Warbird Information Exchange

I am reading a new book, “ Zero Hour in Broome” by Dr Tom Lewis and Peter Ingram.
The book outlines the Japanese attack on the north western Australian city of Broome on 3 March 1942. Nine Zeros, guided by a Mitsubishi C5M Babs flew from Koepang in Timor to attack Broome, a round trip of around 1200 miles. In a classic example of using the range of the Zero to achieve effective projection of force in unexpected areas they destroyed over 20 multi engine planes in 20 minutes. Two Zero’s were lost, one shot down near Broome, probably by the rear gunner of B24A (40-2370) that was taking off when the Zeros arrived (Gary would have approved.), the other running out of fuel on the way home.
At this stage Broome was being used for the evacuation of the Netherlands East Indies and consequently far more large planes than normal were present including 15 flying boats in Roebuck Bay. Many of the flying boats were Dutch and had refugees still onboard, mostly women and children fleeing the fall of Java. The total number of casualties will never be known, with most of the bodies not being recovered. Some of the wrecks are still visible in Roeeuck bay.
If you want to read the full story of the second biggest air raid on Australia buy the book (ISBN 978-0-9577351-5-6, Avonmore Books in South Australia), but one particular sub story took my fancy.

On page 132 there is the story of a lucky plane, the one that got away. This plane was not just the only Allied plane to survive the attack on Broome but it was one that was lucky to even be there.
The plane was a Curtis SOC-3 Seagull from the cruiser USS Houston. The plane had taken off from the Houston on 16 February and been unable to re-embark due to anticipated combat. The pilot, Lieutenant Lamade and Observer Tubbs made for Broome, arriving at Broome harbour with empty tanks, being the first foreign military visitors to the port. Efforts to rejoin their ship were unsuccessful and the plane was still safe in Broome when the Houston was sunk in a night action (together with HMAS Perth) in the Battle of Sunda Strait on 29 February 1942.
With news of the loss, Lamade was ordered south and took off on 3 March just as the Zeros arrived.
The Seagull was apparently sighted by one Zero which then became engaged in a mutually destructive combat with the B24A that had also just taken off. The Seagull slipped away, made it safely to a meeting with the USS Childs and eventually to Perth.
So a question for the WIX crew, what was the serial number of the Seagull (I haven’t yet found it in the book yet) and what happened to it and its crew afterwards?

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Chris Mellor

Rick65,

You need to post your queston on the Pacific Wrecks website. The attack on Broome has been discussed many times on that forum. Good luck.


http://www.pacificwrecks.com/forum/view ... dc5ff2b0fd


TM

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"Welcome back Mr. Lasky."

USS Houston had four Seagulls embarked: SOC-3 BuNos 1065, 1066, and 1068, and SON-1 BuNo 1190. 1065 was the only one that did not go down with the ship (as she was in Broome as mentioned above). She survived on VP-101's books until June 16, 1942, stricken "due to salt water immersion".

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Thanks for the Bu No Dan, it led me to a huge thread on a site called network54.com (about which I know nothing)
Lots of information (and contradiction) in a thread that seems to have started with a photo of the USS Langley and diverted into discussion on the Houston's float planes and their fates and various other mattters.
Now I have something more to read.

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Chris Mellor

That's the one. Joe Baugher's site confirms 1065 being attached to VP-101, but has it stricken in May of '42.

What would we do without the internet machine?

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.