THE BATTLEFRONT & THE PLAYERS
PART 1.
This is a Battle map that shows the situation on Australian's Northern flank, it is of course centered on New Guinea and the islands from Guadalcanal up to Rabaul and the Admiralty Islands, Manus and then through Rabaul to Buna, Kokoda, and Port Moresby not forgetting Milne Bay.
How does this map have anything to do with the Somerton Man case? Well, from where I sit it seems to me that a lot of players in the case at one time or another spent part of their lives here.
Not only people are involved, so are vessels. It's these vessels plus the people that Clive and I have been researching and quite thoroughly and we based the research on what was found in the letter Q on the code page:
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| In this image the focus is directly on the XCA sequence |
J232 X RAN X 35 X CA25 or CA35
We have been able to identify two vessels and possibly a third that we can tie directly to the case. It's the knowledge of just where those vessels were deployed and from where they may have been viewed that could hold the key to unlocking the code page.
The year in focus is 1944 and the vessels are:
1. HMAS Deloraine, a Corvette (minesweeper) Hull number J232, (This ship was also known as M232) We do not have its Radio call code as yet:
2. USS Salt Lake City, Pensacola class Cruiser, Hull number: CA-25. Radio code letters: NISK:
3. USS Indianapolis, Heavy Cruiser, Hull number CA-35. Radio code letters NABD.
STATUS
The HMAS Deloraine we are quite certain about and are of the belief that one of the 2 USS Vessels is also very relevant in this research.
At a point in time, HMAS Deloraine and one of the other two vessels were in close physical proximity to each other, close enough to be visible to someone who could have been:
1. On one of these named ships
2. On yet another ship
3. Or perhaps on a shore base.
Whichever it was, that person recorded viewing the Deloraine and one of the other two ships at or around the same time and date and entered the Hull number in microcode into the letter Q on the SM code page.
Apart from the vessels, we have two people in mind at this stage and whilst we can place one of them directly in the area, the other is more problematical.
We are working on a time-based matrix that should show us just which of these two men fit the profile. To make it extra interesting, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that both men will fit.
For all the keen researchers out there, finding a crew list for the Deloraine might be useful.
COASTWATCHERS
Given the instances of number sets on the code page, many of which begin with the letter X, it could be that what we are seeing are written down Costwatchers frequencies call signs.
We are working on a time-based matrix that should show us just which of these two men fit the profile. To make it extra interesting, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that both men will fit.
For all the keen researchers out there, finding a crew list for the Deloraine might be useful.
CALL SIGNS
All sea vessels had fixed radio call signs and whilst we currently have the call signs/codes for both US ships, tracking down the RAN equivalents is proving something of a challenge although I think we're now in touch with the right people.
Radiocommunications played a very large part in the winning of the Battle of the Coral Sea and others, The US, in particular, relied heavily on its use with some VT, Visual transmission, used as a backup, I am sure most would be familiar with the often seen shipboard 10 inch Aldis lamp
COASTWATCHERS
Off the Northern shores of Australia and right throughout the huge number of islands in the South Pacific, there was a network of Coastwatchers, in fact in an earlier post I had the great privilege of speaking with one of their number. As a result of that discussion I followed up at the time and found that the frequency used by Coastwatchers was in the 6 mhz band, the individual frequencies were known as X Frequencies.
Given the instances of number sets on the code page, many of which begin with the letter X, it could be that what we are seeing are written down Costwatchers frequencies call signs.
https://www.ozatwar.com/sigint/crs.htm
The Coastal Radio Stations at Darwin, Thursday Island, Townsville, Port Moresby, and Rabaul assisted the RAN Coast Watching scheme. They received and relayed information about the enemy military activity to and from Coast Watchers who operated behind Japanese lines. These Coastal Radio Stations had a dedicated receiver constantly tuned to a particular frequency in the 6 MHz band, which was known as "X" frequency. The Coast Watchers used Teleradios which were fitted with specially cut crystals which operated on this same frequency. The "X" frequency receivers at the Coastal Radio Stations were left on loudspeaker 24 hours a day to ensure all messages were heard.
USS INDIANAPOLIS
I should note that the USS Indianapolis has a very special place in history, just days after it had broken a speed record for a dash from San Diego to Hawaii with some highly classified cargo (enriched uranium) related to the Manhattan Project, it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine resulting in a massive loss of life. For those interested, more than 1500 photographs of the ship, equipment, maps, and its crew survived the episode. It's a story well worth reading and you will find more here.Paul Allen, the joint Microsoft founder, led the recovery team that eventually found the wreck of the Indianapolis in 5500 meters of water in the North Philipines Sea in August 2017.
Just a thought, as Clive would say: what if these ships were passing through the sub nets in Sydney Harbour while Alf was on duty .... remembering what Paul Lawson said, how Boxall and Harkness were involved in convert work.
ReplyDeleteExactly Pete. But we have to test the options at the same time. GAR is still an option.
DeleteHMAS Deloraine from July 1942-March 1944 she was operating
ReplyDeleteSydney-Newcastle-Brisbane-New Guinea area protecting ships, convoys etc.
In May 1944 she operated in the NG area and, on 1 May 1945 arrived in Brisbane. More to follow.
Clive
Working with Clive, we have thus far found the following information:
ReplyDelete1. USS Chicago, CA 29, Cruiser was in Brisbane in March 1941, this same ship was also a target for the Japanese Submarine strike on Sydney Harbour on May 31st/June 1st. It served in the South West Pacific but returned to Sydney in late September 1942.
2. USS Salt Lake City, CA 25, a cruiser was present in Brisbane in August 1941.
3. USS New Orleans, CA 32, Cruiser was also in Brisbane in mid to late February 1942.
Other cruisers but of the 'CL' hull number range also visited Brisbane.
Thus far we can show that the HMAS Deloraine was running between Sydney and New Guinea at a time when at least one US Cruiser has been placed in Sydney, the USS Chicago. It's hull number does not match the two that we found in the letter Q but we have more work to do yet.
From what we have it seems increasingly likely that we will be able to place HMAS Deloraine in close proximity to US Cruisers, the question is, which ones?
You might want to note that this task includes researching the movement of HMAS Vendetta to ascertain whether or not that ship and it's Surgeon, was ever in the same vicinity as the Deloraine and the already mentioned US ships. It is known that the Vendetta was heavily involved with troop movements throughout the New Guinea region during 1944/45.
Will update again over the weekend.
A very short update, we have some information that has just come in this morning and it might just do the job of matching both ships in a location. However, there are a few things to check out before that can be confirmed and it may take a few days. Will publish any other news as it comes to hand.
ReplyDeleteFurther information for those interested, we have both HMAS Deloraine and HMAS Vendetta in and around Morotai in the last quarter of 1944. There were also a number of US Navy ships with the CA prefix operating in and around Morotai at the same time, at the moment I am trying to get some aspects verified. The US presence in this zone was part of the US Navy 3rd Fleet and was responsible for carrier and support operations with one Cruiser designated to take General MacArthur to the battle at Morotai. More to follow.
ReplyDeleteThis confirms that HMAS Vendetta with Lieutenant Surgeon Robson on board (He stayed with the Vendetta until June 1945) and the HMAS Deloraine J232, were operating in the same waters as far as Morotai after October 1944:
ReplyDeleteHMAS VENDETTA
'Vendetta returned to New Guinea waters on 14 October, spending most of the month on gunnery and anti-submarine exercises. On 2 November she sailed in company with HMA Ships Swan and Barcoo (In April 1948 the Barcoo later ran aground at Glenelg during an extreme weather event), escorting the American transport Cape Alexander, which was carrying 1100 AIF troops for the landing at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain. The landing was unopposed and after seeing the troops safely ashore, the Australian units spent a day bombarding the Japanese positions at Wide Bay. Following this welcome diversion, Vendetta resumed convoy escort duties, operating as far as MOROTAI. Lieutenant Gilbert Gordon, RAN assumed command on 9 November.' Source here:http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-vendetta-i
This work extended up to January 1945 when:
'On 9th January 1945 Vendetta bombarded three unspecified targets in the Anumb River area in New Guinea with 206 rounds of 4-inch ammunition, she then relieved HMAS Katoomba on an anti-submarine patrol.'
HMAS DELORAINE
'In May 1944 Deloraine took up station in the New Guinea area for escort, patrol and troop carrying duties, including support of the operations at Noemfoor, Biak and MOROTAI'
Then:
'IN FEBRUARY 1945 she carried out bombardments of Japanese positions on Bass and Penguin Islands in the Mapia group. Further assaults on enemy shore posts followed in April against Muschu and Kairiru Islands and Wewak on the New Guinea mainland. On the last day of April 1945 she sailed from Langemak for Brisbane to be refitted. Hostilities ended before the work was completed.' Source: http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-deloraine
It is known that at least one USN Heavy Cruiser visited that area in the time frame. We now await further information regarding the movement of other US Heavy Cruisers in and around the same area.
What we can deduce from this information is that The Vendetta would have been in a position to pass close to the J232 Deloraine between October 1944 and January 1945.
This does not mean that GAR took down any notes it means that he was in a position where that could have happened.
Whilst awaiting further information, we will be looking at Waters around Sydney and Sydney Harbour in particular.
I see the natives are restless :)
ReplyDeletePar for the course Jafo, in many ways it's quite sad to observe. We'll just keep on keeping on and publish what we find. Thanks for the comment :)
ReplyDeleteYou do make me smile JS :)
ReplyDeleteJust a little light relief whilst we are working on the files. The J232 Deloraine was at one time hauled over the coals for having a Movie Projector on board. The powers that be were worried that it could be too much 'top weight'and might overbalance the ship. The skipper put up a spirited resistance and said projector remained on board. Thanks were extended to a US special services group for the loan of a number of movies.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, one Brisbane based member of a similar special sevices group was Bil Keane, he was a cartoonist and author and was a member of the US army. He would design posters and cartoons and was a prolific writer of humorous short stories. He married a Gympie girl, Thelma in 1945, they worked alongside each other in Brisbane. Most interesting was the title of one of his books, 'JESTIN PUN' Wouldn't read about it would you :)
I came across Bil Keane about 7 years ago whilst involved with Adelaide Universities then FB page, whilst digging around we found examples of counterfeit money distributed to enemy held islands and propaganda leaflets that Bil may have been involved with. The US had a large Psyche warfare contingent based in Australia during WW2.
Apologies for the delay, a bit more complex than at first thought. May have to rethink some of this.
ReplyDelete