However, the three narrative reports compiled some time after March 1942 for their Operations Record Book are not entirely in agreement in detail. 1 and 8 (GR) Squadrons, RAAF."Īnd in the AHB Narrative Campaigns in The Far East Vol II, as also reported by Campbell & Lovell, and by Shores, Cull & Izawa.īefore 84 Squadron departures began on 14 January, their senior officers were apparently aware that the destination was Sumatra. (ii) Hudson Ill's en route from UK which were to re-equip in succession No. 84 and 211 (B) Squadrons (Blenheim IV) then en route from Middle East (b) to accelerate, to the maximum, arrangements for operating bomber units from Sumatra such arrangements not only to provide for all bombers then in Singapore but also for the following reinforcements:. On formation of the Group Headquarters, the AOC instructed the Group Commander For this reason HQ 225 (B) Group was formed at Singapore on this date, and was sent to Palembang in Sumatra on the 18th January, 1942Ĥ01. therefore decided, on the 16th January, that the time was becoming imminent when bomber units would have to be transferred to Sumatra. The Squadron’s Air echelon departures began a week later.Ģ25 Group HQ was established in South Sumatra at Pelambang as the group command for No 84 Squadron RAF, No 211 Squadron RAF and other units, as later recorded by Maltby (Asst AOC at the time) A nucleus departed to Palembang P1 the next day, 18 January, where they set about establishing the Group HQ, to be ready for the arrival of the various bomber units as noted below. Thus on 17 January, as the 211 Squadron Sea Party left Egypt, 225 Group HQ was ordered to move from Singapore. However, the need to move bomber units to Sumatra had already been considered under C-in-C Far East, ACM Brooke-Popham : planning for such a move was well-advanced by late December, and activated from mid-January 1942.īy then, Japanese ground forces had already over-run all the Malayan airfields North of Kluang, about 60 miles from Singapore Island. Before 7 December 1941, the notion of re-inforcing Malaya or Singapore by air may have been attractive and practical.
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