March 22nd
In New Guinea, 75 Squadron RAAF, based at Port Moresby, makes it combat debut. Six Curtiss Kittyhawks (P-40Es) make a surprise attack at dawn on the Japanese forces at Lae. Two A6M2 Zeroes are shot down for the loss of two Kittyhawks, although one pilot is saved.
A single Mitsubishi Ki-15 reconnaissance takes off from the Celebes to reconnoitre the defences of Darwin, Northern Territory, in readiness for a larger strike force of Mitsubishi G4M Bombers Coast watchers on Bathurst Island notify Darwin of the approaching reconnaissance aircraft at about 1200 hours and it is shot down by a P-40 of the 9th Pursuit Squadron, their first radar-guided interception. As anticipated, the Japanese bombers make a raid that same day but not on Darwin. They fly 200 miles further southeast and bomb Katherine, Northern Territory. They presumably were hoping to find Allied bombers at the Katherine Airfield but none were there and damage at the airfield is minimal. Officially described as: "An aborigine was killed, another wounded and some damage was done to the aerodrome.".
It is officially announced in Australia that John Curtin will officially take over as Prime Minister 'until such time as Robert Menzies has recovered'. There has been considerable debate in the Labour party overnight about how to handle this; one part of the party wanted to use this as a reason to call an election, which they are confident of winning, but in the end were outvoted by more cautious elements. They pointed out that calling an election due to the collapse of Menzies while Australia is under attack would look like blatant opportunism, whereas waiting, and showing that they can do an even better job (especially as it is felt that the tide is turning in favour of Australia) will allow them to gather the middle ground votes who will be swayed by the display of statesmanship and putting Australia first, thus giving them a much stronger majority if they go to the country next year. Curtin announces that no changes will be made in Australian policy as a result of Menzie's collapse, but in private he has used his new office to stress that unless an Australian is appointed as head of the Australian theatre the Labour party might have to withdraw from the coalition. This is part of the strategy to show that a Labour PM can lead Australia in the war successfully. The appointment of Blamey has already been supported by Britain, and the ridicule MacArthur has managed to attain in the Australian press has hardly helped his cause. MacArthur himself is still heading south by train, and is out of easy contact with his government.
In support of the Japanese attacks on Java, general Yamashita commences an offensive operation in northern Malaya. Led by the 56th Division, the attack is aimed at what Yamashita considers two weak spots in the Imperial defence line; aggressive patrolling and reconnaissance has been undertaken over the last month to find these with a view to exploitation. The initial attack goes well, although the defences are on alert (an operation to take advantage of the attack on Java was hardly unexpected), but by nightfall the Japanese infantry have managed to push forward between a number of the allied units. Blamey informs Alexander that he is not as yet concerned, and that he believes the Japanese do not have to force required for a serious breakthrough. he intends to let them get a little more forward before, as he puts it, 'cutting them off at the knee'. There are intense air operations on both sides in support of the ground action, and despite the precautions and alert status the RAF loses some aircraft on the ground to the initial Japanese raids. However the Japanese are now outnumbered by the RAF and RAAF, and by the end of the day they are preventing any serious air attacks on the Imperial defence line.
Off Java, allied reconnaissance planes indicate that the Japanese invasion convoy is most likely heading for East Java. This is in fact in error, as late in the day part of the convoy splits off and heads for Bali, which has a usable airfield the Japanese want to support their invasion of Java. Somerville is reluctant to commit his heavy forces until he finds where the Japanese have placed their support - he does not believe that they would try and invade Java without air support from carriers - however the cruiser force is ordered to engage the invasion fleet after dawn on the 23rd. Air support will be from the air bases on Java, and from the CVL Colossus which is held some distance back from the cruisers. It is planned to have Beaufighters make a torpedo strike at dawn, which it is hoped will leave the convoy in disarray when the surface force attacks.
The force heading for Bali runs into a US submarine that night; an attack is made but only one hit is attained on a transport. More usefully the submarine radios in the location and heading of the force, which allows the defenders of Bali to be put on alert.
The allies had not expected the Japanese to attack Bali at this point (assuming they would have concentrated on Java), and only have small forces on the island. They order the airfield commander to destroy the airstrip to deny it to the Japanese (any planes are to fly off for Java before this is done), then delay the Japanese as far as possible before withdrawing.
March 23rd
On Bataan in the PI US and Filipino troops dig in for the soon-expected Japanese attack. General Homma has been reinforced by more army bombers, although the Japanese too are having difficulties with food, and the best part of division of troops is in hospital
Dawn sees considerable action around Java.
At first light a heavy Japanese air attack destroys some aircraft on the ground at Timor, at the cost of a number of bombers; the Japanese need to keep the islands airfields suppressed until they have airfields at Java. The allies do not have any spare long range bombers available to attack the Japanese airfields in return; these are being held back to support Java.
Shortly after dawn a torpedo strike by 24 RAAF Beaufighters escorted by 16 Sparrowhawks. The heavy escort is needed, as the convoy is covered by a dozen Zero fighters. The zeros damage one Beaufighter and shoot down a second before the Sparrowhawks intercept; in the resulting battle five Sparrowhawks are lost for four Zeroes. However this allows the remaining Beaufighters to make their torpedo attacks impeded only by AA fire from the escort and the transports. As the final Beaufighter leaves the scene, three transports are sinking and a Japanese light cruiser is heavily down by the head.
The RAF and Somerville are coordinating attacks from Java, however these are put temporarily on hold as a USAAF Catalina finally finds the Japanese heavy support group. Before the Catalina is forces to take cover in cloud (already slightly damaged by a Zero), the pilot reports 'at least two carriers and two battleships plus supporting ships'. In fact the battleships are cruisers - this misidentification was a consistent feature for both sides in air reconnaissance. The Japanese force is well back from the invasion fleet, but it is likely that it supplied the defensive cover that disrupted the Beaufighter raid. Somerville expects his main force to be in striking range by late afternoon, and in the meantime attacks on the invasion fleet will have to be handled by the RAF. Somerville also has two u-class boats in the general area of the Japanese, and hopes that they will be in a position to finish off any Japanese ships he can cripple with his air strikes.