Coastwatcher LEUT W.J. Read, RANVR, signalled from Buka Passage:- “A ship, which may be a cruiser and probably another, entered Kessa 1 pm, believe from the north. Heavy destroyer and light cruiser, derrick on stern, just entered Buka Passage. Unusual air activity today, nine fighters landed drome. Believe about 20 fighters and bombers now here. First mentioned ship now leaving Kessa, believe may come this way”.
The anti-submarine escort vessel HMAS ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN, (LEUT A.I. Chapman, RANR), was commissioned. ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN was laid down in Werf Gusto, Schiedam, Holland, for the Royal Netherlands Navy, and launched on 22 September 1936, completed in 1937. She had escaped to Australia and arrived at Fremantle on 20 March 1942. She was the last vessel to successfully escape from Java