At 2200 hours the Australian coastal steamer AGE, came under attack from gunfire from a Japanese submarine, near Norah Head, NSW. The ship reached Newcastle without being hit. At midnight however, the merchant ship IRON CHIEFTAIN, carrying a cargo of coking coal, was attacked by the Japanese submarine I-21, some 27 miles east of Sydney, and sunk with the loss of 12 lives. The following morning 12 survivors were rescued by HMAS BINGERA, and another 25 made it ashore at The Entrance, Tuggerah Lakes, NSW, on 5 June.
A daring plan to rescue Australian POW’s held on Ambon, was vetoed by US commanders. The plan, which was approved by the RAN, involved the landing of a commando force from HMAS ARUNTA, and the Dutch cruiser TROMP. An intelligence report had indicated the island was only lightly held by the Japanese.