W/C John Jeudwine 84 Sqn 1942
 

Hi guys

A dozen RAAF/RAF aircrew escaped by sea from Java to Australia March/April 1942, led by W/C Jeudwine.

I have read that soon after arrival in Australia, Jeudwine returned to Java aboard a USN submarine to search for survivors, but none was found.

Can anyone confirm this?

Cheers
Brian

Re: W/C John Jeudwine 84 Sqn 1942
 

I have the book Global Warrior - The Story of G/C JR Jeudwine by Alain Charpentier, Lionel Lacey-Johnson and Geoffrey Jeudwine

It has a log of the voyage of the Scorpion - the boat the party escaped in - "on April 23 the whole party was flown down to Perth in another Catalina. OC 84 Sqn got in touch with the US Naval authorities through AOC the Western Area, A/C de la Rue RAAF and arrangements were made for the US submarine Sturgeon to call at Scorpion Cove on her way back from Corrigidor and attempt to pick up the 84 Sqn aircrews who had been left there with orders to wait for two months if possible."

The Sturgeon checked the site on the 30th April but did not get a response

Therefore I take it he arranged for a sub to look in on the island but did not go himself


Martin

Re: W/C John Jeudwine 84 Sqn 1942
 

For those with fold3 access, the war diary of the USS Sturgeon, starting on 28 April 1942 is here:
https://www.fold3.com/image/29441490

Basically, they received the order to check for the RAF men on 28 April. They proceeded to Tjilatjap. On the night of 29 April they tried to run a boat in close to shore but had motor problems and had to hoist the boat back on-board and then submerged. The engine was worked on during 30 April and that night they tried again. The boat returned at 2:30 am on May 1. They had run the small boat close to shore, tried signaling the letter "P" some 40 times and then actually used a megaphone to call out while within 50 yards of the shore and then used a spotlight beam. The Lieutenant in charge of the small boat was Chester Nimitz, Jr, son of the admiral.

Re: W/C John Jeudwine 84 Sqn 1942
 

Many thanks, indeed, Martin & RSwank

I hadn't heard of the book 'Global Warrior' but have just found a copy on Amazon - and it's now on its way to me!

Great stuff

Cheers
Brian