FROM: VADM. CHUICHI NAGUMO, KIDO BUTAI CINC, ABOARD HIJMS KAGA.
TO: ADM. ISOROKU YAMAMOTO, COMBINED FLEET CINC, KURE.
SUBJECT: PERTH AIR STRIKE
DATE: APRIL 29TH, 1942
FOLLOWING COMBINED FLEET SECRET ORDER NUMBER 2, CARDIV2, CARDIV3, CARDIV5 HAD DEPARTURE FROM SINGAPORE A WEEK AGO AND HEADING SOUTH AVOID ALL ENEMY CONTACTS TO REACH POSITION TO LAUNCH A SURPRISE ATTACK AGAINST PERTH NAVAL AND AIR BASES.
AT MORNING, 49 A6M2, 108 B5N2(Primary Target: Docked ships) AND 139 D3A1 (Primary Target: Airfiel) HAVE TAKE OFF FROM OUR CARRIERS TO LAUNCH A MASSIVE BLOW AGAINST ENEMY TARGETS ON GROUND. OVER PERTH, 15 P-40 AND 7 KITTYHAWKS WERE MET AT CAP. OUR FIGHTERS DOWNED 4 ENEMY FIGHTERS IN THE DOGFIGHT.
ENEMY PORT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED: 1 REPAIR SHIPYARD, 7 PORT AND 1 PORT FUEL HITS WERE REPORTED
ENEMY SHIPS DAMAGE REPORT:
CM PRINS VAN ORANJE, 1 BOMB HIT
AGP ALDEBARAN, 1 BOMB HIT
XAKL SOERABAJA, 1 BOMB HIT
XAP PROMINENT, 2 BOMB HITS
XAP CAMPHUYS, 2 BOMB HITS
XAK WHANGPU, 1 BOMB HIT
AMC KANIMBLA, 2 BOMB HITS
CM KUNG WO, 2 BOMB HITS
AO TAN 2, 1 BOMB HIT
CM KRAKATOU, 1 BOMB HIT
XAK TONEDJOEK, 1 BOMB HIT
XAK WIRLIS, 1 BOMB HIT
36 ENEMY SHIPS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ON HARBOUR.
AIRFIELD DAMAGE REPORT: 14 AIRBASE, 4 AIRBASE SUPPLY AND 91 RUNWAY HITS.
OUR NAVAL SEARCH FLIGHTS REPORTED ENEMY SHIPS ANCHORED OFF PERTH AND ONE ENEMY DESTROYER 40 NM WEST OF PERTH. CARDIV 2 - CARDIV 3 NAVAL ATTACK GROUP LAUNCHED TWO WAVES, LIKE BELLOW:
- 1ST WAVE: 9 A6M2 ESCORTED 38 B5N2 ATTACKED ANCHORED SHIPS OFF PERTH. 7 ALLIED FIGHTERS AT CAP. NO OWN LOSSES. FOLLOWING SHIPS DAMAGED OR SUNK:
XAK BELLEROPHON, 3 TORPEDOES HIT AND SUNK.
AMc OLIVE CAM, 2 BOMB HITS, AND SUNK.
XAK BENLEDI, 3 TORPEDO HITS, SUNK.
AMc BONTHORPE, 1 bomb hit. NOT CONFIRMED SUNK.
-2nd WAVE: 9 A6M2 ESCORTING 23 B5N2 ATTACK ENEMY WARSHIP, IDENTIFIED LIKE HMS ENCOUNTER. THIS SHIP WAS SUNK AFTER THREE TORPEDO HITS.
LONG LIVE TO THE EMPEROR !
END//
