Kiwi Airman at Tulagi in July 1942

[Dave Homewood]

This is a very interesting one. The RNZAF did not reach the Solomon Islands till much later in the year but this New Zealand Herald report is from the 19th of July 1942.

TARGET FOR BOMBER

AIRMAN IN A DINGHY

AUCKLANDER'S EXPERIENCE

Alone in a dinghy at Tulagi, in the Solomons, Leading-Aircraftman J. E. Painton, of Auckland, was the target for the machine-guns of a Japanese bomber during the first enemy raid on that place. Leading-Aircraftman Painton had left the beach to bring several motor launches to a place of greater safety.

"I kept the nose of the dinghy pointed at the nose of the bomber so that a smaller target would be presented," he said when interviewed in Australia. "As it swooped I could see a be-goggled Japanese manning two guns in a bulge. He peppered the water about me. I do not think I was frightened, it was just a feeling of awful helplessness."

Soon a British flying-boat was up and roaring in pursuit of the Japanese machine, which "scuttled for home," although Leading-Aircraftman Painton believes it fell in the sea. After that the enemy bombed the islands from high altitudes.

The New Zealander, who was serving with the Australians, spent seven months at Tulagi. On one raid, he said, the Japanese wasted £5000 in bombs to provide the air station with fish. All the bombs fell in the sea and an unlimited supply of fish was gathered. The Japanese were good pilots and game fighters, but they did not waste their lives wantonly, he said. One Japanese prisoner at Port Moresby asked for steak and eggs for every meal. This so irritated the troops who were on limited rations that steps had to be taken to protect him.

[Dave Homewood]

So what would the British flying-boat have been? A Catalina from Singapore? And where would it have been based?

What were the RAAF and this Kiwi airmen doing at Tulagi? It mentions an air station. I was not aware that the RAAF or RAF had any presence in the Solomon Islands before the Japanese overran the area.

I'd love to learn more please.

[tbf2504]

From "Australia in the War 1939-145 The Royal Australian Air Force 1939-1942" page 516
On Tulagi itself there was a small British garrison of about 100 native tropps. On Tanambogo the RAAF had a signals staff to cope with the radio communications and a marine staff to tend the Catalinas using the base for long-range reconnaissance. (Tanambogo is one of two small islands on the eastern side of Tulagi Harbour) The first Japanese air attacks on this site occurred in January 1942 On 1 May a raid damaged two of three Catalinas at their moorings. The main garrison was then evacuated as a force of 8 japanese ships were spotted 35 miles off Tulagi.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, that is fascinating. Thanks Paul. So the Catalinas were RAAF then.

Just found on adf.serials:

"30/04/42 A24-23 and A24-19 were damaged by Japanese dive bombers whilst on the water at Tulagi, Tulagi Island in the Solomons. A24-19 was only slightly damaged and repairs were made by the crew at Tulagi before flying to Rathmines for further repairs. A24-23 was unserviceable and on the night of 30/04/42 was towed to the village of Aola on the North East cost of Guadalcanal Island in the Solomons. On 07/05/42 A24-23 was blown up to prevent enemy capture."