All gear and supplies were rafted out and stored in the ship’s hold by midday 12 May. Army and RAAF men with their arms and personal gear covered all available deck space making it difficult for the crew to carry out their duties. Such conditions stretched to the limit the patience of the cook, Tom Connor, and his helper Mick Sheehy. Of course there was no way that sails could be used in the narrow channels among the reefs around Goodenough and Fergusson Islands so the engine was used utnil the ship was in open water. WILL WATCH departed, under motor power, at 1000 hours on 13 May and the village people who had helped the Australians so much during the past months thronged the shore and their plaintive farewells followed the ship across the water. With skilful navigation the ship was guided to the wharf at Beli Beli where supplies were taken on board for the Army boys. It was not possible for the ship to move in the reef infested waters at night with any degree of safety so it proceeded to Mud Bay that afternoon to spend the night. As soon as the anchor was dropped most of the men escaped from the hot deck to swim in the lukewarm waters of the bay while a lookout was posted for sharks and salt-water crocodiles. The following day was spent cautiously moving through the channels as far as the island of Dobu where the next night was to be spent. *The WILL WATCH was launched in 1895. It foundered on 17 December 1954 while carrying timber from Tasmania to King Island. Jonathon, the Tongan missioner, was still at Dobu and he sent an open invitation for the men aboard tc spend the evening ashore. 96 97 be waiting at No. 304 Radar Station. Bishop and one of his men had left the day before for Kiriwina on the M.V. OOMOOBAH. He was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of No. 41 Radar Wing, Sqn/Ldr B. Israel. Their motor boat travelled by night and hid among the islands during the day to avoid detection by Japanese aircraft. In any event the speedy craft would have been a difficult target as it was driven by two powerful eight-in-line Chrysler engines. Keith and his offsider, LAC Smith, were deposited on the north shore of Kiriwina and Sqn/Ldr Israel immediately returned to Milne Bay on the OOMOOBAH. When the WILL WATCH was ready to sail from Cape Pierson at 2200 hours it was discovered that the native pilot, one named William, had gone AWL (absent without leave) with friends on the island. A search party located him and the ship finally left Norman­ by Island at 0130 hours on 16 May. Moderately rough seas caused some sea sickness but the overcast skies were welcomed as a protection from being spotted by hostile aircraft. And so the WILL WATCH sailed slowly, almost naively it seemed, towards Kiriwina in broad daylight, a sitting duck for any type of enemy aircraft, sur­ face vessel or submarine. Of course, any approaching aircraft would probably be detected by No. 304 Radar Station but by the time any Allied plane arrived the attacker would be gone. During the time the WILL WATCH spent on this voyage the Japanese launched air attacks against Vivigani, Milne Bay, Wau, Dobodura and Port Mores­ by. Aircraft engines were heard on several occasions but none broke through the cloud cover to be identified. The lone little sailing ship Aboard the WILL WATCH bound for Kiriwina in the ’frobriand Islands. was really running the gauntlet and the men aboard had the feeling that they were expendable pawns in the serious game of war. On Nine Australians enjoyed the hospitality of Jonathon, his wife, their one occasion the lookout on the forward mast spotted some floating five children and his sister. This man made a lasting impression objects and until they were identified as reef buoys there was some on us by his quiet dignity and sincerity of purpose. He and his family speculation about submarines. A landfall was made late in the had remained at the mission during Japanese incursions when Euro­ afternoon and the ship hove to in protected waters south of Losuia peans had long since sought safer havens much farther south. When on Kiriwina. the nine airmen returned to the ship later that evening they found ANGAU officer, Captain Ernest Whitehouse, administered the sleeping servicemen occupying most of the available space on the Trobriand Islands from Losuia and was aware of the ship’s arrival deck. The ship’s boat had to remain in the water tethered to the as it had been spotted by his police boys. The following morning, stern by a long rope so Keith, Noel and Norm decided to sleep in under a cloudless sky, the ship, driven by its propeller, crept through it. During the early hours of the morning, possibly by accident but the maze of coral reefs to the open waters at the north of the island. more likely by design, the mooring line dropped into the sea and Then the skipper ordered the sails to be set and the old freighter the boat drifted away. The men had to row a few hundred metres sailed majestically at its maximum speed of about eight knots before to regain the ship and faced pseudo innocent and non-commital looks a favourable wind. Soon after passing the tiny islet of Sia with a on many faces. lone coconut palm signifying its existence the anchor was dropped For the second time Keith Bishop was directed to take his men close in to the reef just west of Bomatu Point. This point was chosen and help with the installation of No. 305 Radar Station. The captain for the position of the radar as it was, at less than twenty metres, of the WILL WATCH proceeded, as directed, to Cape Pierson, almost the highest point on one of the flattest islands in the world. Normanby Island, to take aboard the installation party reported to No time was lost in ferrying the equipment and supplies through 98 99

was soon in a state of collapse from the great pain. Two poles were cut and a stretcher made on which Gumwatu and three other na­ tives set off to carry the victim to Losuia, a distance of about 25 kilometres, where Capt. Whitehouse maintained a clinic for such emergencies. The carriers were back the next morning with a note from Capt. Whitehouse advising Keith that the native was recover­ ing but he was extremely cold from shock on arrival at Losuia and if such a thing happened again the victim should be wrapped in a blanket in spite of the tropical heat. A new problem now arose because more native people than were required wanted to work. The living quarters for the radar men appeared like magic, most of the buildings being almost completed on the first day. When all were paid for the day’s work the supply of bully beef was almost gone so that when a great number reported for work the next day they were all lined up and every second man recruited. This caused some dissatisfaction but there was no other way out of the predicament. When the men were paid at the end of the day some had to be content with M&V. Those who had M&V returned the next day to complain of violent stomach pains. They thus had first-hand experience which justified the airmen’s opinion Jonathon, family and sister at Dobu Island. of the despised canned concoction, commony referred to as ‘Muck and Vomit’. By the time the radar men were ashore on Kiriwina F/O Bishop and his assistant had the camp, native village style, ready the break in the reef, onto the coral strand and thence under the for occupation. cover of a fine stand of trees. Unloading went on apace and was completed by 1400 hours the next day, 18 May and the skipper had the WILL WATCH on its way out of that dangerous situation by 1430 hours. What had seemed to be a rather audacious move to the most northerly point of Kiriwina had been completed without incident. In fact, 305 was then the most forward Allied unit north of New Guinea and much farther within the sphere of Japanese influence than it had been at Goodenough Island. When the OOMOOBAH had arrived at the same place, two days before the WILL WATCH dropped anchor, the men aboard were wel­ comed as visitors and a number of locals of both sexes were soon aboard the boat. When Keith Bishop made it abundantly clear that he was there on business, not pleasure, the natives were not too enthusiastic about cooperating. Keith bargained with them through one, Gumwatu who had learned some English at a mission and when it was known that tins of the much liked bully beef were there for the earning there was a complete about-face. The OOMOOBAH’s anchor had to be dropped on the seaward side of the reef and sup­ plies had to be taken across shallow water inside the reef by dinghy and then carried ashore. During this operation a native’s foot was pierced by the spine of a deadly stone fish. The unfortunate native Unloading the WILL WATCH at Bomatu Point, 18.5.43. 100 101

KIRIWINA ISLAND - NORTHERN AREA

NATIVE VILLAGES

NATIVE WALKING TRACKS------

MILITARY ROADS------

CORAL REEKS 3^J J T %

VEGETATION:- tropical jungle, / mangroves, swamp grass, * J ' / coconut trees, Native garden

” OCCUPATION OF KIRIWINA ISLAND 1943

ANGAU officer, Cpt Whitehouse, remained at Losuia while the Japanese dominated the surrounding waters.

RAAF No.305 Radar Station occupied Bomatu Point 17-5-43- Small American forces landed at Losuia and the north beach 24-6.43- Large American force occupied Kiriwina 30-6.43- RAAF mobile works units followed to construct two air strips.

MoJtoba, Gumwatu, and Kalitoni worked in our cookhouse. 102 103

12

INSTALLATION ON KIRIWINA

nlike the landing place at Goodenough the landing at Kiriwina Uwas within a hundred metres of where it was decided to erect the ‘Doover’. Coral on Bomatu Point had been uplifted from beneath the sea by some subterranean upheaval and although trees had taken root and flourished there was still no soil coverage and the bare coral was pitted with large jagged holes. The problem was to find support at the required points for the feet of the radar framework. It was decided that from the surrounding trees suitable logs would be utilised to provide a foundation. Natives indicated the best type of timber for the purpose and trees about 30 centimetres in diameter and of sufficient height were felled, cut to suitable length and man­ handled to the site. Where necessary the coral was broken away The radar was assembled on the rugged coraJ point. until two logs were set parallel and level. Two more logs, set across and spiked to the first two, made a firm foundation. Flat surfaces were chipped at appropriate points on the logs and the feet of the Milne Bay was alerted as we commenced radar operation at 1800 radar framework spiked thereto. The now experienced mechanics hours 23 May 1943. The station immediately reported aircraft at had the radar erected without any hitches. It was decided to include a range of 193 kilometres to the north. For the rest of the month the plotting board within the confines of the ‘Doover’ base and a extremely bad weather conditions prevailed and there was little air­ native hut-like construction was built beneath the antenna. This was craft activity but in June there was plenty for the radar operators to camouflage the radar but it improved the operators’ lot apprecia­ to report. At its new location the station’s sweep was clockwise from bly for the palm-leaf thatch provided good insulation from the heat 270 degrees through north to 100 degrees. Around 300 degrees there of the sun. were many low-lying islands which returned weak permanent echoes The wireless operators had no trouble in setting up their gear that varied in intensity with the rise and fall of the tide. These soon a short distance inland from the ‘Doover’. There were tall trees to became familiar to the operators. Japanese raids were directed at support an antenna and they contacted Milne Bay at 1430 hours the new base at Goodenough, Oro Bay where the PT. boats were on the day after arrival. Radio transmission to Milne Bay from based and at our troops fighting in the Lae and the Markham Valley Kiriwina was much more satisfactory than from Goodenough. On area and this activity kept our operators continuously busy. During Kiriwina there were no mountains to interfere with the signals or May Goodenough Island had become a fully operational strike air to generate thunderstorms which give a high noise level during recep­ base. tion. Dick Trotter, Jim Simpson, Frank Peach and ‘Sedge’ were quite The strategic importance of our radar reporting unit at Bomatu pleased with the new set-up. Point may be judged by the fact that it was deemed worthy of a F/O O.K. Griffith, radar officer for the Milne Bay area, arrived vist by Air Commodore J.E. Hewitt, commanding officer of No. 9 Oper­ on 21 May to inspect the station. With him came medical orderly ! ational Group within the Fifth Air Force. He arrived with Sqn/Ldr Roy Schooth replacing Barney Toomey who returned to work at the Scott on 4 June. hospital at Milne Bay. F/O Griffith and Barney departed 23 May. No faults had developed in the radar unit during transhipment. 104 105

13 KIRIWINA CAMP

e were curious why the chosen camp site, which was such Wan ideal position, was not used by the Kiriwinans for a village. Later when we questioned the natives we learned that the area was taboo. A large piece of coral, weighing tonnes, lay on the beach and legend had it that long ago when this piece of coral was an overhang at the end of the point several girls were resting in its shadow. The mass of coral fell killing one unfortunate girl and from that time it was believed that whenever a woman died her spirit visited this point before going to the island of the dead. That is Kaleiuna Island to the west of Kiriwina. While the natives were wary about working there they had no objection to the Australians occupying this prime piece of real estate.

‘Doc’ Toomey and his 'hospital'.

P/O Bruce Aldrich in front of the CO’s hut. Half of this native-built hut served as an orderly room where flon Taylor encoded and decoded signals, kept per­ sonal records, prepared movement orders, typed Station monthly reports and sold canteen goods. Ron was relieved finally by L. White who had a busy time when the station was disbanded. 106 107

At some long time past a submarine earthquake had forced up a ridge of coral running inland from Bomatu Point. The western slope of the ridge supported a fine stand of trees, the tallest being about 30 metres high. These trees gave perfect cover for the camp site which was developed quickly for it was known, from experience gained at Goodenough, what was wanted from the start. Cook house, mess and recreation area were all under the same palm-thatched roof with a clearing left to one side. Tropical heat was moderated by the cooler air coming from the sea less than fifty metres away. Forgetting the war, this was as near to an island paradise as one could wish. The men could enjoy a swim any time so long as they took precautions against sea snakes and stone fish. Each living hut was spaced conveniently under the trees and housed four or five men. This ensured that fewer people were disturbed during shift changes, especially at midnight. The proximity of the camp and the technical gear made it con­ venient for changing shifts and it made the job of the guards much easier. One disadvantage was the concentrated target it made for any attack but it seemed the best arrangement in that situation. Native huts totally obscured from the air by trees meant little chance of detection. The only give away was the radar antenna rotating above the point and this was barely visible in an aerial photograph taken at an altitude of one thousand metres. Water for drinking and cooking was an immediate problem as no creeks existed on the porous coral surface of the island so tar­ paulins were set up to catch rain water. Natives pointed out a small stream of fresh water flowing from the base of the coral cliff at Bomatu Point across the narrow beach of coral sand. A shallow depression was made in the sand and water for cooking was bailed Aerial view from 1000 metres of the location of No. 305 Radar Station at Kiriwina. into buckets using a fruit can. Soon after, a cave in the coral was The position of the radar is at the extreme left centre of the picture. Photo taken found to hold water but it was not convenient to obtain. Since there May, 1943. ______was need for a more ample supply for washing clothes and bodies it was decided to dig a well. and many blisters were raised but ‘Tassy’ didn’t raise one. Although ‘Tassy’ Viney claimed great skill at water divining and was given the water was slightly brackish the well supplied sufficient water much advice as he walked about the area in his search for an under­ for all needs. At Kiriwina all water had to be heavily chlorinated ground stream. Since the island was composed of porous coral it and then treated with detasting tablets for drinking. was reasonable to expect that water could be found almost any­ ‘Tassy’ got his nickname from his home state of Tasmania. He where beneath the surface but we were unsure of the salt content. had obviously kissed that island’s equivalent of the ‘Blarney Stone’ Finally a place to dig was decided upon and work started. Coral and was never lost for words to extol the bounty and beauty of the is hard stuff and progress was slow. There was an ample supply ‘Apple Isle’. of gelignite in the store and ‘Tassy’ again kindly offered to help by setting the charges if someone else dug the holes. This caused some amusement and outspoken comments as the guards were trained in the use of explosives. There was more amusement when some of the charges proved to be ‘fizzers’ mainly because there was a lack of suitable material for tamping the holes. The well was deep 108 109

Paramount chief of the Trobriands, King Mitakata, of the village of Omarakana situated 7 kilometres south of Bomatu Point, visited the Australian camp two days after we landed no doubt to see what 14 the invasion was all about. He arrived with a small son clinging to one finger and five wives hovering quietly in the background. P/O LAND AND PEOPLE Bruce Aldrich received him with due respect and presented him with what no doubt he was hoping for, several sticks of the much valued trade tobacco. The young commanding officer had done the right thing and was pleased with the good relations established with the natives. ach of the Trobriand Islands except Kitava is a true coral island The visit of Magabwela, the headman of the nearest village to Ewith the surface only a few metres at the most above sea level. the camp, posed a different problem. He arrived with a band of girls The one ridge on Kiriwina was probably formed when a series of and the announcement that he would be pleased if they were accepted uplifts formed Kitava which approaches an altitude of 200 metres into the camp, the only proviso being that food be provided for them. with its top capped by coral that was once under the sea. Kiriwina The intentions of the headman were clear but the explanations is by far the largest island with the main populated area extending required from P/O Aldrich were not so easy considering the lan­ from Losuia along the east coast to the north coast. The centre of guage barrier. After a gift of tabacco several photographs were taken the island is an uninhabited grassy swamp. In 1943 there appeared and the troupe was sent back to the village, obviously disappointed. to be a plentiful supply of food and the inhabitants were happy and Not to be denied altogether the girls arrived at the Australian camp healthy. The people are a well proportioned, brown-skinned, fuzzy- some days later chattering and laughing, dressed in their most colour­ haired, intelligent and happy race. Their moral code about which ful skirts and with red hibiscus flowers adorning their hair. These much has been written and to which they strictly adhere, did not topless females announced through the boys working in the camp cause any undue problems with the Australians. that they wanted to perform a dance. The native boys made some objection but the girls insisted and the boys retired with bemused looks on their faces. Those of us not on duty had gathered to see what was happening. Promptly the girls arranged themselves in line within the recreation area and began singing in rising and falling cadences accompanied by swaying bodies at the same time advancing and retreating in line manipulating their skirts. As their enthusiasm increased the tempo quickened until they were in a highly excited state and their actions most suggestive. The men were audience to the ‘Lasiakwa’, the mat­ ing dance of the Trobriand Islanders. They were unaware of what was going to happen and, though some were embarrassed, they could not ‘chicken out’, watched to the end and then applauded the perfor­ mance. Two of the girls who took part in the dance were Ekabouga and Egaiawa. The girls went back to the village well satisfied with themselves. Several Senior RAAF officers who visited the station at a later date and wished to see the dance performed were treated to a much modified version under the watchful eye of the village headman. Radar operator Ron McAlpin was a favourite of the native people for he always humoured them and they loved to laugh. After the We were received ceremoniously whenever we entered a village. visit of the great King Mitakata the RAAF boys decided to make LAC McAlpin a king and made it known to the natives that he was one, ‘Hook McLook, King and Conqueror’. McAlpin who was physi- 110 111

Group of girls who wanted to live in the Australian camp.

Suzi and Gumwatu

Girl on the end of a line performing the Xasiakwa’.

King Mitakata, paramount chief of the Trobriand Islands visited our camp. 112 113 cally the smallest man on the radar station would walk into a village, hit himself on the chest with a sound thump and announce himself in the above terms. Soon most of the native people on the island knew of the famous ‘Hook McLook’. There were several albino children in nearby villages. They had pink-white skin and were near to being blind but they seemed happy enough, often visiting the station and peering about to see what was being done. Nearly every day a native who had walked a long way would arrive in the camp to wonder at the behaviour of the men from Australia. Most of them were unable to speak English but attempts were usually made to communicate with them. Soon after our arrival a tall well-built native with spotless lap lap arrived, car­ rying a little girl with an expertly bandaged ankle. Sgt King, in pidg­ in English, tried to discover the reason for the presence of these two conspicuously clean natives and received a surprise. He was told, ‘I am from Tonga. I live at the Mission. The little girl has an ulcer on her ankle. We have a dispensary there.’ Ray Burton relates, ‘We had a native who used to drop in occa­ sionally, sit at the door of the hut, and read any newspapers we had. He had been to Taronga Park Zoo sponsored by ANGAU. One Group of 305 personnel at Kiriwina December 1943. Identified L to R, back row word in the newspapers he did not comprehend was “Allies”; we ‘Curley’ Brennan, Bob Lawson, Les Martin, .?, .?, .?, Bruce Aldrich. Seated is had to explain its derivation and usage.’ Ron McAlpin otherwise known as ‘Hook McLook King and Conqueror’.

Nude bathing on the north beach of Kiriwina. 114 115

receiver was used to pipe radio programmes around the camp. Some had speakers and some had only one earpiece from a headset but life for the airmen on this lonely outpost was certainly more interest­ 15 ing as a result. Jack Groome was still suffering from malaria and it became TH E GREAT FIRE’ necessary to transfer him for treatment. He returned to Milne Bay on the OOMOOBAH with Keith Bishop and his men. Jack was replaced by Allen Browne who had been a fitter with No. 1 Squa­ dron at Seven Mile Strip, Port Moresby. After a week or two of fault fixing on the Howard motors which had been running heavily loaded hen No. 305 Radar Station went to Kiriwina the Allies were for nearly six months Allen said, in desperation, ‘I’m sick to death W stepping up their air war against Japan and as the biggest of these things! I’ll burn the bastards one of these days!’ Little did Japanese base was at Rabaul it received the greatest amount of he know then that he spoke prophetic words. On 6 June the coupling attention. This meant that in the air space north of Kiriwina at almost between the motor and alternator collapsed on one unit and a replace­ all times of the day and night there were aircraft going north or ment was requested by signal. A Hudson bomber flew to Kiriwina south, either ours or Japanese. At this stage of the war the radar with the coupling two days later but the pilot was unable to locate station had no way of knowing if aircraft detected were enemy planes the radar station as it was so well hidden. He was searching the or belonged to the Allies unless Fighter Control reported back. coast for what he knew would look like a native village and finally Friendly aircraft were later fitted with IFF (identification friend or dropped the coupling near a village about 8 kilometres away. A reward foe). Reference is made to IFF in subsequent pages. The operators was offered and a native walked into the camp with the coupling never had a dull moment when they were on duty and the whole on 10 June and Allen had the power supply working that night. operation ran like clockwork. Besides searching the skies the radar Electric light globes were in very short supply and it was essen­ operators were ever alert for any short range targets which could tial that the several remaining globes be reserved for the plotting prove to be an enemy boat or submarine. On the LW/AW display table and the wireless operators. This meant that Allen had to use screen the echo from a surface vessel was quite distinctive being a kerosene lantern when he refuelled or carried out maintenance shown as an inverted V which fluctuated in amplitude in rhythm on the motors at night. The lantern was fitted with a shade which with the prevailing ocean swell. was always turned towards the sea for security reasons. Allen worked The radar unit developed few faults and it was the mechanics late until 0130 hours on 23 June. When he had the motor ready to who had an easy time and read all the books they could lay their start he set about refuelling it for the changeover which had become hands on. Our wireless operators were very busy and at this stage due at midnight. Following his usual routine he placed the lantern Dick Trotter had a great deal of trouble with the battery charger. in a convenient place as far away as possible, the distance being The litde Briggs and Stratton had been chugging away for five months limited to about ten metres by the surrounding trees. The petrol drum and finally decided to cease labouring. was located on a coral outcrop just off the track leading into the A telephone line was run from the ‘Doover’ to the mechanics’ engine room which was a native type structure for camouflage pur­ sleeping quarters and another to the Commanding Officer’s hut. poses. As he was pouring the petrol into the tank of the engine there While this was being done two of the native girls who were insepar­ was a vapour flash from the lantern to the open drum and from able companions and had been nicknamed Kate and Tilly after two the drum to the can of petrol being poured. Allen jumped clear and well known Sydney identities, were hanging around as usual and luckily no petrol splashed on his clothes but both arms were sprayed on this occasion were being somewhat of a nuisance to Bill and Norm. and the flaming petrol severely burned them. The guard on duty, They were looking over the mechanics’ shoulders while they were RonAckerley, raised the alarm immediately. It so happened that Norm joining wires so Bill grabbed back over his shoulder with the pliers. Smith was dressed and ran to the scene with Ron and, seeing the They settled for a prominent part of one girl’s anatomy which was situation, called for all those now awake to bring bags of sand from bare, as usual. There was a sudden retreat with squeals and cries the defence positions which were close to hand. Flames were belch­ of ‘Beel! Sinagaga!’. The last word translates, ‘very bad’. As there ing forth from the petrol drum so that we had to rush past during was sufficient telephone cable available lines were also run to the the intervals between belches of fire to pour the sand over the engines huts and the mess from the wireless hut. The standby wireless which were by then well ablaze. There was no chance of saving 116 117

the hut made of dry thatch but the surrounding bush was quite damp and did not catch alight. It was a short fierce conflagration leaving one man severely burned about the arms, two men slightly singed and the radar off the air. Wireless contact with Milne Bay was also 16 broken as the Briggs and Stratton battery charger was ‘pulled down’ waiting for spares. SECOND EMERGENCY Gordon Powell referred to this as ‘The Great Fire’ in his book ‘Two Steps to Tokyo’ and wrote — ‘It formed a beacon which was bisible sixty miles away and an excellent guide to the Japanese’. Damage to the power units was severe. Soldered joints on lines and tanks had parted; insulation was burned from magneto wires he fire was a disaster in itself but everyone hoped that it had and the external wiring of the alternators; rubber hoses were gone. Tnot been seen by any enemy boats that might decide to inves­ While the application of sand had lessened the damage it also filtered tigate the cause. Tension rose when the telephone rang in the early into the innards of the engine. A start was made immediately to hours of the next morning after the fire to say that surface vessels resurrect one power supply by the light of the offending lantern. had been picked up on the radar screen. There was a general alert The first job was to dismantle and wash all parts with petrol at and all defence positions were manned. Vessels were moving west­ a more than safe distance. A number of improvisations were need­ ward and soon came inside the radar’s effective range. Visually they ed. The petrol and oil tanks were replaced by drums suspended from were indistinct smudges against the horizon as they passed the point posts. Soldering was done with an iron heated in a wood fire. Power about a mile out to sea. Our specialist Army guards moved along cable sufficed for ignition wires. The alternator wires were repaired the beach to follow the movements of the craft and observe any land­ and bared windings taped. The contraption that resulted from all ing. A strict blackout was enforced and everyone prepared for an this was not very imposing but its burst into life at the first starting attack because it was not known if the vessels were those of the attempt and increased its revolutions as never before until it threa­ enemy or not. tened to self-destruct. Ignition leads were torn off to bring it to a A rather humorous incident occurred when Allen Browne was halt. When the governor was correctly reassembled the motor ran groping about in the darkness with his arms swathed in bandages. satisfactorily. Allen was in the same hut as Tom Connor who had brought in one The radar was back on th air at 1600 hours on the same day of the large empty tins in which army biscuits had been packed. and Dick Trotter tried to raise Fighter Control at Milne Bay on the Allen fell backwards and sat in the open end of that tin and was wireless. At first his calls were not acknowledged and after some unable to get out without help. Muffled laughter from those trying time he was asked to identify himself. The station had become silent to get him out of this predicament brought a sharp reprimand from without warning and at Milne Bay they had to consider the possibility P/O Aldrich. of it being in enemy hands taking into account its isolation. There was an anxious wait until the army boys returned at 1100 P/O Aldrich sent an immediate signal requesting two power units. hours to report the landing of American soldiers several kilometres Allen Browne was in the care of medical orderly Roy Schooth. Guard west of Bomatu Point where there was a wide break in the reef that and handyman, George Campbell, was put in charge of the power surrounded most of the island. The Americans expressed surprise unit and the radar mechanics went for a shower and a sleep. George at the presence of the Australians and said they expected to see treated the chattering machine with tender loving care adding petrol Japanese instead. This report gave rise to some uncomfortable reflec­ when required and each time some oil also, just in case, until the tions as to what would have happened if the fire in the engine room drum was nearly full. The normal oil tank held about a litre of oil had occurred twenty four hours later than it did. Other Americans but the engine was now drawing oil from a reservoir of about ten had gone ashore at Losuia and this advance force set about improv­ litres. Oil circulated through the motor which was a dry sump type ing landing facilities and generally preparing the island for a full- and George had made a great discovery by chance. The large volume scale landing a week later. The Americans who made these landings of oil acted as a heat sink and the makeshift motor ran continuously were not told whether or not the island was in Japanese hands in for two days without a falter until replacements were received and order that they might gain valuable experience in landing on such installed. coral-encircled islands presumably under enemy control. On future occasions they would have to cope with the Japanese as well. 118 119

Invasion of the Trobriand Islands was announced in America to coincide with the Fourth of July celebrations. The lads on No. 305 Radar Station heard the announcement from KWID, San Francisco, that the Americans had captured the Trobriand Islands ‘with little or no resistance’. There was no mention of the small band of Australians who had been there for many weeks before the American invasion. Several weeks later the Australians, with much amusement, were able to sit in an American open air cinema on Kiriwina and see the whole thing on a newsreel which was being shown in all Allied countries. The same American soldiers later landed on many islands defended by fanatical Japanese soldiers. Later, on the same day as the first Americans landed, a signal was received directing Bruce Aldrich to take delivery of two replace­ ment power supplies at Losuia the following day, 26 June. The young officer left late in the night with his guide, Gumwatu, to walk about twenty five kilometres along inter-village tracks to reach Losuia early in the morning. There he paid his respects to ANGAU officer, Captain Whitehouse. This dedicated officer who spoke the Kiriwinan language fluently, had remained at his post during the threatened occupation of the island by the Japanese and throughout the war provided valuable information to the Allies. Qantas Short Empire Flying Boat VH-CRB landed in the sheltered Allen Browne was proud of the new Ford 10 power units. water near Losuia with two Ford 10 power supplies to replace the Howards. Aboard the seaplane were F/Lt J.T. Alley, administrative officer, and F/O R.L. Harrison, technical officer, both from No. 41 with its trailer had to be driven full speed across the coral sand Radar Wing. It had become a habit among men on the radar station, at the precise time the waves were receding to prevent being swamped including the commanding officer not to wear any indications of by sea water. As soon as Allen Browne got the new power units rank. Japanese snipers tended to pick off officers and NCO’s he installed them. He was delighted with the push button starting, wherever possible so there was a practical background to this habit. well-silenced motors, precise vibrating-reed frequency meters and When Bruce Aldrich went to meet the RAAF officers who had come generous 5 KVA alternators. ashore from the flying boat they asked where they might find P/O Adlrich. After the young officer identified himself F/Lt Alley reprimanded him on the spot for not wearing rank. F/O Harrison had come to Kiriwina to hold an official enquiry into the cause of the fire. A business-like American harbourmaster soon had the two Ford 10 power units ashore and loaded into a trailer behind a jeep. These power supplies together weighed 1400 kilograms. Bruce Adlrich was faced with the task of driving the jeep and dragging a trailer with that load about 25 kilometres across the island where only walking tracks existed. Many hours were spent on this tedious four wheel drive low gear journey. Numerous obstacles had to be removed and in places detours had to be made. Finally the coast was reached near Bugeewa Point more than three kilometres from the radar sta­ tion. From there the beach had to be followed because of impassable coral outcrops on that part of the island. At Karakuba Point the jeep 120 121

Soon after the Americans landed on Kiriwina the radar station received a visit from a padre, F/LT Gordon Powell, who endured a hectic trip across Kiriwina in a jeep with Padre Roger Correll. They 17 bounced and bumped their way along the trail blazed by Bruce Aldrich. All off duty personnel, irrespective of their religious VISITORS persuasion, attended the religious service held during their visit. Later Rev. Dr Gordon Powell wrote a book, ‘TWO STEPS TO TOKYO’, dealing with many aspects of the war. In the book he expressed his admiration for the radar station’s work by devoting a complete chapter to it. wo visitors arrived at the station before there was access by With the influx of servicemen to the island the pristine beauty Ta road of any sort. Wing Commanders A.D.J. Garrisson and of Bomatu Point gradually became known among the RAAF men and W. A.Minchin landed their Walrus pusher type seaplane outside the soon visitors began to arrive on one pretext or another, some legiti­ reef where they dropped anchor. They were brought ashore in a mate and some contrived. Considering the supply position the cook single outrigger canoe and spent a pleasant time taking photographs was not too happy about this. As the number of visitors increased and enjoying the hospitality of the station whose members were it was decided to erect the sign shown in the picture. pleased to see visitors at this time. On returning to the sea front Radar operator Ray Burton recalls, ‘Two natives of Kiriwina whom there was the seaplane heading towards the horizon for sharp coral we named “Banana” (Sasperana) and “Joe” (unpronounceable and had severed the anchor rope. The canoe was used to round up the unspellable) were a bright and happy pair who got on well with runaway but there was the matter of retrieving the anchor. Trobri- the airmen and provided much humour. Many hours were spent in and Islanders are experienced pearl divers, doing so without any training Joe to “Salute the Braid”. As a fighter squadron (RAAF) aids such as protective goggles — hence the high incidence of eye had recently arrived on the island, we expected an influx of officers problems. The diver who retrieved the anchor descended to a depth wearing braid on their epaulettes, and Joe was taught to recognise of more than fifteen metres and was below the surface for well over this and throw a very smart salute — he would then hold the salute a minute. while he made a very rude remark about “Air Board”. I do not think any officer ever conveyed Joe’s message to Air Board.’

Hvo Wing Commanders taking photographs. 122 123

Padres Gordon Powell and Roger Correll conducted a religious service for the airmen.

This sign assured visitors they had arrived.

Joe demonstrating his ‘famous’ salute. 124 125

Lae, Dobodura on the Papua New Guinea mainland as well as the islands of Goodenough, Woodlark and Kiriwina. As most of the bom­ bers set out from Rabaul and Gasmata our operators were seldom 18 without something to report. On 12 October the Allies answered the Japanese by sending a total of 308 aircraft against the defences OPERATIONS ON KIRIWINA of Rabaul. Liberators, Fortresses and Mitchells made a rendezvous over Kiriwina and were there joined by the long range P38’s (Lightn­ ing fighters) that had refuelled on the island for the 500 kilometre flight to Rabaul and then back again. We all stood on the beach at Kiriwina and gazed in awe as this air armada circled the island une and July were very busy months for the radar technical in the clear blue sky above and then thundered north to cause devasta­ personnel. An almost continuous stream of plots on both Allied tion in Rabaul. Jand enemy aircraft was being transmitted to Milne Bay. The radar In raids like this it was important for the radar operators to antenna was less than twenty metres above sea level and this res­ watch for any lone aircraft that may have been damaged in the at­ tricted the distance at which low flying aircraft could be detected tack and was struggling home out of the main stream of traffic. If because the curvature of the earth is one of the limiting factors. any such aircraft had to be ditched the approximate location could However the main search was for Japanese aircraft coming from be given by the radar station. If this was a point near to New Britain Gasmata and Rabaul and these were usually at more than 7000 metres a flying boat would be sent to rescue the crew but if near to Kiriwina altitude when they came within the radar’s nominal maximum range. the fast PT boats from their base near Bomatu Point were on hand. With very few exceptions this regular early warning of the approach Another large Allied bomber force was sent on a daylight raid of the Japanese was allowing the Allied fighters to meet them before against Rabaul on 29 October. As before the whole force assembled the targets were reached. at Kiriwina. On this occasion our radar followed the aircraft to an Enemy aircraft were very slow to attack the Allied base on extreme range of 360 kilometres. These long range plots would have Kiriwina and the work of construction went on practically unhindered been the echoes returned by the protective fighter screen high above during July and August. When the fighter squadrons arrived on Kiri­ the bombers. wina the pilots were complaining about the lack of targets for them. Japanese tacticians were at last showing that they recognised Americans had established a base on Woodlark Island at the the effectiveness of the Allies’ early warning radar system and there same time as they landed on Kiriwina. On the first day of August was evidence of countermeasures being taken. To offset the reduced No. 305 plotted enemy aircraft moving from New Britain towards ranges obtained when the Japanese flew at low altitude the Ameri­ Woodlark and the Americans had early warning of the first raid cans installed an Australian-made LW/AW Mk2 radar unit on the on that island. They were alerted to another attack on 11 August. island of Kitava. Mark 2 equipment was similar to that used by No. Some of these Japanese aircraft proceeded south of Woodlark and 305 Radar Station in most respects except that the transmitter had then west to finally approach Kiriwina from the south and drop bombs a peak output of 50 kilowatts, a fivefold increase. This power advan­ causing casualties and doing some damage to installations. From tage plus an operating height above sea level of more than 100 metres then on our operators extended the arc to 360 degrees on each fourth would mean earlier detection of low flying aircraft. Members of the sweep to guard against a repeat of the incident. American reporting platoon were not familiar with the Australian Kiriwina base was fully established in August 1943, and that design characteristics and were unable to get the radar to function month No. 114 Mobile Fighter Control Unit (MFCU) arrived on the satisfactorily. Arrangements were made and on 27 October radar island from Camden, NSW, via Goodenough Island. When the fighter operator Ray Burton and mechanic Norm Smith were picked up off control was set up it was connected to the radar unit by direct land Bomatu Point by an American PT boat and taken to Kitava. Some line and later had an alternative means of direct contact via the adjustments were made and a field strength reading showed the telephone system set up on the island. transmitter output was normal and the receiver input peaked on During the night of 5 October we tracked a flight of six Japanese the operating frequency. Ray Burton calibrated the indicator unit bombers from a point 185 kilometres north to our island where the and instructed the Americans on the finer points of operating the bombing killed three men, wounded a number and did some damage. Australian radar. We were warmly thanked for the services rendered Within a fortnight there were raids by the Japanase on Finschhafen, and the Americans sought to repay us in some way. On arrival back 126 127 at Kiriwina we were taken to the airstrip to be shown two night fighter aircraft, one a Black Widow and the other a Boston (A20), fitted with air-to-air radar. They had been brought in to intercept a Japanese reconnaissance plane which was in the habit of flying 19 low over Kiriwina at night. The two planes were to patrol the air­ space above the island that night and when a chance to fly as an TECHNICAL MATTERS observer in the Boston was offered it was accepted with alacrity. No Japanese plane appeared that night and the supernumerary was left with a mixed feeling of pleasure and disappointment. A month later, using a plane prepared for the purpose, a Spitfire pilot shot down a high flying Japanese Dinah reconnaissance plane over Kiri­ n August a very useful piece of electronic gear was added to the wina during daylight. Iradar receiver. This was an English-made preamplifier using two After the two exceptionally heavy raids on Rabaul the numbers type CV66 grounded grid triode valves followed by a VR136 RF pen­ of aircraft used in raids against Allied positions were reduced. The tode. This amplifier was placed in the transmission line before the ability of the Lightning fighters to stay in the air for long periods normal receiver and not only improved the sensitivity but the CV66 meant that the Japanese were attacked before they reached their valves were better able to withstand the overloading that occurred targets and were harassed right back to New Britain. A combination in this part of the circuitry than were the 955 acorn types used of early warning given by No.305 Radar Station and the superior in the normal receiver. Improving the sensitivity of the receiver was American fithers was so effective that most Japanese aircraft in tantamount to increasing the output of the transmitter with some raids from November on were shot down. improvement in the maximum possible range of the radar. Defence of the radar station was no longer a problem and the Norm Smith was posted to No. 41 Radar Wing on the first day men were able to relax in this regard. The Army men were taken of November to work on maintenance and installation and was sur­ away to a much more dangerous situation along the north coast of prised to be sent back to No. 305 Radar Station ten days later with Papua New Guinea. To keep the men active Bruce Aldrich issued F/O Bernard Katz to install a very important piece of newly deve­ orders for a period of instruction in weaponry to be carried out loped equipment designated BL4. This transmitter/receiver was by the guards. The first practice shoot was held on 21 October. Among designed to operate in conjunction with another piece of equipment other things the instruction included the use of grenades, the firing being installed at the same time in all Allied aircraft by radar mechan­ of rifles, Tommy guns and the Boyes anti-tank rifle. This latter single ics with the squadrons. The transmitter installed at the radar sta­ shot weapon had to be fired in the prone position. Strapped firmly tion was capable of triggering the small transmitter carried in the to the weapon, the firer was driven back several inches by the delayed aircraft which responded with a coded signal that was displayed action of a recoil spring when the armour piercing bullet was project­ on the radar screen along with the aircraft blip to identify it as ed. Some of the men coming to the station to relieve long serving being ours. Hence the name given to the system — Identification members had not had much opportunity to fire their rifles and were Friend or Foe of IFF for short. encouraged to improve their markmanship at opportune times. A This development was, in principle, the same as that used in complaint was lodged with Bruce Aldrich by the ANGAU officer modern airport control systems to indentify the various aircraft on when some of us had a session shooting parrots in the tall trees the radar screen. It was an extremely important and valuable near a village at the request of the natives. development and to prevent the airborne part falling into enemy hands, the aircraft installation was contained in a steel box which incorporated an explosive charge and a jolt sensitive trigger. The charge was sufficient to destroy the electronic circuits without burst­ ing the steel box. Many pilots were apprehensive about these ‘newfangled contraptions’ for a misjudgment in manufacture could have fatal results. The IFF system was working at No. 305 on 17 November and from then on the operators knew that aircraft responding to the interrogator were friendly. This is what Allen Browne had to say about a problem with a 129 128 new Ford 10 power supply unit, ‘I was lying in my bunk one day basking in my new found glory when the chief radar mechanic walked in to say that a fan blade had gone through the radiator of one of the Fords. Inspection showed that the fan blade broke on the end 20 near where it was riveted to the pulley and the free blade had gashed through four or five radiator water veins. First of all to repair the HEALTH AND RECREATION fan, I removed the rivets to free the remaining part of the broken blade and also the unbroken one. Two shortened identical blades were fashioned using hacksaw, file and hand drill and riveted back on the pulley. I used the hacksaw to remove a three inch width of core from the top to the bottom of the radiator. As I didn’t have the he airmen had much more in the way of entertainment on Kiriwina gear to braze the open pipe ends I took off with the radiator on Tthan on Goodenough but their stay in the Tropics was beginning my back to seek help from the Americans who had recently landed to take its toll. Although malaria was suppressed in most members on the island. I finally found a unit able to help and I was over­ by the regular intake of atabrine there is no doubt that all of the whelmed by their hospitality and all the gear they had to enable men had the malarial parasite in their blood streams by that time. me to braze my radiator.’ Except on special occasions the usual dress about the station was Whenever and wherever the Americans were asked for shorts and boots and the main reason for this was the increasing assistance the response was the same — one of total cooperation. incidence of skin diseases which accelerated with the deterioration Allen had the Ford working again but unfortunately the oil pres­ of the airmen’s general health. Bodies covered by clothes were cons­ sure was nearly non-existent. His ingenuity was unbounded for he tantly wet with perspiration and this didn’t help the skin conditions. dismantled the motor and packed the back of the bearings which One very fair-skinned, red-headed radar operator, ‘Bluey’ Blunt, had lost most of their white metal linings with tinsel paper from suffered severely and eventually had to be flown to Milne Bay for chocolate wrappings and spent hours with a scraper fitting them hospital treatment. to the journals. When reassembled the motor ran as sweetly as ever. Ray Burton remembers:- ‘With the onslaught of skin diseases at Kiriwina a large number of the crew spend considerable time on the beach (in the sun) and in the water. We had a raft anchored in the sea within the reef, off Bomatu Point. The raft provided a resting place whilst swimming, safe from the coral sea-snakes and the deadly stone fish that lurked on the sea bed. Later on the raft was used by the Beaufighters as a dummy target when they swept around the island doing low flying approaches. No airman willingly remained on the raft at the approach of a ‘Whispering Death’ as the Beaufighter was named. It became the practice of a group of airmen to sit on the beach at Kiriwina each afternoon at dusk and watch the waves come in. They stayed well after dark watching the changes in the fluorescent glow from the water and swapping stories. This, at first, seemed an idyllic life but after six uninterrupted months of it with the same group of men the strain was beginning to affect the whole crew. There were no weekends (long or short), no public holidays, not even an immediate feedback on the results of the information we were passing to Fighter Control. Effects of isolation and boredom were starting to show and were not relieved by the knowledge that if and when more amenities were introduced to the island by the inflow of more RAAF and American units, the radar crew would most like head off into the wide blue 130 131 yonder to another remote and farther advanced island. Australian tions farther away on the island, ‘blacked out’ because of our warn­ Army field rations did nothing to relieve the tedium — one quickly ing, were bombed. Bright lights must have been considered by the became nauseated at the thought of yet another meal of bully beef, Japanese to be a decoy! ‘pregnant’ gold fish, baked beans or M&V. Our cook had an unenvia­ Quite a few of the Yanks, as we called them, and in particular ble task in trying to present some variety in the foodstuff without a group of North American Indians, frequented our mess hut to listen the aid of sugar or yeast — requisition was made for such items to the radio. This was often timed in a to KWID San Francisco and but they invariably disappeared in transit. A memorable occasion at other times to a Japanese station for regular broadcasts by ‘Tokyo was the baking of some scones, made with the aid of a tin of ‘Sal Rose’ who would play sentimental, popular and nostalgic American Vital’ — very tough but edible. On one occasion cook tried to pre­ recordings. Romantic music was interspersed by friendly chatter pare a meal from dehydrated mutton — the smell was so revolting in a seductive female voice giving Japanese versions of the war news. that most airmen, including the cook, left the camp area. The show was aimed at making the servicemen in the Pacific Islands As there was no possibility of receiving or making bread, the homesick and feel part of a defeated team. ‘Brave’ and ’sensible’ good old ‘Dog Biscuit’ became the mainstay of most people’s diet. Allied servicemen were urged to surrender to the ‘friendly’ soldiers At least one member of 305 maintains that these Army biscuits kept of the ‘invincible’ Japanese army. The Australians listened to the him alive. He soaked them overnight and ate them as a cereal for show, enjoyed the music and ridiculed the news broadcasts. breakfast. It was soon discovered that Peak Freans made the the As Ray Burton observed, ‘Psychologically the show may have most palatable biscuit and this airman managed to maintain a sup­ had some effect on a real loner, listening in isolation, but we found ply at all time.’ that, as a team, listening to it was pleasant change from the then One boon at Kiriwina was the kerosene-burning absorption ‘frig’. current hits broadcast by the Overseas Service of the Australian Cordial purchased at the canteen was used to keep up the supply Broadcasting Commission and KWID San Francisco.’ of iceblocks. Home brew was manufactured by several members. Americans introduced the game of volley ball and we played Most of this proved to be of quite an explosive nature due, no doubt, it quite frequently in the cleared area near our mess. Badminton to vigorous fermentation in such hot conditions. Care was taken in was also enjoyed. There were regulars who played poker in the mess storing to prevent injury from flying glass. every night until the early hours of the morning; often men left the After the area came under the control of Americans each senior poker game to go on midnght shift and there were occasions when NCO on the station became eligible to a ration of one bottle of spirits ‘Morrie the Cook’ left a game to prepare breakfast. each month. This was usually used to concoct a ‘punch’ by adding it and a bottle or two of cordial to water in a bucket which then became the centre of a convivial gathering beneath a shady tree. As the number of Americans on Kiriwina increased they were hard put to it to find somewhere to pitch their tents for the island was fairly densely populated by a few thousand native people be­ fore the troops arrived. They placed an anti-aircraft battery just west of our radar station and Australians off duty could attend the regular open-air cinema operated by that unit. American signallers set up camp just south of the radar station. We were able to supply light to their mess hut by using twin telephone line, supplied by to supply light to their mess hut by using twin telephone line, supplied by them and suspended between trees to their camp. Two standard American 115 volt light globes were connected in series to comply with our 240 volt supply. Light bulbs generously supplied by Americans brightly illumi­ nated our mess hut turning it into a recreational centre. So great was this new found ‘joy’, that even though ours was THE early warning Cyril Witham in a small single outrigger canoe used to fish in deep water out­ radar station, we omitted to turn off our lights during an approching side the reef. ______Japanese raid on the island. Our lights were ignored and installa­ 132 133

Music was a important means of keeping spirits up on Kiriwina. tired of this never-ending racy talk and decided to have some amuse­ It was discovered that Allen Browne had been a drummer in a dance ment at Mick’s expense. Mick habitually left his boots near the hut band and could produce rhythm from all sorts of contraptions. Cyril entrance where he could easily find them as he went to work before Witham was a professional musician and Norm Smith had some first light to kindle the cookhouse fire. Allen Browne supplied the sheet music and a chromatic mouth organ. Several chaps could ‘play sump oil that was used to fill Mick’s boots one night. Much to his the leaf’ and this all resulted in quite a bit of self entertainment. surprise Tom watched the oil-filled boots stand there for three days The musical ability of Cyril Witham was brought to light when a and, as nothing had been said, could no longer contain himself. When special concert party visited Kiriwina bringing a piano. While every­ he asked Mick why he hadn’t cleaned the oil out of the boots the one was waiting for the performers to arrive, Cyril asked permission surprising reply was, ‘They’re not my boots, they’re your spare pair.’ to play a few tunes on the piano. Servicemen from both sides of Another classic practical joke perpertrated at Goodenough earlier the Pacific sat on the ground or on contrived seats in the open air on was the successive ‘deaths’ of a snake whose mangled head lay theatre and listened in delight while he reeled off excerpts from hidden beneath a convenient stone and its sinuous body across the the classics and popular melodies of the day. track leading to the Doover. Bruce Aldrich still reckons it wasn’t Cyril was a dedicated radar operator but in his spare time was funny when he came eye to eye with the death adder at the bottom given to writing music. He produced a tune which he submitted as of a slit trench during an air raid at Kiriwina. A good laugh was an entry in a competition being run by the ABC at that time. Mem­ enjoyed by twenty nine of the thirty men on the station because of bers of the radar station got a great kick out of hearing the melody an oversight by one of the guards. The latrine was a ‘two holer’ over played in Melbourne and broadcast over short wave by the ABC. a deep hole dug laboriously in hard coral. As there was no readily Below are the words to the melody written by a young man who available soil for coverage it was the custom to pour petrol down had no prospect of returning home in the near future — a future the hole each morning and set it alight. The petrol was poured in very much in the dark. one morning and for some obscure reason not set alight. By the time the first visitor arrived the hole was filled with petrol fumes. It was Slumber Silhouette, a most unfortunate young man who settled himself in a comfortable Don’t fade away just yet, position and casually pulled out a cigarette before striking a match. How blue I was until you came along; I’ve always wanted you The blast of gas left him shocked and singed. One wonders if he And now you’re really true. is still a smoker. Lovely Lady this is my love song: Don’t fade away just yet My Slumber Silhouette I want to hold you always. Dear, it seems. That pretty picture gone, I’m left here all alone To try to catch you in my dreams.

Much reading was done and at all times reading matter was a much sought after commodity. After a month alone on Kiriwina when everyone had read all reading matter available the standing joke was, ‘I’ll have that piece of brown paper when you’re finished reading it and you can have this piece of bark.’ Most airmen read Tom Connor’s copy of THE RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM. Tom was wont to quote from the text to give weight to his frequent philosophical observations. Practical jokes were not the order of the day as nerves that were continually on edge were apt to snap and the joke misfire. Mick, the cook’s helper, had a habit of expressing his thoughts in the parlance of the race track. For instance he would observe, ‘I wonder A stick of gelignite thrown into the sea near the reef resulted in this haul of how many will line up at the barrier for breakfast!’ Tom became fish. The dog had become the unit's mascot.______134 135

Whenever our guards set out to obtain a supply of fish by the usual method of stunning them with a gelignite bomb many natives would appear like magic to join in the fun and collect a bonus for their assistance. With the concentration of more armed units on the island there were more and more fishing parties exploiting the shoals of fish on the reefs. Soon the natives became familiar with MISCELLANY the use of gelignite until finally one native, at least, induced some servicemen to supply him with gelignite bombs fixed with detona­ tors and fuses. It is not clear whether the bombs were the result of trading or simply an act of thoughtless generosity. Noel Lynam decided on a leisurely walk to the beach on one occasion there to owards the end of 1943 a number of the station’s original crew be stunned by a shocking scene which he recalls:- Twere posted elsewhere and new faces appeared at Bomatu Point. ‘Joe — one of our happy-go-lucky native friends — was out some Men like radar operator Keith Hinchcliffe who had been in Papua thirty metres standing on the reef with a bomb in one hand and New Guinea since the ‘Do’ at Milne Bay were posted back to Austra­ a fire-stick in the other. Whatever the circumstances — flash fuse lia. Bill Humphries who had proved his ability to cope with all sorts — too excited — not throwing soon enough — the bomb exploded of technical problems as well as the rigours of life in the tropics in the air (probably still held) and his hand was blown off. Bleeding left on 28 July to work on maintenance and installation for No. 41 profusely he was floundering about — a human shark bait. Bewil­ Radar Wing. On 16 November radar mechanic ‘Curly’ Brennan was dered natives milled about on the beach unwilling to go to his aid. admitted to No. 3 MRS and was ill for ten days. On 26 November Desperation must have given some authority to my voice and two Morrie Davis handed over the cook house to S.W. Botterill. Wireless native men waded out to bring the stricken one ashore whereupon operator H. J. Sedgely, was posted to No. 41 Radar Wing and thence he broke free and hurled himself with suicidal intent head-first to be wireless operator on the M.V. OOMOOBAH. On receiving the against a jagged coral outcrop. Quick hands restrained and immobi­ signal of his posting such was Sedge’s excitement that he grabbed lized Joe. Medical orderly D. Bavington was soon on the scene to his Tommy gun and woke everyone in the camp by discharging a inject morphine and administer first aid. After two weeks in hospi­ full magazine of bullets skywards. Sedge later completed a course tal Joe was back in the village. in Japanese morse code and was on board an American ship at the ANGAU officials and native police recovered many gelignite Philippines landing where he was intercepting enemy messages. bombs from a hut in a nearby village. It was reported that these There were many postings and promotions in the months that bombs with their dangling fuses were found reposing on a specially- followed. constructed stick shelf above a fire that burned all night. It is not surprising that a number of people were reprimanded.’

Towards the of 1943 the unit acquired a jeep. George Campbell is the driver. 136 137

LW/AW No. 336 Radar Station arrived at Kiriwina on 26 On 14 December 1943 a single enemy aircraft, flying near sea November and was followed by No. 33 7 Radar Station next day. After level, approached Kiriwina from the south and was not detected staging at No. 46 OBU the former was taken to the south of the island by the radar network. The month of December 1943 was a busy and F/O Keith Bishop and Sgt Arndt went to help with the installa­ time for all radar stations on the PNG area as there were two major tion. F/O Bernard Katz and Norm Smith were sent to help install landings in New Britain by members of 1st United States Cavalry the latter on the northern shore a few kilometres west of No. 305 Division. The first was at Arawe on 15 December and the second Radar Station, not far from the main airstrip. No. 337 Radar Station at Cape Gloucester on 26 December. No. 335 RAAF Radar Station was set up on the coral just above sea level and was operational landed with the Americans on the island of Pilelo at Arawe. Ranges at 1900 hours on the first day of December. Next day there was of up to 240 kilometres were recorded by 305 during this period an interchange of half of the radar operators of No. 305 and No. but many blips had IFF responses imposed on them indicating they 337 so that the men new to the game could benefit by the experience were from our own aircraft. of the old campaigners. No. 337 was being prepared for an impor­ It was at this time that the direct line from the radar station tant assignment and the visit to Kiriwina was in the way of training to the Fighter Control Unit was broken. Operator Noel Lynam, tried for that. During its short period of operation the station had some to raise the switch to send plots by normal telephone but could not successes. On 21 December a single enemy aircraft was detected raise anyone. In desperation he disconnected the lines from the field at 200 kilometres and was shot down by one of our intercepting fight­ telephone and pushed the ends momentarily into the 240 VAC power ers. On 23 December the station sent 76 plots on hostile aircraft socket. The telephone at the other end must have performed well to No. 114 MFCU. When No. 337 Radar Station left Kiriwina on 28 for there was an agitated response when he reconnected the lines February 1944, with it went radar operators Eddie Collon, Ray Burton to the phone, ‘What was that? What was that?’ and other members of No. 305. The station went by air to Finschhafen, American fliers on Kiriwina had come to regard the Australian staged at Dreger Harbour and thence by LST (landing ship tank) radar station with a great deal of respect because of its continued to land on the northern beach of Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands efficiency and, in line with their usual generosity, agreed to take on 9 March 1944. the station’s C.O., F/O Bruce Aldrich along on a bombing raid on Rabaul. He went in a Mitchell B25 light bomber which, because of its speed, usually bombed from a relatively low level and then used its 75 millimetre cannon to shoot up any targets that might present themselves. This particular aircraft came under heavy anti­ aircraft fire, was damaged and limped back to base behind the rest of the flight. There, waiting for it to return, was General P.B. Wurtsmith, commanding officer of the Fifth American Air Force. F/O Aldrich had left his command without permission so the Gener­ al told F/O Aldrich to behave himself in future and act like a respon­ sible officer of the Fifth Air Force and followed the reprimand by an invitation to dinner. One night the station reported a single aircraft approaching from the north showing IFF. No plane was expected to be arriving at Kiri­ wina from that direction at that time but a Beaufort, based at Goo­ denough, was returning from a raid and, being in difficulties, the pilot decided to put down at Kiriwina, the nearest landing place. Despite the radar station’s warning, as the aircraft approached with its lights on, the American Ack-Ack crew opened up with their Bofors and sent the pilot on a violent evasive course to escape and reach Goodenough safely. Several airmen left 305 to go with 337 on an LST for the invasion of the Admiralty Fighter Control, No. 305 Radar Station and the American Ack-Ack Islands. Identified:- On left — Ray Burton [above] Eddie Collon [below] Ron McAlpin [bottom right corner). unit were involved in a misunderstanding on one occasion. Duty spot­ ter for the Ack-Ack unit saw what he believed to be seven aircraft 138 139

echoes and, in the European theatre of war where the distances between opposing forces was much less, caused much confusion. In the Pacific the device was not so effective because the false sig­ nal remained static and was soon recognisable as the planes flew on. Japanese aircraft approached Kiriwina once at high altitude and dropped window after which they flew away, reformed and returned at very low altitude to attack under the cover of the blanket of window. Three plots only were obtained on the returning aircraft as they came into the radar beam before entering the blank area caused by the window. The ruse almost worked. SPOTTED DOGS were prepared by the Australian radar opera­ tors each month. On a map of the area covered by the station were placed all plots for the month, those of the enemy being in a different colour to those of Allied planes. The pattern so created was of great use to the intelligence people studying Japanese tactics. As some sta­ tions reported thousands of plots per month (No. 37 Radar Station at Milne Bay recorded 28,844 radar plots in one month) the resul­ tant chart resembled multi-coloured measles on a white background. Thus arose the description ‘Spotted Dog’. Spitfires were used in the defence of Kiriwina. Radar operator Noel Lynam remained with No. 305 Radar Sta­ tion throughout its operational life in Papua New Guinea and be­ cause of his dedication became very skilled at his job as did many flying to the north of the island and dutifully reported the fact to other radar personnel who received very little recognition for the the Fighter Control. Duty officer there in turn called the radar sta­ work they did. While at Kiriwina he would check with Fighter Con­ tion’s plotting room demanding why the aircraft had not been reported trol to find out at what altitude our planes were flying and, bit by and ordered those concerned to pay more attention to their work. bit, was able to draw up a chart by which he could give a fairly The operator on the plotting board went out with the binoculars accurate estimate of the altitude of any aircraft flying in the area and was able to see seven large tropical birds known as frigates after a few plots had been taken on it. And Noel was only one of circling well out to sea. The American spotter was often unkindly the equally skilled and dedicated operators that served on 305. reminded of his mistake. P/O Clayton, leaving his base at No. 41 Radar Wing, arrived at A Spitfire pilot had to ditch his plane in the sea about two hundred No. 305 on 10 January 1944 to install an ASV beacon which was kilometres north of Kiriwina and another pilot circled the spot to to be a navigational aid — the forerunner of a similar device used mark the position. Because of inexperience the controller at fighter all over the world to this day — for aircraft going to and from the sector took the operators at No. 305 to task for not reporting the island. The electronic beacon began operating on 21 February and circling plane so the position could be pinpointed for rescue opera­ was put under the charge of radar mechanic Bob Lawson who was tions. The radar operator had to request that the circling aircraft now the senior mechanic on the station. It is interesting to note that be directed to increase its altitude as it was below the horizon and Bob was no stranger to life in the islands having been a planter so out of the radar beam. By March 1944 the Japanese began using in the Solomon Islands before the war and for this reason was able low flying in earnest to keep out of the radar beam and the average to cope with the tropics better than most members of the station. maximum ranges for that month was down to 160 kilometres. On 30 May 1944, just over a year after taking command, F/O WINDOW was developed by English scientists as a means of Bruce Aldrich handed over the station to F/O C.C. Siegle. jamming German radar stations. Strips of tinfoil were cut to the F/O Siegle took over a station that had almost outlived its need operating frequency of the station it was intended to jam — in the to be on the island. The Japanese were on the run and red alerts case of the LW/AW about 700mm — and these were dropped from were practically a thing of the past. There was no incentive now the aircraft to float slowly to ground. Such strips returned very strong for the men to give of their best and it was a difficult time for those 140 141

who had been on the station for a year or more, a sort of let-down after months of tension — a situation which demanded sensitive understanding from those in charge. The station continued operating although the plots were of air­ craft showing IFF. One of the Ford 10 engines broke down on 9 July and Bob Lawson reported with much satisfaction that the old Howard that we resurrected from the ‘Great Fire’ operated successfully again. On 16 July 1944 No. 305 Radar Station ceased operating on Kiri­ wina at 0959 hours. No. 46 OBU (operational base unit) on Kiriwina was directed to co-ordinate the movement of all technical equipment to Milne Bay. All canteen stock and medical supplies reverted to the OBU. The PEACE technical gear was moved to Milne Bay on 28 August and the station Alamein, Tobruk and Milne Bay was disbanded on 31 August 1944. It is true that, throughout its operational life in Papua New Guinea Yesterday saw the bloody fray, the station had good fortune on its side but it must be conceded But now the ghosts whine with the wind And cry for peace today. that fine leadership together with efficient and enthusiastic person­ nel averted many of the unfortunate experiences which overtook Shall their soul-piercing plea some of the radar units that were taken into the combat areas north Be but in vain? of Australia. Or shall it move you and me No. 305 Radar Station was just one of those stations which justi­ To see that peace will reign? fied the work of the scientists and men of foresight led by W/C (later The gum, the wattle and the towering pine Air Commodore) A.G. Pither who were responsible for radar being Are rustled by the mournful whine able to play an important part in the Allied war effort in the South And stand with arms raised West Pacific Area. Up to Him in prayer. After the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945 No. 305 Radar Station was re-activated and chosen as part of the RAAF contingent We too must stand together of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) to go to Japan. And raise our hearts on high. Then the violent storms we’ll weather And the peaceful path we’ll try. What matter colour, creed or race We all have our God whom we must face. If in our hearts we are true to Him Then in all mankind our trust we’ll place.

Natives being interviewed by Bruce Aldrich. Written about August, 1943 whilst serving at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea with RAAF No. 37 Radar Station. 143

ROLL THOSE WHO SERVED ON 305 RADAR STATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA OFFICERS PERIOD OF COMMAND 5051 B. Katz ASD 27.10.42 to 18.03.43 63081 V.B. Aldrich ASD 18.03.43 to 30.05.44 68930 C.C. Siegle ASD 30.05.44 to 31.08.44

AIRMEN LOCATION OF SERVICE 135683 WT. Abbott Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 54112 R.K. Ackerley Guard Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 137664 J.H. Asken Gen.Hand Kiriwina. 122893 W.A. Bailey Guard Kiriwina. 47909 G.K. Baker Teleg. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 142597 K.J. Barber Teleg. Kiriwina. 127335 D.S. Bavington Med.Ord. Kiriwina. 135307 P.D. Blanche Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 49291 K.W. Blundell Rad.Mech. Townsville, Port Moresby, Goodenough. 63411 E.R. Blunt Rad.Op. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 60384 G.M. Booker Fitt.DMT Port Moresby. 118552 D.W. Botterill Cook Kiriwina. 43002 D.I.M. Bottger Clk.Gen. Townsville, Port Moresby, Goodenough. 52335 D.H. Bowe Rad.Op. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 39915 K.T. Bown Rad.Op. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 115428 W.L. Boyle Messman Kiriwina. 142106 J.A. Brady Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 61843 E.A. Brennan Rad.Mech. Townsville, Port Moresby, Kiriwina. 123041 V.R. Brigg Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 132423 H.T. Brown Teleg. Kiriwina. 12595 A.A. Browne Fitt.DMT Kiriwina. 76700 R.D. Burton Rad.Op. Pot Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 127451 H.T. Carr Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 56342 G.M. Campbell Guard Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 60210 F.P.J. Coghlan Rad.Op. Port Moresby, Goodenough. 60615 E.H. Collon Rad.Op. Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 22385 T.J. Connor Cook Townsville, P.M., Goodenough, Kiriwina 116507 A.L. Cotterill Teleg. Kiriwina. 123993 A.D. Cranna Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 29495 M.E. Davis Cook Kiriwina. 47802 S. Featherstone Cook/Ass. Kiriwina. 33021 C.J. Fischer Guard Kiriwina. 144 145

36019 T.M. Fitzgerald Clk. Kiriwina. 132378 G.S.T. Smith Teleg. Kiriwina. J.A. Freeman 77110 Rad .Op. Port Moresby, 43954 W.N. Smith Rad.Mech. Townsville, P.M., Goodenough. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 408255 M.K. Goodrick Rad.Op. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 72826 H.R. Stacey Fitt.DMT Kiriwina. 432947 R.W. Gowland Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 117957 W.N. Sullivan Rad.Op. Port Moresby. 25986 J.E. Groome Fitt.DMT Port Moresby, 60476 R.J. Taylor Clk.Gen. Goodenough, Kiriwina. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 41320 B.H. Toomey Nurs.Ord. Port Moresby, 63230 K. Hinchcliffe Rad.Op. Goodenough, Kiriwina. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 10215 R.C. Holloway Guard Kiriwina. 43190 G.R. Trotter W.O.M. Port Moresby, 58499 R.C. Howell Rad.Mech. Kiriwina Goodenough, Kiriwina. 42133 WT. Humphries Rad.Mech. Port Moresby, 31452 C.H. Viney Rad.Op. Townsville, P.M., Goodenough, Kiriwina. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 61381 E.R. Kelly Rad.Mech. Townsville, Port Moresby, 79521 S.C. Vowles Rad.Mech. Kiriwina. Goodenough. 135651 R.M. Walsh Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 42745 T.McK King Guard Port Moresby, 62239 S. Warburton Clk.Strs. Townsville. Goodenough. 413808 G.P. Welch Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 54603 I. Lawson Rad.Mech. Kiriwina. 81809 L.C. White Clerk Kiriwina. Lawson 61589 R.O. Rad.Mech. Townsville, P.M., 58767 J.S. Williams Rad.Op. Townsville, Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. Goodenough. 76515 N.J. Lynam Rad.Op. Tbwnsville, P.M., 79696 c.w. Witham Rad.Op. Kiriwina. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 63014 R.K. Wordsworth Guard Port Moresby, 55554 M.B. Mainon Rad.Mech. Goodenough, Kiriwina. Goodenough, Kiriwina. 67116 L.L. Martin Guard Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 68893 R.A. McAlpin Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 31845 JR- McCann Rad.Mech. Kiriwina. 58589 J.J- McGrath Rad.Mech. Kiriwina. 76704 A. McLeod Rad.Op. Townsville, Port Moresby, Goodenough. 45665 A.J. Nichols Rad.Op. Townsville, Port Moresby, Goodenough. 150665 V.P. Nicolia Gen.Hand Kiriwina. 126308 J.W. Patterson Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 426009 R.W. Payne Rad.Op. Kiriwina. 75253 FW.J. Peach Teleg. Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 73246 W.A. Peter Fitt.DMT Kiriwina. 79701 M.P. Pomas Rad.Mech. Kiriwina. 41047 A.S. Power Rad.Mech. Kiriwina. 19866 R.L. Prinn Cook Kiriwina. 132827 G.H. Richards Guard Kiriwina. 25593 R.C. Schooth Med.Ord. Kiriwina. 47037 H.W. Schumacher Guard Kiriwina. 37062 H.J. Sedgley W/T Op. Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina. 61656 A.J. Sharkey Guard Kiriwina. 36359 H.B. Sheehy Messman Townsville, P.M., Goodenough, Kiriwina. 43189 J.M. Simpson W/T Op. Port Moresby, Goodenough, Kiriwina 147

APPENDIX No. 305 RADAR STATION IN JAPAN

Information and photographs relating to the role of No. 305 Radar Station in Japan were supplied by radar operator W/O Max Suther­ land (Retd).

REHABILITATION OF No. Ill MFCU Towards the end of World War II it was found expedient to have the early warning and fighter control radar stations incorporated within the fighter control units rather than be serviced, as they were in the past, by an area radar wing. No. I ll Mobile Fighter Control Unit (MFCU) was operating on the island of Labuan, Borneo, at the end of World War II with a number of light weight Australian radars under its command. It was reformed at Bankstown airfield in July 1946 prior to deployment to Japan with the British Common­ wealth Occupation Force (BCOF). Early warning radars, LW/AW Nos 305 and 322 and ground

No. Ill MFCU members, final leave, Sydney. L. to H. Pop, Dinny, Charlie, Max, Snow. Seated Tich, Ray. 148 149

control intercept radar, LW/GCI No. 165 were assigned to No. I ll MFCU. The role of the first of these stations has, to date, been set down in this history. Briefly No. 322 was formed at Mascot 7.5.43, and moved by air to Tanahnerah in Dutch New Guinea in July 1943. After almost two years active service the station moved back to Pitt Town, NSW, in June 1945 and was disbanded by the last day of Janu­ ary 1946. No. 165 was formed at Richmond 22.7.44 and was sited variously in NSW at Pitt Town, Bargo and Quakers’ Hill to finally be disbanded at Richmond 20.2.46. During the period July-August 1946 members of the fighter control unit spent the working hours refurbishing these radars in preparation for their future roles in Japan. An American-made centimetric AN/TPS-3 was added to the radar compliment. The various types were assembled at Bankstown and tested ‘on air’.

No. Ill MFCU members departing Bankstown to board HMAS KANIMBLA, Sydney Harbour.

No. 305 Radar at Bankstown N.S.W. prior to departure for Japan 1946.

On 19 September No. I ll MFCU with its technical equipment embarked on HMAS KANIMBLA berthed in Sydney Harbour. The personnel of the figher control unit were included with more than H-oopship HMAS KANIMBLA in Sydney Harbour. a thousand troops accommodated below deck on three-tier bunks without the comfort of nearby portholes. Voyaging north across the tropics was monotonous and uncomfortably hot, to say the least. A few days out of Japan the ship passed through the tail of a typhoon. 150 151 Huge waves broke across the ship’s bridge and all troops had to shelter below deck. At times the drive shaft rumbled as the propeller spun free of the water due to excessive wave action. Many of the men were violently seasick and after 48 hours of misery were relieved when the ship entered calmer water. Groups of men, on a rotation basis, were allowed on deck where salt-water showers were availa­ ble. Max Sutherland reports that the highlight of the voyage was the crossing of the Inland Sea of Japan. Smooth water allowed the Australians to view the magnificent scenery in comfort. They were welcomed by a fly past of RAAF aircraft and an escort of high speed RAF launches. During this time there were lectures on the do’s and don’ts of life in Japan. IWAKUNI CONTROL BASE Disembarkation was at Iwakuni, on Honshu, Japan’s main island, 4 October 1946. No. I ll MFCU was the first RAAF contingent to move into the British Commonwealth Air (BCAIR) Headquarters. The fighter control personnel set about establishing their operations room in ‘The Castle’ (BCAIR HQ) and deploying their four radar stations. Radar Station No. 322 was established at Miho and operated successfully.

No. 165 Radar (LW/GCI Mk2] At Hiroshima, Japan, 1947. Notice the Mitsubishi shipyards in the background.

BCAIR Headquarters at Iwakuni in Japan. No. Ill MFCU operated in this building.

This temporary domestic site at Hiroshima was used for many months before Radar Station No. 165 was taken to Hiroshima and set up on permanent barracks were built. X marks the centre of the atomic bomb explosion flat reclaimed land used by the Japanese as an airstrip during World in 1945. War II. During construction work the personnel travelled daily by jeep from their temporary accommodation at Point Camp near Kure. 152 153

Mobile AN/TPS-3 radar on exercise at Takamatsu, Japan.

Some members of No. 305 Radar Station at Susa during 1948. C.O. Len Burston Max Sutherland and Ray Thomas with several others along with in front row. local labour erected the station quarters using timber from a school and other buildings — left-overs of the atomic blast that the devastat­ 3 September 1947 and the remainder of the personnel and equip­ ed the area. This radar was plagued with electronic failures and ment arrived at Hamada on the 12th instant. The newly appointed senior mechanic Doug. Dowe became famous for his outstanding commanding officer and S/Ldr J.R. Mowbray inspected and approved ability to rectify these malfunctions. of the site at Susa and the unit occupied buildings there on 15 De­ GCI radar type AN/TRS-3 was then used to replace No. 165. cember. Excellent accommodation was provided for the members Its use above ground proved unsuccessful because of the poor pro­ of 305 as the barrracks, in normal times, provided a leave centre tection of the operators in very cold winter conditions. An attempt for employees of the Japanese Railways. Several large rooms housed to operate from a WW2 gun pit gave rise to technical problems. the airmen while the commanding officer and most of the NCO’s When it was mounted on the back of a communications tender the were in individual rooms. foregoing problems were solved and the bonus of complete mobility Access to the radar site was via a deeply rutted jeep track wind­ acquired. The equipment was then operated successfully at Hiroshi­ ing in a north easterly direction for about five kilometres along the ma and for a time at Takamatsu on the north of the island of Shikoku. steep and rugged coastline. Operationally it was an excellent choice DEPLOYMENT OF No. 305 RADAR STATION. being at an altitude of about 100 metres overlooking the southern No. 305 Radar Station, its technical gear still packed, arrived portion of the Sea of Japan and the northern reaches of the Tsushi­ at Kure on 28 April 1947. Possible sites for the station at Hamada ma Strait. This gave an unrestricted sweep of about 190 degrees. and Susa were under consideration. Some personnel of 305 moved Landward from the high coastal radar site the terrain fell away into to Hamada on 19 August and occupied quarters vacated by an Indian a small valley and then rose again to form a mountain some three army unit — 1st Mahrattas. These quarters were about four hundred metres high. In the valley, at a distance of about 150 metres kilometres from the proposed technical site which was first inspected from the radar the operations and communication cabin was placed. on 28 August. An immediate request was made for a guard estab­ lishment as the Japanese civilians began stealing service equipment. F/Lt L.R. Burston took command of No. 305 Radar Station on 154

Rugged coastline looking north from behind No. 305 radar site at Susa, Japan 1948. bign at busa nailway btation 1948.

No. 305 Radar detachment sign at Susa, Japan, 1948

No. 305 Radar HQ and orderly room at Susa. 156 157

OPERATION AT SUSA Installation of the technical equipment was completed by 15 February 1948 and the radar was placed on test one year and four months after arriving in Japan. The reputation for reliability won by No. 305 Radar Station in the Pacific war was maintained during its role in the occupation of Japan. Initially operation was from dawn to dusk searching westward towards South Korea, already becom­ ing another of the world’s trouble spots.

No. 305 Radar Station at Susa, Japan, 1947. The cabin was necessary for protec­ tion from the bitterly cold weather in winter.______In the latter months of 1948 the Americans in Japan were show­ ing great interest in the reports coming from No. 305 concerning From 1 April 1948 Nos 305, 322 and 165 Radar Stations com­ aircraft activity in their search area and the station began telling menced round-the-clock operation, except for maintenance breaks, to the Americans at their Fukuoka Control Base. Some difficulties until 22 April. Three fighter groups — Australians, Americans and had been experienced by the Australian Wireless operators sending New Zealanders flying Mustangs and Corsairs — made the Allied plots to the fighter control unit so the Americans installed a reliable presence felt and kept the crews at the radar stations and fighter frequency modulated communication system at No. 305. From then controls busy. With the increase in air traffic tracking of aircraft on the radar station had near perfect communication for reporting by No. 305 to 160 miles (260 km) was an everyday occurrence. On to Fukuoka Control and No. I ll MFCU at Iwakuni. several occasions officers from Fukuoka Control visited the station and congratulated all concerned on their efficient surveillance of the search area. Before they moved to new bases in Korea some ninety Allied aircraft gave an aerial display including a mock air battle over the Japanese Islands. ACTIVITIES ON STANDOWN Members of No. 305 Radar Station were the only occupation forces in Yamaguchi Prefecture and were treated very well by the 158 159 local population. Many invitations were received to attend civic func­ tions such as mayoral dinners, prefecture dinners, school sports and parties. Since the prefecture had a population of several million the RAAF boys were in great demand and as a consequence became fine ambassadors for Australia. Len Burston was an avid ham (amateur) radio operator and soon had an efficient ‘rig’ on air. Max Sutherland claims it compared more than favourably with the RAAF communication equipment. The domestic site was some ten metres from the rock wall dropping down into Susa Bay. The RAAF men spent many happy hours sailing their own VJ’s, fishing and swim­ ming. What a contrast to the original crew of 305 radar who suffered the isolation and privations of Goodenough and Kiriwina Islands, Papua New Guinea, during 1943-4!

Max Sutherland telling to No. Ill MFCU from the operation site at Susa, Japan 1948.

N

Members of No. 305 Radar Station acting as judges at Susa Primary School sports day 1948.______

A MINOB EMERGENCY During the last few operational months of No. 305 Radar Station the local Japanese were apprehensive concerning the possibility of Asians from the west landing on their coast, rumours were rife and unknown Asian visitors treated with suspicion. Members of 305 were not unduly surprised to be called out one evening to apprehend some strangers on the beach. This was duly done at gun point and the local police chief won much esteem when he was given custody of S the people concerned. A ‘Spotted Dog’ taken during the last few weeks No. 305 Radar Station operated FINAL DAYS at Susa. Note the heavy traffic to the south west and the lack of plots in the area to the east shielded by the mountain. Came the day when F/Lt L.R. Burston received a signal directing 160 161 that the station was to close down pending the return of No. I ll MFCU to Australia. The Americans were most upset that the radar chain of which 305 was an integral part, would be broken. This prompted them to form their own radar unit which was supplied with an AN/TPS-1B radar manufactured in the USA. The American radar unit arrived at Susa some weeks before the shut down of 305. As the site was only large enough to accommodate one radar the Americans had to wait for the removal of the Australian LW/AW. Members of both units were lectured many times on how the radar chain was not to be broken for more than a few hours during the change over process. On the morning that 305 ceased operating the mechanics, aided by the other operational staff, dismantled the equip­ ment and cleared the area in an hour or so. During the dismantling process the RAAF boys stopped for morning tea much to the chagrin of the Commanding Officer of the American unit. He was prompted to say, ‘I guess you guys would stop on your way to a funeral to have a cup of tea at ten o’clock’. The billy was boiled, the tea was made and No. 305 Radar was transported down to Susa before dark. The handover of No. 305 Radar Station’s site to No. 610 ACWS USAF Squadron was completed on 27 November. The RAAF orderly room No. Ill MFCU departing Kure, December 1948. at Susa closed at 1700 hours 30.11.1948. HOMEWARD BOUND Time had come for the personnel of 305 to leave what had been a ‘home away from home’ and the scene where they had carried out their duties so creditably for almost a year. They arrived with the technical equipment at Iwakuni on 2 December. During the next several weeks the ‘good oil’ was that the American radar was oper­ ating at Susa but was unable to obtain plots on many aircraft flying within its sector. An approach was made to the RAAF to reinstall 305 but this was not to be. The discerning reader will remember that 305 was missed under similar circumstances when it left Goodenough Island in May 1943. No. I ll MFCU proceeded to pack all equipment and finally departed from Kure, Japan, aboard HMAS KANIMBLA in December 1948 bound for Sydney, Australia. All per­ sonnel were cleared by Customs at Bradfield Park Embarkation Depot in time for Christmas leave. No. I ll MFCU completed disbandment as at 2359 hours 24 January 1948.

Ceremonial handover of No. 305 Radar Station’s operations and domestic sites to the Americans at Susa, Japan 1948. 162

Homeward bound on board HMAS KANIMBLA, 1948.

Bradfield Park customs clearance and the last time the members of No. Ill MFCU including Nos 165, 305 and 322 Radar Stations, were together. Date Due 25-6 -o' >

------1- S & M SUPPLY Co. his is an account of the life of a small Royal Australian Air Force radar unit in the islands of New Guinea during World War II. T Told in a simple manner by two members of the unit, it follows their experiences in those uncertain days of Australia’s darkest time. While not as glamorous as the fly-boys these radar operators often faced equal dangers and deprivations as they operated on the front-line of the Pacific war. Their insights are honest and amusing. This manuscript was the inaugural winner of the Royal Australian Air Force Heritage Award for literature in 1988. The authors are to be commended for their initiative and dedication in producing their story of their war.

Frank Coghlan, a radar operator now living in Manly Vale, Sydney and Norm Smith, a radar mechanic of Murwillumbah were members of 305 radar station in World War II. By force of circumstances they found themselves in the vanguard of those chosen to operate the new technology of radar in a war environment. Their own experiences and those of their comrades left an indelible impression which in 1987 culminated in the preparation of this manuscript ‘Secret Action of 305’.