[rldunn]

It often helps to have some information on what the other side was doing. Japanese reconnaissance of Australia by the 70th Independent Squadron continued until the summer of 1944 when the war situation which had previously reduced their operations over Australia completely diverted them to other operations.

Japanese daylight bombing by navy bombers ended in July 43 when their escort force (Air Group 202) was widely dispersed due to the threat caused by the recently arrived 380th BG equipped with B-24s which engaged in bombing raids over a wide territory. The navy carried out two night raids in August 1943. The Japanese army (75th Flying Regiment) obtained cooperation from a contingent of navy Zero fighters and carried out a day raid against Drysdale Mission in early Sept 43.

After Sept 43 the approaching monsoon season meant a sustained bombing campaign could not be mounted for some time. By Nov 43 a part of Air Group 753 was diverted to the Marshalls due to the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. The group was also sent to other parts of the Indies. By the time good weather returned in April 44 the Japanese were in no position to engage in a bombing campaign over Australia.

The mission of 20 Zeros accompanied by a reconnaissance plane was not an escort mission of the recce a/c but an "air annihilation mission" by the fighters with the recce accompanying them as a guide plane. During this same period the Japanese carried out other recon missions without escorts. It helps to know Japanese air doctrine.

Ascribing the end of Japanese bombing of Australia or the supposed end of reconnaissance there to action by the intercepting Spitfires to the exclusion of more pertinent factors results in a one sided and distorted view of events.

RLD