Matt Poole
27th February 2009, 20:53
On 6 June 1945 357 Squadron (Special Duties) sent two Liberators on detachment in Ceylon across the Bay of Bengal to drop supplies over northern Malaya. KH326, piloted by F/Lt Arie Timmermans RCAF, failed to return. I am currently working with the Malaysian Army Museum and the Malaya Historical Group to rediscover the crash site, first found in dense jungle in May 1955 by Royal Scots Fusiliers searching for Communist Terrorist (CT) guerrillas during the Malayan Emergency. No remains were found in a very abrupt 1955 search, but numerous intact and usable guns, ammo, and medical supplies found still packed in their drop containers in and near the rear fuselage were removed by helicopter from the site (to deny their use to the CTs).
In my research I interviewed air gunner Gordon Hercus of Richmond, British Columbia, who flew on the other Lib on the 6 June op. He told me a fascinating story of radio taunting by the Japanese, and I wonder if anyone knowlegeable about wireless technology can verify that such taunting was possible. I think it was possible, but I know next to squat.
Here is Gordon’s recollection:
As Gordon’s Lib was approaching the Malayan coast, his wireless operator picked up Japanese radio taunts; although they were flying at something like 500 feet, to stay below radar detection, the Japanese knew, in general, that they were coming. The usual taunting, said Gordon, was a ploy to make them mad enough to respond by wireless, an act which would have revealed their position to the Japanese. However, the men of 357 Squadron were well trained and knew better. Gordon said the crew often laughed at the futile efforts of their enemy.
But 6 June was different. This time the Japanese specifically targeted Gordon’s skipper, S/Ldr Haig Sims, in their broadcast: "Hello, S/Ldr Sims. Welcome to Malaya. We know you're out there, and you're all going to die. We have put water into your petrol supply, and you're in big trouble!"
"It scared the hell out of us!" said Gordon, especially because they were so far from base, and so vulnerable, should the petrol problem be real. With frayed nerves aboard a notoriously poor-ditching aircraft, the Sims crewmen ran about checking the various petrol tanks for any evidence of water contamination. But they were OK.
Gordon said that as far as he knows, they were so preoccupied with madly checking their petrol that they did not even think of radioing the Timmermans crew to share this information with them. (I assume that such communication was strictly forbidden, again for security reasons.)
I read Gordon the 1945 Circumstantial Report on the loss of KH326, which said that Headquarters back on Ceylon sent a signal to KH326 concerning the petrol. That report stated:
"At 12.18 hours a signal was made to KH.326 warning the captain of the possible presence of water in the fuel. This was consequent upon the discovery of water in the bowsers from which KH.326 and S/Ldr. SIMMS' [misspelled; should be Sims'] aircraft "M" were refuelled the night before take off. This signal was received by KH. 326."
Gordon was positive that Headquarters did not radio this message to his Liberator, that his Lib had no communication with KH326 in flight regarding the petrol problem, and that his crew only received word of the petrol threat from the Japanese broadcast.
I think Gordon is wrong here. It seems his wireless operator – aboard a S/Ldr’s aircraft – would certainly have received the same message as that sent to KH326. It is my guess that the Sims Liberator’s wireless equipment was functioning, as well. So maybe Gordon’s recollections are part fact, part fantasy. It is possible that there was some spy/saboutage activity back in Ceylon.
I remember seeing something like this in an episode of “Twelve O’Clock High” on TV as a kid. As I recall, a P-51 pilot flying with B-17s purposely broadcast, in German, false vectoring info to German fighters who usually received such instructions from ground controllers. Something like this!
Comments, friends, on the possibility of taunting?
Thanks,
Matt
In my research I interviewed air gunner Gordon Hercus of Richmond, British Columbia, who flew on the other Lib on the 6 June op. He told me a fascinating story of radio taunting by the Japanese, and I wonder if anyone knowlegeable about wireless technology can verify that such taunting was possible. I think it was possible, but I know next to squat.
Here is Gordon’s recollection:
As Gordon’s Lib was approaching the Malayan coast, his wireless operator picked up Japanese radio taunts; although they were flying at something like 500 feet, to stay below radar detection, the Japanese knew, in general, that they were coming. The usual taunting, said Gordon, was a ploy to make them mad enough to respond by wireless, an act which would have revealed their position to the Japanese. However, the men of 357 Squadron were well trained and knew better. Gordon said the crew often laughed at the futile efforts of their enemy.
But 6 June was different. This time the Japanese specifically targeted Gordon’s skipper, S/Ldr Haig Sims, in their broadcast: "Hello, S/Ldr Sims. Welcome to Malaya. We know you're out there, and you're all going to die. We have put water into your petrol supply, and you're in big trouble!"
"It scared the hell out of us!" said Gordon, especially because they were so far from base, and so vulnerable, should the petrol problem be real. With frayed nerves aboard a notoriously poor-ditching aircraft, the Sims crewmen ran about checking the various petrol tanks for any evidence of water contamination. But they were OK.
Gordon said that as far as he knows, they were so preoccupied with madly checking their petrol that they did not even think of radioing the Timmermans crew to share this information with them. (I assume that such communication was strictly forbidden, again for security reasons.)
I read Gordon the 1945 Circumstantial Report on the loss of KH326, which said that Headquarters back on Ceylon sent a signal to KH326 concerning the petrol. That report stated:
"At 12.18 hours a signal was made to KH.326 warning the captain of the possible presence of water in the fuel. This was consequent upon the discovery of water in the bowsers from which KH.326 and S/Ldr. SIMMS' [misspelled; should be Sims'] aircraft "M" were refuelled the night before take off. This signal was received by KH. 326."
Gordon was positive that Headquarters did not radio this message to his Liberator, that his Lib had no communication with KH326 in flight regarding the petrol problem, and that his crew only received word of the petrol threat from the Japanese broadcast.
I think Gordon is wrong here. It seems his wireless operator – aboard a S/Ldr’s aircraft – would certainly have received the same message as that sent to KH326. It is my guess that the Sims Liberator’s wireless equipment was functioning, as well. So maybe Gordon’s recollections are part fact, part fantasy. It is possible that there was some spy/saboutage activity back in Ceylon.
I remember seeing something like this in an episode of “Twelve O’Clock High” on TV as a kid. As I recall, a P-51 pilot flying with B-17s purposely broadcast, in German, false vectoring info to German fighters who usually received such instructions from ground controllers. Something like this!
Comments, friends, on the possibility of taunting?
Thanks,
Matt