|
|
|
|
|
  
RAAF in Malaya
 |
Invasion of Malaya
The RAAF in Malaya
 A Lockheed Hudson of 1 Squadron RAAF at
Kota Bahru airfield. The Hudsons were used for reconnaisance and attack during the Japanese landings in Malaya. [AWM P02266.005]
On 7 December 1941, Royal Air Force Command in Malaya had an operational strength of 164 first-line aircraft with 88 others in reserve. Included in RAF Command were four RAAF squadrons, two with Hudson bombers and two with Buffalo fighters, a group of three Dutch Catalinas, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force Buffalo squadron. In Malaya, No 1 Squadron with Hudsons was at Kota Bahru on the north-eastern coast, No 8 Squadron with Hudsons was at Kuantan further south, and No 21 Squadron with Buffaloes was at Sungei Patani, in north-west Malaya. No 453 Squadron with Buffaloes was back at Singapore. No 1 Squadron RAAF was the first squadron ordered into the air to mount sorties against the Japanese invasion fleet and other squadrons, including
 Flying Officer C H 'Spud'
Spurgeon, 8 Squadron RAAF, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC) for his actions in Malaya. He was shot down and captured towards
the end of the campaign.
[AWM P00301.001]
The Diary and 'Line' book written by the pilots of 453 Squadron recorded the outbreak of the Pacific war: Rudely awakened in the small hours of the morning by the screams of air raid sirens and the roar of ack ack guns and in the clear moonlit sky around a formation of Japanese bombers. Bombs were dropped but none fell in our area. So the war in the Far East started - all day we heard news bulletins telling of the wide spread treachery of the Japs - Well! They've asked for it - !!  A few weeks before the Japanese
attacked, pilots of 453 Squadron were photographed running to their Buffaloes in response to a 'scramble' order. [AWM SUK14775]
On 10 December members of the squadron were ordered to scramble: About 1100 hours both flights were ordered into the air ... (first flight) proceeded northwards past Mersing and shortly came upon the scene of a major naval disaster. Large patches of oil covered the water and two large warships were observed to be sinking - other naval vessels were standing off picking up survivors. ... Discovered on landing that the two ships were the Prince of Wales and the Repulse -! |
|
|
|
