On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- May 4, 1942
The Battle of the Coral Sea commenced. HMA cruisers, AUSTRALIA, (CAPT H. B. Farncomb, RAN), flagship of RADM J. Crace, RN, and HOBART, (CAPT H. L. Howden, RAN), were ordered to rendezvous with the American warships in the Coral Sea. The Battle of the Coral Sea was the first naval battle in history where opposing fleets were never in visual contact.
- May 3, 1942
Coastwatcher LEUT D. S. Macfarlane, RANVR, signalled the arrival of the Japanese invasion fleet at Tulagi, Solomon Islands. His signal confirmed the sinking of four enemy transports by American aircraft.
- May 2, 1942
Coastwatcher Major D. G. Kennedy, DSO, reported from Ysabel Island the massing of Japanese shipping in Thousand Ship Bay, for an attack on the Solomon Islands.
HMAS INVERELL, (minesweeper), was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney.
- May 1, 1942
The N class destroyer HMAS NEPAL, (CMDR F. B. Morris, RAN), was commissioned. NEPAL, (formerly NORSEMAN), was laid down at John I Thornycroft Yard, Southampton, England, on 9 September 1939, and launched on 4 December 1941. With her sister ship NORMAN, she was allotted to the Royal Netherlands Navy. NEPAL was the last of the N’s to be allotted to the RAN.
- April 30, 1942
The Tribal class destroyer HMAS ARUNTA, (CMDR J. C. Morrow, DSO, RAN), was commissioned. ARUNTA was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard on 15 November 1939, and launched on 30 November 1940. Lady Gowrie, (Wife of the Governor General, Baron Gowrie), performed the launching ceremony.
- April 28, 1942
HMAS BENDIGO, (minesweeper), picked up 50 survivors from the Dutch merchant vessel DUPLIEX, sunk off Java Head.
The patrol vessel HMAS LAURABADA, (LEUT Ivan Champion, RANVR), evacuated the last troops and civilians from New Britain as the Japanese advanced southward.
- April 25, 1942
The Director of the Combined Intelligence Centre in Melbourne, warned the Australian Government of an imminent move by Japanese forces against New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The Centre intercepted enemy wireless traffic and confirmed the information with messages from the Coastwatcher network.
- April 19, 1942
HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), was in a near collision with the troop ship QUEEN MARY, south of Melbourne.
- April 18, 1942
The Australian Prime Minister Mr John Curtin handed over to General Douglas MacArthur, (US Army), the operational command of all combat sections of the Australian army, navy, and air force in the Australian area. MacArthur appointed VADM H. Leary, USN, in command of all naval forces, including the RAN.
- April 17, 1942
The wireless station at Darwin, NT, received the first message from occupied Timor, indicating that the lost commando force, (Sparrow Force), was still fighting. The signal read; ‘Force intact. Still fighting. Badly need boots, money, quinine, tommy-gun ammunition’. A reply to the commandos’ signal was transmitted on the next night.