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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1894.PDF
9 November 1950 Typical terrain in northern New Guinea over which No. 21Squadron's Vengeance dive-bombers operated in 1944. Patani was very poor, and there was a serious lack of operational control. Besides this there was no spotter organization to give warning of the approach of enemy aircraft. The only radar was centred on the defence of Singapore Island. In the early hours of December 8th, information was received that the Japanese had attempted a landing at Kota Bharu and had bombed Singapore. No. 21 Squadron was standing-by at first light. Just after 0700 hr the Station Operations Room warned of unidentified aircraft approaching from the west, and about ten minutes later a formation was sighted heading for the airfield. It was identified definitely as Japanese. The leader of one of the two sections ordered on stand-by, F/L. F. H. Williams, immediately telephoned the operations room, but was told again to "stand-by for further instructions." Allshorn, the CO. of 21, continues in his report: — "... the rest of the twelve pilots standing-by at thebriefing room, including myself, recognized the aircraft as enemy and made for the twelve unit aircraft prepared forscramble to take off and intercept. As the twelve pilots were putting on parachutes and the aircraft were being wanned,I looked up to see a stick of bombs leave the enemy formation • and realized it was too late for take-off." Everyone was ordered to take cover, but Kirkman and Hooper had their aircraft started and took off with the bombs bursting behind them. The first missiles fell amongst the Blenheims of 27 Squadron, R.A.F., but the immediately following stick exploded on the 21 Squadron side of the field, completely destroying one of the closely parked Buffaloes and damaging all the others. Though there were no casualties among personnel, the moral effect on those who had toiled so hard to make the aircraft ready can be imagined. . The Japanese concentrated on airfield bombing through- out the first day of hostilities. Sungei Patani received its next load at 1045 hr from a larger formation of bombers. No. 21 had managed to have five Buffaloes standing-by; but again permission to take-off was refused by the Station Operations Controller. A petrol dump was destroyed and more of the station buildings were flattened. Immediately following the raid, with fires roaring and smoke coming from craters, the des- truction seemed overwhelming, and, in fact, the added damage to the field made it almost unusable. There was a single Buffalo from the Squadron on patrol when this raid developed. F/O. J. B. Hooper was the pilot. He pulled up to attack the bombers; but imme- diately six fighters from the escort of 40 Zekes dived on him. He evaded them by turning on his back and diving to ground level. For the rest of the day the airfield patrols were carried out by the remaining serviceable aircraft. At the end of the day Sungei Patani had been devastated", and Norgroup 4°3 ordered the withdrawal to Butterworth. On arrival there, it was found that no accommodation was available, and everyone had to sleep on the beach. Further, there was no food, and consequently every man was thoroughly exhausted by the next day. But despite the appalling conditions, frantic efforts were being made to repair the flyable aircraft, which had arrived from Sungei Patani. Two machines were available in the morning for reconnaissance. Another two were added to these as escort for the Blenheims in the afternoon; but before the Blenheims could join the circling "Buffs," the Japanese raided the field. The four Buftaloes attacked, but in an unequal contest two were shot down while a third landed at Penang. All pilots were rescued, although one, F/L. C. R. McKenny, was badly burned. Waves of enemy fighters and dive bombers throughout the day played havoc with grounded aircraft and the air- field. An attack on Butterworth by paratroopers was anti- cipated, so the squadron was ordered to move from the blasted airfield to Ipoh, where there were good dispersal facilities. At this stage the Squadron had two serviceable aircraft, which carried out airfield patrols while the ground crews made feverish efforts in the tropical steam to repair the other machines. Replacement aircraft were promised, and four arrived on December 13th. Operational flying again became a reality for a short time. But there were again the usual wireless and armament troubles. The "Buffs" were performing far below the hopeful expecta- tions, and the Japanese aircraft far above. The CO. had been threatened by a senior officer at Singapore with close arrest for making morale-lowering remarks—on being asked his opinion in confidence, he had given a true evaluation of the Buffalo. But the fact was there—that they were absolutely no match for the Japanese fighters. In a few days, the reinforcement aircraft, too, were no longer operationally serviceable. No. 453 Squadron had arrived at Ipoh from Singapore to help 21 Squadron. On December 13th the combined ser- viceable aircraft strength at Ipoh was 19 Buffaloes. Two days later there were three. Enemy action was not the only cause. Only the flying staff of 453 Squadron had arrived at Ipoh, so the whole burden of maintenance was thrown on to the exhausted men and exhausted facilities of 21 Squadron. But though their guns could not be relied upon, and though they knew their aircraft were inferior, the pilots were still prepared to pit their flying skill against the enemy's superior equipment. As the Japanese land forces drew near to Ipoh, the ground staff worked night and day for 30 hours to move the equipment that had poured in from the northern fields. Then the Squadron was ordered to Sembawang, the R.A.A.F. Station on Singapore Island. S/L. Allshorn was posted to the operations room at Sembawang and F/L. F. H. Williams assumed command. Reorganization began immediately. Aircraft . were obtained ; but something drastic had to be done about their comparative performance. Aerial masts and all other excrescences were removed, and cockpit heaters, Very tubes and so on were taken out to save weight, fuel load was Bound for Borneo : Meal-time for the squadron's ground staff on board the Louis Arguello.
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