03:45 D-Day Operation Fosters.
HMAS Swan approaches the beach defences at Horn Island and starts a light shelling of spotted MG nests dug into the sand. Behind her the first waves of landing craft are starting to hit the beaches amid sporadic and inaccurate MG
fire. The days action beings.
Landings continue as the sun starts to rise. Just after day break the first aerial support missions of the day. Having taken off during darkness from Coen a well coordinated strike by 69th Bomber Squadron (B-26B), 13th RAAF Sqaudron (Hudson IIILR) and 22nd RAAF Squadron (DB-7B still in Dutch markings) attack various enemy strong points on the shore line and the single air strip on the island.
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
DB-7B x 8
Hudson III (LR) x 6
B-26B Marauder x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 39
Hot on the heels of this first attack came a second well coordinated attack at low height carried out by Beaufort V's of 14th and 100th RAAF Squadrons based at Cooktown. Their targets enemy bivouacs to the rear of the frontline.
Morning Air attack on 89th Naval Guard Unit, at 91,128 (Horn Island)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort V x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Beaufort V bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x Beaufort V bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 2nd Indpt SNLF Coy ...
Also attacking 89th Naval Guard Unit ...
5 Beaufighter I's of 30th RAAF Squadron followed hot on their heels dropping bombs on enemy troops manning the beach defences.
Morning Air attack on 89th Naval Guard Unit, at 91,128 (Horn Island)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 19
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter Ic bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
As the morning progressed the landings continued, the need to get assault troops on the ground and their armoured support being imperative. Heavier bombing raids followed later in the morning as the flying time from Townsville and Charter Towers was longer than from Coen or Cooktown. B-24s of 436th Bomber Squadron targetted supply dumps around the airfield.
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 19
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28
B-17s of 26th Bomber Squadron (Townsville) followed the Liberators bombing the airfield, already burning and smoking after the bombing run of the B-24s.
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18
As morning turned to afternoon it was the turn of the 23rd Bomber Squadron also based out of Townsville to attack troop concentrations and gun emplacements. The weeks of aerial recon had provided the bombadiers on the planes excellent photographs and intell on enemy dispositions.
Afternoon Air attack on 89th Naval Guard Unit, at 91,128 (Horn Island)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 19
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
As the smoke and dust settled Japanese artillery began to recover from the punishment it had received from the air and began to zero in on the landing beaches. Amid the shelling more and more Australian and American troops landed ashore. A clearer picture of what the Japanese had on Horn Island was beginning to appear from the intell gathered from papers from enemy casualties on the beaches.
Offshore the landing craft worked tirelessly to get as many troops as possible off the transports and onto the beaches. Also making its way ominously to Horn Island was the BB Colorado, eager to land its big guns in support of the troops ashore. Surprise had been total and the 50 Airacobras flying air cover had not been called into action. The Japanese response on the morrow would be interesting to say the least!
. Could have done with at least elements of the three regiments involved already on land.
