A ?? RE: IJNAF losses on 25 April 1942 at Darwin;

[Jim Oxley]

There is an excellent account of this battle in "Protect and Avenge - The 49th FG in WWII" by Fergusan and Pascalis.

The Takeo Kokutai sent 24 G4M's escorted by 13 A6M's of the 3rd Kokutai. The 3rd Kokutai got seperated from the Takeo Ku in the heavy cloud over Darwin and were not flying in close escort when the bombers were hit by the enemy. Fifty P-40's of the 49th FG rose to intercept. The air fight lasted almost an hour in and out of the heavy clouds and extended 100 miles out to sea.

Confirmed claims were credited to Jim Moorehead (3 G4M), Dick Dennis (2 G4M), 'Big Ed' Miller (2 G4M), Mitchell Sims (1 G4M), 'Smiley' Barnett (1 Zero), Harvey Martin (1 G4M), Don Morse (1 Zero) and Bill Hennon (1 Zero). Six more G4M's and three Zero's were classed as probables.

(Actual losses noted in the book are four G4M and 1 Zero. That's one of the sterling qualities of this book, it attempts wherever possible to balance claims against actual losses).

Moorehead (considered a hothead) actually crashed on landing. On arriving back at Adelaide River he performed three victory rolls over the field, then came in to land. Unfortunately his landing gear had been damaged and did not extend. He ploughed into the drome and stopped just short of where his commanding officer, Captain Strauss, was standing!

By the by did anyone note that the 25th April is Anzac Day?