After the Wakde Island operation, local patrols were continued; C 47’s and shipping moving westward were escorted. The squadron also covered the American landing on Biak Island, the largest of the Shouten Group.
Whilst on patrol over Biak on 29th May, Flying officer G.H. White was forced to ditch his aircraft in shallow water near the Noesi Island. He was rescued by Catalina 40 minutes later.
May 1944 marked the peak period of the squadron’s operations with 575 sorties flown in 1738.35 operational hours.
One of the most outstanding aerial combat successes of the New Guinea campaign was achieved on the 3rd June .15 Kittyhawks took off from “Cyclops” in 4 flights a 0830 hours.
When on patrol over Biak at 9,000 to 10, 000 feet, they sighted 12 “Oscars” in very loose formation with 3 “Kate’s” 5 to 10 miles south of Mockmer Strip. The Kitty hawks were led into position from which a diving attack was delivered from the sun. The 4 sections attacked in succession and in the ensuing combat, top cover was provided at different times by 7 aircraft.
The squadron destroyed 7 Oscars and 2 Kate’s and damages 1 Oscar and 1 Kate for the loss of 1 Kittyhawk. A twin-engine bomber, probably a “Lily”, was seen heading west, but was not pursued.
The Kittyhawk ,which was lost ,was piloted by Flight/Sgt. W.H.Harnden. He was last seen with 2 Oscars on his tail and was reported by the crew of a destroyer to have bailed out. His parachute failed to open and he crashed into the sea.
On 10th June, 8 Kittyhawks were detailed to cover a convoy, which was not located. At 1450 hours, when at 17,000 feet off the west tip of Japen Island, a “Toni” (Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien'Tony') was sighted 5 miles away at 15,000 feet. FLT.Lt.D.R.Baker and F..O.G.O. Giles gave chase as the aircraft dived away in the direction of Babo. Baker scored several bursts, closing to 150 yards. Flames issued from the starboard main plane and the Tony crashed into the sea. Giles also fired a burst into the Tony whilst it was in flames. This combat is notable, because it was the last occasion, on which the R.A.A.F shot down an enemy aircraft in the New Guinea campaign.
Flying officer C.R.Harvey, a member of No .78 squadron was on base control near Hollandia about 1600 hours on the 13th, when his aircraft got into a spin on entering a cloud base. Not knowing the cloud base, he decided to bail out. Harvey landed in jungle and a Piper Club Pilot, who dropped supplies, located the following day. For the next 3 weeks Harvey was supplied and directed from the air and guided through the jungle until a Walrus was able to pick him up from the Idenburg River on the afternoon of July 4th.
The squadron was unlucky ion several occasions to miss air combats over Biak. For instance on the 12th, about half an hour before they got to Biak, 9 Kate’s raided the island and American P 47’s shot down 6. Again on the 28th, a few minutes after they had left the area, P 47’s shot down 2 Helens (Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu - ‘Helen’) and 2 Zekes (Mitsubishi A6M). Conditions for the Kittyhawks at Cyclops were very bad. Dust being the greatest nuisance, played havoc with the engines. In one occasion, the commanding officer Sqn Leader A.H.Brydon, on take off ran into a cloud of dust. He could not see and climbed too quickly with the result that his engine stalled .The aircraft flicked over and hit the ground, rolling over, wing tip to wing tip several times. Brydon, however, was unhurt.
Patrolling over base on the 9th, Pilot office J.R.Cornell crashed into the sea 300 yards off the mouth off the Grim River that same day, a small party of Japanese, who fired on one detail were strafed, about half their number being killed. Patrol work from Hollandia continued until the 20th, when the squadron was moved by air to Kamiri Strip on Noemfoor Island.
The squadron had moved 6 times in 9 months. This involved erecting temporary sites prior to the reception of permanent ones. Packing, loading and transportation required intensive work on a 24-hour basis before departure and after arrival. During each move operations were maintained. Fatigue was particularly noticeable with such strenuous work. Since the arrival at Noemfoor, nightly red alerts created disturbed sleep and before the end of the month there were two enemy raids.
The squadron was operational at Kamiri on 21st July, when 24 Kittyhawks patrolled the area from dawn till dusk. 2 barges and stores dumps were sighted and strafed. South of Manokwari.
At this time, the squadron recommenced co-operation with the America P/T boats in the Noemfoor island area, Several such sweeps were made with the object of denying the Japanese the use of the west coast of Goelvink Bay.
On the 28th, 8 Aircraft struck the water front in the Jeffman-Samate area. A barge was strafed and left sinking and a small freighter left smoking.
In a wing effort on the 31st 24 planes in 2 details covered the combat American troops who invaded the extreme western tip of New Guinea at Sansapor and the small islands of Amsterdam and Middleburg. The squadron had covered the convoy on the 29th and 30th on its westward to the operation, known as “Globe trotter “. This operation absorbed the efforts of the No. 78 squadron for the first three weeks of August,
Now began the task of neutralising the aerodrome at Babo. Accordingly, on the 23rd, 36 aircraft concentrated on No.2 strip, when 31 bombs were seen to explode along the centre of the runway. The remainder bursting along the edge and among huts and the dispersal areas. In similar strength, the performance was repeated the next day, 23 direct hits being scored on the same strip.
Photo :From Left :Tom Brumby Syd Gallas Ken Buck Jock Dowling Cranswick (Gunga Din ) & Todd amongst Tojo's Terrors
Also during August, watercraft sweeps were operated in the areas Karas Island Adai island, Cape Fatagar-Karas Island, Modan Island, Cape Sabra and such places.
The Japanese had a sawmill at Kokas on the south shore of Maccluer Gulf, which supplied materials for barge making. 12 Kittyhawks attacked on the 31st and scored hits on the jetty and ack ack position. This was repeated on the ack ack sites next day. On 2nd September 4 detail each of 4 aircraft repeated the attacks and completely knocked out the mill. Numerous small fires were started in the village and a 25 ft ketch was destroyed.
The squadron was not without its losses. While on a barge sweep on 8th August in Maccluer Gulf, Pilot G.W.White crashed into the water 200 yards off the shore at Garoewah Village. The remaining planes circled for 5 minutes, observing that the canopy, which was under water, was still closed. He was posed “ Missing believed killed”. Again on the 10th, while on a sweep from Warpopier to Sarkorem, Flt.Sgt. R., P.S. Brown failed to return to base.
Flight Officer Gordon White
During September, American heavy bombers at Noemfoor bombed enemy forces in the Halmerhera's, Moluccas and Mindanao. No 78 Squadron participated substantially in protecting their bases. Numerous operations were designed primarily to deny the enemy the use of the airfields on the Volgelkop and Bomberai Peninsulas and in the Kai Island. Samate, Jeffman, Babo, Utarom, Ransiki, Faan and Langgoer strips were dive bombed and rendered unserviceable by the end of the month. These operations were completely offensive efforts, which might have hindered allied efforts further afield.
In addition, numerous watercraft sweeps were completed, covering the coast of the Bomberai Peninsula from the eastern extremity for Maccluer Gulf to Aideoma island on the south coast, including patrols and attacks on watercraft on internal waterways, as well as the northern islands of the Kai and Areo Group s along the western coast of Ceram.
An innovation worthy of note was the adaptation of a belly tank to cover the camera. This was fitted to a P40 of No.78 squadron and successful photographic missions were completed to Babo, Samate ,Jeffman, Utarom, and Kakos.
Advise was received in the wing on the 15th September, that it was believed that 600 air force personnel with equipment were evacuated from the Kokas to Ambon and thence further west by a destroyer leaving Sangala Bay on the 18th.No 78 squadron participated in these searches with negative results. Pilots frequently remained aloft for up to 5 1/2 hours .
At the beginning of October, the activities of the group were divorced from the 5th Air Force and came under the direction of the 13th Airforce . With effect from the 25th October 1944 , No 10 Operational Group became “ The First Tactical Air Force “ .
It would be impossible to detail all the varied missions comprised watercraft sweeps, dive-bombing and strafing of bivouac areas, dive-bombing of strips and escort to rescue reconnaissance aircraft , which frequently operated 400 miles from base . In the later days the radius of watercraft sweeps was increased to 580 miles leaving the safety margin of only 30 gallons of fuel . To enable this distance to be covered , aircraft staged at Middelburg Island.
During October , 514 hours were devoted to watercraft sweeps 271 to dive-bombing and strafing and in all 288 sorties were carried out . The actual damage to watercraft was disappointing , due to lack of targets , but the damage to jetties and possible storage sheds , situated in well kept villages , was particularly pleasing.
With the advent of No 81 Wing , new fields were opened up for No 78 . Squadron. Its aircraft covered the east coast of Amboina , The Haroekoe Straights and Ceram Straights and the south coast of Ceram as far west as Piroe Township.
The squadron helped to keep immobilised some40,000 enemy troupes in the Halmahera, the Celebes and Dutch New Guinea and neutralised the threat of enemy air attacks on the flank and the supply line of McArthur’s invasion of the Philippines.
During November , squadron aircraft operated over Garong , Madan and Basar Islands, Jafnate River and Karas Islands. Garong Island attack on the 11th was particularly successful, when a 25 ft motor was hit and a 50 ft fully laden barge was destroyed and three schooners strafed.
On the 13th No 78 .squadron participated in a Wing attack on Utarom Strip , by dropping 24 x 500lb bombs , rendering it unserviceable. 12 aircraft on the 25th bombed enemy installations at Cape Noejew near Sorong , landing 22 bombs on the target . In this raid the aircraft , piloted by Sgt. S.J.Hattersley dived vertically into the sea 1000yards north of Doom Island .and no trace of him was subsequently seen .
Aircraft belly tanks were proving very effective against bivouac areas , and this was specially true at Utarom .which was attacked 7 times during November. Also further long flights were carried out over Ceram and Amboina and the Halmaheras by refuelling at Middleburg. 1st December was a busy day fro the squadron , 12 aircraft staged in at Morotai to dive - bomb Hatetabako .24 bombs were dropped , 26 bursting along the strip , four 100 yards north of the centre of the strip and two 150 yards south along the centre of the strip .
The aircraft returned to Morotai , refuelled , rearmed and repeated the raid. Unfortunately, on this occasion this time none of the bombs exploded .
On the 9th and 10th , the squadron attacked Mitti and Hatetabako aerodromes, rendering all unserviceable. Up to the 21st , the enemy in the Halmaheras received a severe mauling , but those by passed on Volgelkop Peninsula were not forgotten .
All except the rear party had moved to Morotai by the 21st . The rear party arrived early in January 1945. However, commencing on the 23rd December and lasting until the 26th , the squadron attacked aerodromes and installations concentrated around Galela and Goroea in 72 sorties . On the last day of the year , 12 aircraft attacked bridges and the general are a from Wasile Bay to Rhesalaha Village and later bombed Hatetabako.
Top: Tom Brumby Adrian Rumah John Cranswick "Gunga Din" Bottom: Bluey Campbell Syd Gallas Ron Davis
With the move to Morotai , operations were short duration, being only over Halmaheras . The number of sorties increased but operation hours decreased .
The squadron’s account for 1945 was opened on the 1st , when 12 Kittyhawks attacked No.2 strip at Galela. Most of the bombs fell in the target area .Next day 2 details of 12 each bombed Hatetabako and the nearly Lolobata , all bombs exploding along the strip.
On the 9thand 10th , the squadron flew in wing consignments to a combined naval- air co – operation task against the main bivouac and supply area near Galela Village. The Kittyhawks made harassing and damaging attacks on the are by bombing and strafing, while the R.A.N. vessels closed to within shelling range and carried out a bombardment of enemy installations. On the 14th , 2 details of 16 aircraft each renewed their attacks on the much “blitzed” targets of Lolobata and Hatetabako . This was the fourth occasion in 1945 that thee strips had been attacked . From the 18th , the squadron divided its attention between Halmaheras and the Celebes.
To give some idea of the pounding the Japanese were receiving , from the 7th tho the 21sty January , 262 hostile sorties were carried out , whereas for the month , there were 467 sorties flown in 876.05 hours , in which 153,630 lb. Of bombs were dropped and 77,000 rounds of ammunition expended.
Four Kittyhawks took off on the 3rd February in the early morning on an “Intruder patrol” over Galela, Kaoe and Kailolo air strips . Anti aircraft weapons opened up at Galela, but no enemy targets were observed during the flight . Another 16 were detailed to attack Wasile Pier and anti aircraft positions at Lolobata where extremely heavy anti-aircraft fire prevented the results of the attack being observed.
During February , the squadrons efforts fell away completely , due to the scarcity of targets and the necessity of conserving ammunition for the coming operations in Borneo. Still several effective missions were carried out. One worthy of note was staged on the 11th when a combined strike of 60 Kittyhawks and 28 Beau fighters in 40 minutes devastated the personnel areas in the Tondana District in the Celebes . 20 Kittyhawks were supplied by No . 78 squadron which led the attack.
The squadron opened its account for March with 8 Aircraft attacking the Titilegan River in the Halmaheras on the 2nd. The results of the Dive - bombing could not be observed because of the weather conditions. The following day in another combined attack on the same location , 2 direct hits and several near misses were scored on the barracks area at Gorontalo.
Kittyhawks on the 25th in a wing attack delivered a devastating raid on Sagea in the Halmaheras. It had been discovered that the natives were collaborating with the Japanese.
The last strike prior to ceasing operations at Morotai , was a wing attack against the Village of Ternate on the island of the same name . No 78 Squadron supplied 12 aircraft in details of 4 . Hits were registered on warehouses and other buildings in the area and many thousands of rounds expelled.
Early in April, the “First Tactical Airforce” came under R.A.A.F. command for the ‘Oboe Operations’ in Borneo . On the 10th the squadron was ordered to cease operations for the purposes of bringing all aircraft to 100% serviceability for the invasion of Tarakan.
The main echelon left Morotai in the invasion convoy on the 27th April and disembarked on the 6tgh may. Through unforeseen circumstances , the strip at Tarakan was not completed to schedule . The personnel assisted army engineers in constructing a road to the beach head, and during May and June were engaged on various duties chiefly with army personnel, and arrangements were made for them to spend short periods in the front line.
On the 28thMay , the squadron completed 20 months in Operational areas . 74 of the original members still with the unit had taken part in every move from Kiriwina to Tarakan.
The squadron aircraft arrived via Tawi Tawi on the 18th July and were operational on the 20th . Sandakan was the main target for the first few days . Consequent upon enemy raids on the 24th , the wing , staging through Sepinggan for briefing, attacked Banjermasin airfield in southern Borneo , where it was thought that the raiding aircraft were staging through their flights to and from Java.
Backrow: Jock Dowling (Leongatha) Sid Gallas Front : Ted OBrien (Melbourne) Tom Brumby (Adelaide)
The last strike on the 9th August was the bombing and strafing attack at Mostyn Estate . That scheduled for the 10th against Sapulut proved abortive due to adverse weather .
After cessation of hostilities , the squadron engaged in 3 leaflet dropping missions and 7 reconnaissance’s to see if the Japanese were caring out instructions.
The aircraft were flown back to the mainland early November , and what personal were left boarded H.M.S. Glory on the 2nd December , disembarked at Sydney on the 12th .
AS part of First TAF , the squadron had taken part in the advance of 1500 miles from Noemfoor to Morotai and then to Tarakan.
Late in December ,the squadron was based in Deniliquin , NSW. By the 31st March, 1946 , it was based in Schofields, NSW , and by the end of April, it was reduced to nucleus .
In 1946 ,78 squadron moved to Williamtown, with a strength of two officers and fifteen ranks . At this base it was equipped with 4 Mustangs and 1 Wirrway . It was finally disbanded on the 1st April 1948.
