Robert Cleworth - RAAF Black Cats: The Secret History of the Covert Catalina Mine-Laying Operations to Cripple Japans War Machine

Robert (Bob) Cleworth MPhil has compiled five books, one on Australian War Graves and Missing Australians, in addition to three publications on the work of RAAF Catalina Operations in World War II. He was, for a number of years, Secretary of the Catalina Association of New South Wales.

John Suter Linton has worked extensively in the print and electronic media as a journalist, feature writer, researcher, scriptwriter, editor and producer. He is also the author of six true-crime novels.

First published in 2019

Copyright Robert Cleworth and John Suter Linton 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to the Copyright Agency (Australia) under the Act.

Allen & Unwin

83 Alexander Street

Crows Nest NSW 2065

Australia

Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100

Email:

Web: www.allenandunwin.com

ISBN 978 1 76063 306 6

eISBN 978 1 76087 216 8

Maps by MAPgraphics

Index by Puddingburn

Set by Midland Typesetters, Australia

Cover design: Luke Causby / Blue Cork

Cover photograph: Australia War Memorial OG3228

CONTENTS

[T]he slow frail RAAF Catalinas, designed for anti-submarine patrols, assumed the mantle of Australias very long-range bombing and mine laying force. They were the first to bomb Japanese installations after the downward thrust to New Guinea; they were the first to mine Japanese occupied ports, from the Netherlands East Indies to the China Coast; they were first in and last out in the evacuation of our prisoners-of-war on the cessation of hostilities Mention World War II air power to the current generation and its thoughts may turn to the heroic Spitfires and Lancasters. Mention of the word Catalina in this context, even coupled with the details of the tragic loss of well over 300 of their aircrew, may draw only an uncomprehending stare.

The late Sir Richard Kingsland AO, CBE, DFC,

former RAAF Commanding Officer of 11 Squadron

On a warm day in December 1944, a young Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) warrant officer (WOFF) named James Reginald Cleworthknown as Regwas en route to collect a new aircraft. He happened to be enjoying some free time in Melbourne when a street photographer snapped his picture outside the General Post Office. Reg stared into the camera, giving nothing away. No smile, no frown, no hint of his thoughts, his experience, his hopes or fears. It was common for people to take photos of servicemen and women at the time to supplement their income, hoping their families would buy a copy. Regs mother, Janet, obliged.

A navigator with 20 Squadron, flying PBYsmore commonly referred to as Catalina flying boatsReg had been assigned to collect a new Catalina, A24-203, from the RAAF Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga, near Swan Hill, just over 300 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. The aircraft, however, was not ready, and this gave Reg some time to visit his family, who lived in Black Rock, an outer southern suburb of Melbourne. Being stationed in Darwin, almost 4000 kilometres away, it wasnt easy for Reg to get home when given leave. His stay this time would be brief, unfortunately, as he needed to journey back to base before Christmas Day.

Born in 1922, Reg was the second-eldest of four children to James Raymond and Janet Cleworth. His siblings were Dorothy (born in 1919), Nancy (1928) and younger brother Joseph Robert (1934), known as Bob to his family. As Bob remembered, Reg was the apple of our mums eye he could do no wrong.

When war broke out in 1939, James knew that his son would want to join the fight. He didnt stop him, but James did warn Reg not to enlist in the army. The horrors of World War I were still fresh in Jamess mind, and he didnt want his son going through what he had suffered.

James had served in the 29th Australian Infantry Battalion, 5th Division, Australian Imperial Force (AIF), from 1916 to 1918, and he had vivid memories of the shock of trench warfare and gas attacks. He was seriously wounded in March 1918, near Messines Ridge, during a raid to gather intelligence on the enemys strength. The only thing James remembered of the incident was that he went into Belgium and woke up in France in excruciating pain.

James screamed as he regained consciousness, and a matron stuck a piece of leather into his mouth, telling him, Bite down on that and stop your complaining there are worse off than you. Even so, shrapnel had lodged in his leg, creating a wound as big as a fist. Mud and debris had been forced into the wound by the shards of metal, causing an infection. The wound was irrigated, but James was still weak. The doctors thought he would die.

The AIF notified Janet, whom James had married while stationed in England in 1916, and paid for her travel expenses to be at Jamess side. James credited seeing his wife walk into the ward as the reason he decided that he wasnt going to die. He didnt want to leave her. He eventually recovered enough to be shipped to England, where he recuperated. That was the end of the war for James.

When Reg came of enlistment age in 1940, he decided to heed his fathers advice. Initially, Reg wanted to join the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), but then chose the RAAF. He trained as an observer, passing his exams and earning a wing with an embossed O. Later in the war, the RAAF redesignated observer to navigator, changing the O to an N. Like many who had earned the original designation, Reg would continue wearing his O wing proudly. It signified his experience in the RAAF and was, quite literally, a badge of honour.

Signing up to the RAAF proved just as dangerous as Jamess time in the army. Reg was sent on missions that took him far behind enemy lines. It might not have been a soggy trench, but the risk to his life was just as real. This was something that Reg kept from his family.

During training and when given his postings, Reg regularly wrote home. Nearly all the letters were addressed to his mother, but they were for the whole family to let them know he was okay. He wrote of mundane activities such as washing, darning socks, watching tropical thunderstorms and spending money on milkshakes. Movies provided the main source of entertainment. More often than not they were American, and usually came with a cartoon, which interested and amused Reg more than some of the features. With the exception of one letter he addressed to his father, Reg never wrote about his operations, close encounters with the enemy, or anything considered top secret. The closest he came to this was a reference to having had a long flight, and explaining that he had slept for most of the day after returning.