ENEMY AIRCRAFT

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22690, 18 August 1945, Page 4

ENEMY AIRCRAFT

FLIGHTS OVER DOMINION BROUGHT BY SUBMARINES RECONNAISSANCE PURPOSES (By Telegraph—Pross Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday The revelation that the Japanese carried out reconnaissance flights over Wellington and Auckland is now possible. But for the capture of enemy documents setting out movements of the submarines concerned no knowledge might even yet have been available. Some of the submarines used by the enemy carried small seaplanes, and 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 commenced 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 it apparently proceeded through Cook Strait and up the East Coast, to carry out a pre-dawn reconnaissance of Auckland on March 13. Raid on Sydney Harbour 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 reconnaissance over Suva, later approaching Auckland and sending its aircraft over the harbour on May 24. 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 was involved in carrying the senior officer. A ser~d 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 hqpe of damaging Allied warships. Complacency Dispelled These flights effectively shatter 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 type boats for fleet operations and patrol, capable of refuelling and supplying short-range submarines. Certain units carry collapsible float planes in hangars forward of the conning tower capable of being launched from elevatable bow catapults.