Just had my weekly bath with warm water and all clean clothes - so I feel nice and fresh. It's been very hot the last week or so but it's better than rain. We have had several raids and the Japs are getting cross and have threatened us with gaol even if we don't take cover - we show our delight too much! Pennefather Evans and Whant were released yesterday - very thin and shaken - they have been threatened with detention again if they talk so they are not saying anything.
My birthday and I received your lovely loving letter of 1st November '42 and jolly nice it was too. I was grateful for your news and pleased to know that you were keeping well and fit. The letters arrive just any old how but nevertheless a letter is a letter and much appreciated. We are to be allowed to send a postcard this week.
OBJECTIVE: Skip-bomb ships in convoy near Hong Kong. This is the first time that American fighter pilots in the China theatre attempt skip-bombing, which will become a widespread tactic used by 14th Air Force pilots to attack Japanese ships.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:15 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Four P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force)
Notes:
31/8/43 - 4 Pass Photos for Sarah 1.20
"Some Scholars I have Known" (Miss Macguffog)
Canadian, Americans to sail Sept 23. Teia Maru 17,530 tons.
Zindel ((unclear)) in POW camp consequently improved.
Regular ((unclear))
Fine, hot. Rained 5am.
More mysterious air activity over NTs.
Air shelter bricks being taken from the gaol in big Jap lorries.
Remainder of cigs arrived.
Definite dates given to Canadian & US repatriates.
((G)).
Steve to practice.
Choir practice 5-6pm.
Quiet month, study on typewriting. Lack old machine for practical work.
Wifie Mine,
The Day of Days - it is hard to be separated but I feel sure it won't be so very long now. The Canadians have been told they leave on 23rd Sept. - if they the same ship it ought to be back here, up to Japan and again here by the end of November. Then we'd be in Goa by the middle of Dec and if I could fly home I might be home for Christmas -at least soon after the New Year.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb shipping in Victoria Harbor
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:45 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Three P-40s from 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, 14th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Morrison; Lt. Mimmack[?]; Lt. Robert M. Cage
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: Two 500-pound bombs and 1,500 rounds of .50-caliber heavy machine gun ammunition
RESULTS: One 450-foot freighter or tanker possibly named the Shirogane Maru damaged near Stonecutters Island. One 50-foot launch sunk.
((Following text not dated:))
For some days mysterious men prowling about streets here.
Typhoon. Fish scarce. We have none for several days at time. Tried shark liver. Not so oily but very fishy. Gives everybody headaches. Thought of it is nauseating.
Dependants moving into Rosary Hill. 800 expected. No food in rooms but only two meals daily 10 and 6. Cissy Roylance says allowed out daily.
Fine & hot.
Plenty air-craft around but cannot identify.
Japs building more air-raid shelters & gun emplacements. ((Are these the tunnels that we still see today?))
Food values:
Condensed Report on Medical Examination, completed
September 1943, Stanley Camp, by Panel Government
Doctors and Private Practitioners.
| Number Internees - | 2572 | Approximately 50 per cent women, children of mixed nationalities and races. |
| 1038 | Men examined. Out of these none is known to have been ailing before internment |
Findings:
1.35pm raid. (10) "A fire was caused as a result of the raid" (NW direction, thick clouds of smoke)
OBJECTIVE: Bomb POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) depot at Lai Chi Kok
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten B-25s from the 11th Medium Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) escorted by three P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). Two additional P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron are tasked with skip-bombing ships in Victoria Harbor. All aircraft belong to the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
Mrs. S. Mason (Block 4, Room 25P) writes a card to Miss Isobel Wavell in Farnham Common (Buckinghamshire):
Darlings,
We are very anxious for news of you both as we have not had a line up to date.
We are all very well and do hope you are. It's all very worrying, isn't it? Still we are making the most of this extraordinary life. We only hope the fashions are streamlined when we meet again, which we hope will be soon.
After midday raid. Great oil fire Laichikok burned couple of hours. Second alarm 5 p.m. Brief alert.
Fine & hot.
Choir practice at St Stephens 11-noon.
Air-raid & either oil tanker or A.P.C. hit. Immense clouds of smoke (white over Stanley mound) 1.40PM.
Played crib with Steve pm.
Colony to be attacked within 2 weeks?
New moon. Fire still burning.
Classical concert (Bicheno, Heasman, Medley, Miles, EJ Stevens, Goodban, Pudney (C), Woods, Church choir)
The AA fire which had been quite intense, slackened off and stopped and the raid seemed to have come to an end. Then, while we still stood watching the departing specks, we heard two or three heavy detonations. We thought they might be the explosions of delayed action or time bombs. Black-out was ordered for that night and the next night, though later we discovered that this had been ordered as a punishment because internees had stood in the open and watched the raid, pointing up to the sky.
