RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23283, 20 August 1945, Page 4

RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS

Japanese Seaplanes Capital And Auckland Visited Launched From Submarine (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 18. The revelation that the Japanese carried cut reconnaissance flights over Wellington and Auckland is now possible. But for the capture ot enemy documents setting out the movements of the submarines concerned. no knowledge might even yet have been available. Some of the submarines used by the enemy carried small seaplanes. Others carried the midget submarines which raided Sydney Harbour. The first flight over New Zealand was carried out from a submarine fitted to carry a tiny seaplane. She began her activities with a reconnaissance of Sydney at dawn on February 7, 1942. On February 26 Melbourne was observed, and on March 1, Hobart. Before dawn on March 8 the seaplane was over Wellington. Then the submarine apparently proceeded through Cook Strait and up the east coast for the seaplane to carry out a pre-dawn reconnaissance of Auckland on March 13. The senior officer in command of the five parent submarines, from which were launched the midgets which carried out the raid on Sydney Harbour was aboard another submarine which carried out a reconnaissance over Suva, later approaching Auckland and sending its aircraft over the harbour on May 24. Sydney Attacked After this exploit it proceeded to Sydney, where a final reconnaissance was carried out at dawn on May 29. Final plans had been made on the night of May 31, and on June 1 the midgets attacked. One of the large submarines carried the senior officer of the aircraft, a second was an aircraft-carrying boat, and three others carried the midgets which actually launched the attack.

Elsewhere at the time the Japanese were preparing to start the Midway operation. Hence no doubt the boat over here in May was endeavouring to collect information on Allied fleet dispositions. The Sydney raid was evidently designed as a diversion, with the added hope of damaging Allied warships. These flights effectively shattered the belief held by many people that the Japanese were not Interested in New Zealand and give the lie to the complacent attitude so frequently adopted of “it can’t happen here.” The submarines used by the Japanese for these operations were longrange cruiser types of boats for fleet operations and patrol, and were capable of refuelling and supplying the short-range submarines. Certain units carry collapsible float aeroplanes in hangars forward of the conning tower capable of being launched from catapults which can be elevated at the bow.