Escape from Timor (continued)

Sometimes the Australians scattered in the Indies were compelled to hide for days in the jungle, deprived of any communication or transport. They walked, rode, hitched and swam in the general disorder, with the threat of discovery by the enemy always imminent. The relentless tropical weather continued, cursed or blessed, according to circumstances, by friend and foe alike.

The Australian forces were in full retreat—the Met. service with them. The USA had not yet had sufficient time to marshal their forces and disperse them to strategic positions. By the time all the displaced Met. personnel had evacuated the Netherlands East Indies, the next Japanese objective was Port Moresby and then Australia itself. The sixteenth Japanese air raid on Port Moresby took place on 20 March 1942. During these days of desperation for the Allies, No. 75 Squadron RAAF arrived and was operative until early May. Battered by superior Japanese Zeros and frequent bad weather, this Squadron, nonetheless, accounted for 18 Japanese aircraft in the air and 17 on the ground. In strafing attacks over enemy-held Lae, 12 pilots and 22 aircraft of the RAAF were lost. When 75 Squadron was withdrawn to Australia only three aircraft remained in it. However, within three months, 'the fighting 75' was to regroup and distinguish itself again in Papua-New Guinea.

Bureau of Meteorology