The Early History of the RAAF 75th Squadron
75 Squadron was for Australia, together with the small garrison at Port Moresby, virtually the only forces in theater to prevent the Japanese advancement in New Guinea. It was suspected at the time and later confirmed, that the Japanese had planned to stage an invasion of the Australian homeland from an anticipated stronghold in New Guinea.
The history of 75th Squadron RAAF is one of magnificence, bravery and honor, with many pilots risking - and sometimes sacrificing their lives for their country. They flew with a numerical disadvantage against first-rate enemy pilots as those in the Tainan wing and with the best Japanese aces as Sakai, Ishizawa, Ota, Honda, among many others.
Shortly after some US P-40E were available in Australia, in February 1942, 75th Squadron was formed in nine days at Townsville, Australia, furnished with some experienced pilots taken from the North Africa front, as well as newly trained pilots. On March 19th, Squadron Leader John F. Jackson was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the 75th.
On March 19th, 17 Kittyhawks left Townsville, via the RAAF base at Horn Island and then in a second flight up to Seven-Mile airfield in Port Moresby. The Australian garrison detached there, gave them a heated reception as the garrison attacked the oncoming first fighters with flak. Three fighters were damaged, fortunately with no injuries to their pilots. One hour after landing, a general alarm was sounded and the daily Japanese reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted and shot down. After this, the contrite Garrison morale was greatly improved.
The Squadron experienced intensive fighting from that day through May 3rd, when the extreme attrition on their equipment and the fatigue of the survivor pilots called for a well deserved rest in a rear area. At that time US 8th PG was taking their turn at combat in New Guinea.
The 75th ended its Port Moresby campaign just at the beginning of the Battle of the Coral Sea. They had opposed seemingly continual hordes of Japanese bombers and fighters, which were in fact preliminary softening actions prior to the planned Port Moresby invasion.
After Port Moresby, the 75th was deployed for a deserved rest and rebuilding to a rear area near Townsville, Australia only to return to New Guinea to fight again in their aging Kittyhawks at Milne Bay in August of 1942. The next year, they were back to Milne Bay with improved P-40N or Kittyhawk IV aircraft where they would support an offensive by Australian ground forces and participate in the repulse of the landing there by the Japanese.
