ATTACK ON AUCKLAND IN MAY, 1942, PLANNED BY JAPS.

Evening Star, Issue 26154, 16 July 1947, Page 4

ATTACK ON AUCKLAND IN MAY, 1942, PLANNED BY JAPS.

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 16. In a message from its special correspondent at (wakune, Japan, the ‘ New Zealand Herald ’ reveals that an attack against Allied warships in Auckland Harbour was planned by the Japanese for May, 1942. In that month a Zero floatplane made reconnaissance Bights over both Auckland and Sydney. One pf the largest submarines of the Japanese navy, a 330-ton craft carrying a special .floatplane and a number of midget submarines, was /sent near A,u c klaiid. V Only the reported absence of ■’tahle targets saved the city from attack, Disappointed at Auckland, the submarine commander visited Sydney, where the floatplane located targets in the harbour, , ’

• The midget submarines were launched and damage and casualties resulted, from their attack, during which three or tour of the submarines were lost. , ... \ ■■

The pilot of the Zero floatplane; now lives in lwakune. . He is Lieutenant Susumu Ito. formerly- of the 1 Japanese navy, and he ban cheerfully told the story- ofhis daring reconnaissance flights, in an unarmed aircraft. [The attack on Sydney Harbour was carried out at about midnight of June 7, 1942. shells being fired at shipping, and bouses on shore ill Sydney* and Newcastle .residential areas, ‘ Some damage and casualties resulted from the attack, in which the parent submarine escaped, It was stated; at the, time that’it was thought that all the attacking midget submarines were accounted for.] ___ v