RAAF Hudson

liverpool annie · Dec 23, 2008

I came across this ... thought it maybe of interest !

Wireless Operator
With regards to the discussions about the RAAF Hudson crew that reportedly landed and had a cup of tea before reporting their sighting of the Japanese naval force.
My great uncle, Eric Geddes, was the wireless air gunner in Stutt's crew, he is still alive and well in Australia. Radio silence was well and truly broken on this occasion as he broadcast the warning in plain language due to the fact that the Japanese were trying to shoot them down. However the signals were unfortunately not taken seriously by those that received them.
It seems to me that this is not entirely consistent with the "official version of events".
This matter has recently been written about in the Autumn 2007 issue of WINGS. Feature : "SIGHT SIGNAL DISASTER or - the disasterous ignoring of a RAAF sighting signal" by Jack Woodward.
Kind regards, Graham
The "offical version" is reputiated on these pages by LCdr Gregory, officer of the watch on HMAS Canberra when the battle started and an author on naval matters who has made study of the events leading to the loss of his ship. His findings were that Milne Bay was under air attack at the time and Fall River wireless station was off the air.
Offical historian, Morison, who spread "this slur on an Australian air crew of 1942" tried too hard to make a story interesting. Endowed with naval Captain status, he did not even know that ships burned more fuel at combat speed than in convoy. He criticized Fletcher for losing two carriers (while sinking six enemy carriers), yet lets off his successors loss of two carriers in two months and sank no enemy. My apologies that Morison created these myths that were adopted by so many later writers.
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Antipodean Andy · Dec 23, 2008

I've got Jack Woodward's book, Three Time Lucky. It'll be interesting to see if there is any mention of this in there. Depends on where he was at the time, I suppose.

Adrian Roberts · Dec 23, 2008

He criticized Fletcher for losing two carriers (while sinking six enemy carriers), yet lets off his successors loss of two carriers in two months and sank no enemy. My apologies that Morison created these myths that were adopted by so many later writers.
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Is he talking about Australian vessels here? If so, surely "carriers" must read "cruisers"?

Antipodean Andy · Dec 23, 2008

I think he might be referring to the USN, AR.

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