Kittyhawks xii, xiv, 54–60, 62–3, 66, 68–77, 86–7, 90–1, 93, 121–2, 124–6, 128, 133–4, 138–9, 143, 145, 151, 153–5, 157, 173, 174–82, 208, 214–15, 246, 251, 262, 291, 294 304
Kittyhawk A29-92 218
Koebule 12, 165
Kokoda 8, 17, 26, 116, 149
Kokoda campaign 4, 320
Koreans 115, 162, 177
Kotz, Private Jim 229
Military Medal 229
kunai grass 30, 86, 228
Kure SNLF 113
3rd Kure SNLF 259, 261–2, 273–4, 279, 283, 289
5th Kure SNLF 114–17, 149, 158, 179, 183, 193, 224, 255, 274–5, 279, 283, 289
Lae 11, 59, 60
Latorre, Private 168
Lever Brothers 11, 12, 18, 33
Lexington 16, 118
Liberator AL-515 131–3, 211
Libya xv, 59
lice 80
Lifebuoy soap 11
Livingstone, Lieutenant Pat 281
Lockheed Hudsons 71, 151, 181, 246, 251–3, 259
Loudon, Sergeant Ian 247
Lowood 69, 91
Lundy, Sergeant Neville 76
Lyne, Captain Ronald 204–5
MacArthur, General Douglas 16, 19, 43, 98, 153, 193, 286–7, 305, 309
McCarthy, Dudley 47, 94
Macdhui 23
McFarlan, Private Don 286
McGilvery, Private Merv 295
McKenzie, Sergeant Jim 145, 159–61
McLennan, Private Harry 229
McLeod, Flying Officer Albert 126
Maitland, Lieutenant Colonel George 100, 102
Maizuru SNLF 113
malaria xii, 6, 35, 49, 80–1, 144–5, 159, 200, 205, 249, 254, 309
death from 102
Malaya 7, 8, 79, 113, 114, 151, 167, 181
Manchuria 113
mapping 39, 119, 301
Marauders 304
Margetts, Major Athelstane Garfield 31–2, 35, 38–9, 47–9
Marquis, Sergeant Paul 281
Marshall, General George 309
Marston, North Carolina 36
Marston matting 6–7, 36, 37, 47, 52, 58, 71, 90–1, 264
Mason, Paul Edward 109–10
mass grave 308
Matheson, Captain 222
Matson, Bill 250, 254
measles 35
Meldrum, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander 94, 144, 165, 187, 265, 290
Middle East 15, 21, 42, 50, 79, 100, 165, 197, 215, 288
Midway 8, 111
Miethke, Captain Geoff 200, 207, 223, 228, 231–2
Miles, Lieutenant Colonel Edward ‘Ted’ 239, 265
Military Cross 96, 193
Greek 309
Milne Bay 7, 92, 119
airstrips at 18, 33, 71
Allied Bay at 13
Allied personnel at 79
Allied view of 13, 15
atrocities committed at 313–17
Australian soldiers captured at 315–16, 321
battle at 3, 12
first land defeat of Japanese 8
harbour at 19
initial establishment 43
initial inspections at 19
Japanese at 3–5
Japanese capture of 121
Japanese invasion of 130
Japanese view of 14
location 10
population 11
rainfall at 5, 13, 34
track 8
turning point, as 9
victory at 6
weather conditions at 5, 51, 64, 88, 100, 153, 174, 196, 215
Milne Force 6, 42, 81–3, 95, 97, 98, 100, 141–2, 171, 254, 264, 289
Milne, Sir Alexander 10
missionaries 12, 40
Mitsubishi Zeros see Zeros
Mitsumi, Platoon Commander 163, 177
Moji, Captain Chikanori 117, 119–20, 157–9, 162–3, 176–82, 257–62, 284, 300, 302
Morris, Major General Basil 12, 15–19, 81–2, 142
Morrow, Private Anthony 135, 137
mosquitoes, malarial 6, 49, 81, 102, 123
Motieau Creek 190–1, 231, 235, 298
moustache 87, 261
mud xii, xiv, 5, 34, 66, 70–1, 80, 89–90, 167, 172, 174–6, 183, 195, 199, 203, 215, 221, 240, 249–50, 255, 257, 262, 270, 274, 285, 289
Mullins Harbour 17, 18, 39, 142, 196, 267
Munro, Flight Sergeant Stewart 211–12, 214
Nagasaki 3
Nakajima, Lieutenant Commander Tadashi 106–8
Nankai Maru 149–50, 155, 157–8, 170
Nauru 14
New Britain 16, 44, 51
New Caledonia 14, 107
New Guinea 14, 15, 18
campaign 115, 170
deployments to 69
New Guinea Force 82, 193, 306
Newcastle 22, 75, 97
Newcombe, Sergeant Jack 144
Newman, Flight Lieutenant Norman 80, 218
Nishizawa, Hiroyoshi 76, 105
No. 1 Strip 33, 37, 44, 48, 52, 58, 65, 69, 71–4, 84, 131
No. 2 Operational Training Unit 62
No. 2 Strip 71, 79
No. 3 Strip 71–2, 143–5, 188, 198, 221, 239–40, 243, 251, 255, 257, 262, 263–72, 289, 294–6, 302, 305–7
No. 8 Fighter Control Unit 123
No. 37 Radio Direction Finder (i.e. radar) Unit 23, 122
No. 74 anti-tank hand grenade 202–3
Normanby Island 138, 154, 245
North Africa 79, 221
O’Brien, Corporal John 237–8, 270
Distinguished Conduct Medal 238, 270
O’Keefe, Lieutenant Tom 144–5
Olivier, Flying Officer John 211
Orphant, Private George 191
Owen Stanley Range 4, 10, 14, 17, 51, 54, 118, 303
P-40 Kittyhawk fighters 59, 75, 87, 214
Papua 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 198
Eastern District of 26
Territory of 8, 11, 22
Papua New Guinea 13, 90
Papuan labourers 20, 25, 35, 47
Papuan people 310
ghastly fates of 321
Japanese brutality towards 27, 313–17
unspeakable suffering of 313–17
women, brutality towards 314–15
Papuan villages 28
Paton, Lieutenant Bruce 39–41
Paton, Private Jim 39
Pearl Harbor 110
‘perforated steel planking’ (PSP) 36
Perry, Commodore Matthew 320
Pettet, Squadron Pilot John 140
the Philippines 8, 113, 114, 117
Piper, Flying Officer John 139, 248–9
‘Polly’ 180
Port Moresby 3, 8, 11–17, 21–4, 26, 29, 38, 44, 51, 56, 60, 69, 73, 79–81, 84, 92–3, 100, 103, 104, 116–17, 125, 135, 149, 176, 193, 246, 248, 250, 251, 267, 287, 323
airstrips at 14
assault on 17
burial of Gurney at 85
defence of 86
fight for 91
harbour 21
Japanese campaign to take 52
post traumatic stress disorder 61
Pozières 96
prisoners of war
Australian, at Milne Bay 315–16, 321
Prisoners of War Convention 1929 316
quinine 6, 49, 80
Quinn, Sergeant Scottie 39
Rabaul 7, 8, 14, 16, 23, 84, 105, 107, 110, 114, 117, 137, 149, 259, 299–301, 304
base at, 56, 74, 108–9, 115
fall of 44, 119
harbour 118, 151
Japanese base at 115, 210
US airmen on 209
Rabi 11, 106, 111, 119–21, 149, 157, 183, 205, 210, 240, 259, 270, 296, 299–300, 313–15
airstrip at 150
Allied base at 275
battle of 179
capture of 136
operation 158, 177, 301
plan 116
village of 200, 203, 239
radar 7, 122
radar operators 23, 38
radar sets 45
Radford, Lieutenant David 290
radio silence 45, 56, 124
radio traffic 93
Ramsden, Sergeant Albert 312
Rich, Captain Mackendrick (Mac) 25, 26, 28, 44
Riddell, Sergeant Roy 153, 211–14, 216
Ridley, Sergeant Don 168–9
Ridley, Warrant Officer D.R. 95
rifles 4, 38, 50, 167, 186, 233. 269, 278, 282, 292
.303 xi, 79, 122, 172
ringworm 80
roads 47–8, 88, 196
destruction 34
new, building 35–6
Robertson, Flight Lieutenant Henry 151–5, 252
Robinson, Lieutenant Herbert 166, 169–70, 172, 190, 270, 272
Rollingstone 42, 43
Ross, Lieutenant Jim 29
Rowell, Lieutenant General Sydney 82, 96, 99, 193–5, 287, 306
Royal, Private Thomas 135, 137
Royal Air Force (RAF) 87
132 Squadron 127
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 52, 58, 69
birth place of 126
Kittyhawks see Kittyhawks
North Eastern Area Command 68, 69
Officers’ Club 70, 253
pilots xiii, 174, 181, 209, 248, 251, 304
RAAF Base Garbutt 89
RAAF Operations 89–90
relocation of camp 254
uniform protocol 248
victory, role in 304
Russia 113, 127
Ryan, Captain Basil 239–40
Sakai, Saburo 76, 105–6
Salamaua 11
Samarai 11, 25, 74
Island 73, 85, 104
Samoa 14
Sanderson, Captain 222
Sanderson, Lieutenant Roger 185
sandflies 80
Sandy Creek 198
Saratoga 110
Sasebo SNLF 113
5th Sasebo SNLF 115, 136, 139, 158, 183, 259
Savo Island 110
Schlyder, Lieutenant Eric 83
Schmedje, Captain Theo 203–4, 221–2, 231, 234–5, 238
Scott, Lieutenant A.R. 228, 231
Second World War 7, 8, 95, 98, 99, 107, 197, 202, 298, 319
Seven Mile Strip 78, 251, 303
Sheldon, Flying Officer Mark 126–7
Shelley, Warrant Officer Frank 130
Shoho 118
Shokaku 118
Short, Leading Aircraftsman John 73
Singapore 7, 114, 116
Sino-Japanese War 113
Sleeth, Staff Sergeant Sidney 280, 282
Solomon Islands 107–9, 121
campaign 121
Southall, Ivan 62, 174
Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) 7, 112–13, 298, 313
3rd Kure SNLF 259, 261–2, 273–4, 279, 283, 289
5th Kure SNLF 114–17, 149, 158, 179, 183, 193, 224, 255, 274–5, 279, 283, 289
5th Sasebo SNLF 115, 136, 139, 158, 183, 259
5th Yokosuka SNLF 259, 273, 274, 283, 296
casualties 114
parachute regiments 113
regiments 113
shocking acts by 114
Spencer, Sergeant George 232–5
Spitfire 61–2, 87, 125, 126 128, 253
SS Both 198
Stanley, Owen 10
Steel, Captain Phillip 188
Steele, Sergeant Stan 243–5, 255, 305
Military Medal 24, 305
Steele’s Clearing 245, 255
Stephen’s Ridge 264–5, 278, 283, 296, 303
‘sticky bomb’ 202–3, 226, 228, 233–4, 241, 297
Stirling Range 10, 13, 34, 166, 184, 198, 200, 240
strafing xiii, xiv, 93, 74, 124, 133, 151, 155, 179, 188, 192, 211, 213, 217, 247
Strong, Bishop Phillip 12
Struss, Liaison Officer 43
Swan, Captain Geoff 290, 292–3
Tainan Kokutai 76, 105, 213
Tanikaze 150
Tasman 44, 46, 49
Tatsua 150
Taupota 115, 136–7, 143
taxiing aircraft 70, 91
technological advances 82
Tenryu 150, 259–60, 300, 302
tents 5, 6, 87, 215
Thomas, Wing Commander Frederick 89
Thompson submachine guns 201, 244, 302
Thurlow, Private George 160
Timor 7, 114
Tobruk xv, 42, 50, 221, 288
Tokyo Bay 320
Tomahawk 58
Townsville 18, 20, 23, 29, 42–3, 48–9, 54, 60, 64, 68–9, 84, 89, 92, 103, 110, 132–3
Traill, Sergeant Arthur 293
Trobriand Islands 68, 85
tropical ulcers 36
Truscott, Squadron Leader Keith
‘Bluey’ 61–4, 70–1, 126, 174, 176, 179–80, 218, 251, 253
Tsukioka, Commander 136–9
Tucker, Flying Officer Arthur 91–2
Turnbull, Squadron Leader Peter xiv, 29, 54–60, 64–7, 70, 78, 88, 124, 179, 211, 215–18, 251, 323–4
‘ace’ 58
crash of 217
death of 217–19, 251, 307
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) 58, 215
Turnbull Field 307
Turner, Lieutenant Bill 303
Twelve Mile Strip 54, 59, 64, 70, 78
Type 92 ‘woodpecker’ machine guns 278
Type 95 Ha-Go infantry tanks 115, 170, 172, 183, 201, 256, 269
United Nations 316
United States 118–19
Urakaze 15, 178
US 22nd Bomb Group 304
US 41st Fighter Squadron 303
US 43rd Engineering Regiment 48, 264, 266, 280
US 46th (General Service) Engineering Regiment 20, 24, 26, 32, 38, 264
US 80th Fighter Squadron 303
US 96th Engineer Battalion 19
US 101st Coast Artillery Battalion 32
US 709th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battery 266
US Army Air Corps stores 255
US Army Air Forces 64, 303–4
US Army Corps of Engineers 36
US engineers 79, 90
US Marine Corps 112
US warships 109
USS Mississippi 320
‘Val’ bombers 210–11, 214
Vasey, George 194, 286
Vickers machine guns 23, 266
Victoria Line of Communication Area 309
Vize, Bombardier Raymond 243
Volunteer Defence Corps 18
Wagu Wagu Creek 11, 185, 189, 314, 315
Wahahuba 177, 261, 284, 296
Beach 274, 313
Waigani 48
Wanielista, Private Walter 20
war crimes 317
Warwick Light Horse 96
Waterways Experiment Station 36
Wawn, Flight Lieutenant Clive ‘Bardie’ 34, 64, 76, 125–6, 129, 133–4, 253
Webb, Sir William Flood 311
enquiry into atrocities or breaches of warfare rules by 312–17
Webley service revolvers 124, 253
Western Desert 96–7
Western Front 5, 96, 283
Whitton, Private Walther C. 95, 166–7
Wildcat fighters 110
Wiles, Major Harry 145–6, 160, 187, 200
Wilkinson, Flight Lieutenant Jeff 154, 252, 307
Winen, Sergeant Mick 235, 237, 242–3
Wirraway 73, 87
Woodlark Island 68
Wootten, Brigadier George Frederick 50, 69, 83, 96, 142, 156, 267
World War I see First World War
World War II see Second World War
Yamashita, Lieutenant Joji 213
Yano, Commander Minoru 261–2, 283, 299, 303
Yoder, Lieutenant Colonel Leverett G. 19, 20
Yokosuka SNFL 113
5th Yokosuka SNLF 259, 273, 274, 283, 296
Yorktown 117
Yushukan War Memorial Museum 320
Zeros 55
–7, 59–60, 73–6, 79, 93, 105, 108–9, 121–5, 128, 130, 133–5, 174, 210–11, 213–14, 216, 303–4
Type 32 variant 56
First taste of war: en route to Milne Bay, some men witnessed the sinking of the MV Macdhui, struck by Japanese bombs while at anchor in Port Moresby, 18 June 1942. Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria, H98.104/3705
Part of the Lever Brothers’ coconut plantation which would be transformed into the Milne Bay garrison and airstrips. Courtesy of Bruce Whealey
Some of 76 Squadron’s pilots in their tropical camp. Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott is second from left. Author’s collection
Major General ‘Silent Cyril’ Clowes, the man who would win the battle of Milne Bay, only to be shunned by MacArthur and Blamey soon after. Australian War Memorial, 013337
76 Squadron’s popular and brilliant leader, Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull. His death during the battle was a bitter blow to the unit. Author’s collection
75 Squadron Kittyhawk pilot, Flying Officer Arthur Tucker posing in his full flying kit. There would be little need for much of it at the low altitudes of Milne Bay. Courtesy of Peter Tucker
75 Squadron’s redoubtable Medical Officer, Bill Deane-Butcher. The conditions of the camp were beyond anything he could have imagined. Courtesy of Richard Deane-Butcher
The runway in the middle of nowhere: No. 1 Strip, Milne Bay. Later renamed ‘Gurney Field’ in honour of Australian aviation hero, Charles Gurney. Courtesy of Bruce Whealey
The Japanese finally discover the Milne Bay garrison. Lucky snap of a low-flying Zero over No. 3 Strip, during the attack on 4 August 1942. Courtesy of Arthur Tucker
The weariness of the job showing on their faces. 75 Squadron pilots head to their aircraft once again to strafe the jungle, in September 1942. Left to right: Flying Officer Bruce Watson, Sergeant Cec Norman, Flight Sergeant Roy Riddell, Flight Lieutenant Archie Hall and Flight Lieutenant Nat Gould. Australian War Memorial, 026658
A Kittyhawk of 76 Squadron battles the mud of No. 1 Strip. None of the pilots had ever seen anything like it. Australian War Memorial, OG0061D
A few days before the battle began, a USAAF Liberator bomber made an emergency belly landing at Gurney Field, providing the Australians their first look at this famous American aircraft. It would later be strafed and destroyed by Zero fighters. Courtesy of Margaret Whealey
The Milne Bay mud. Flying Officer Geoff Atherton (middle) looks on as a jeep is bogged in the tropical mire. Courtesy of Arthur Tucker
A stranded landing-barge, wrecked stores and cratered beaches mark the site of one of the Japanese landing areas at Milne Bay. Bomb crater courtesy of one of 6 Squadron’s Hudson bombers. Australian War Memorial, 026620
Soldiers wade through a swampy jungle clearing in a still from this famous footage taken at Milne Bay by Damien Parer. Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria, H98.100/2411