Operations on Java Far East Air Force (United States)



b-17e flying fortress


on 3 february japanese opened series of air attacks on abda bases on java, , 19th bg again caught on ground, losing 5 of b-17s in raid on singosari, 4 of them on ground. on 20 february, mission bomb invasion force @ bali, 7 b-17s of 19th bg caught on ground @ pasirian field in southeastern java 0 strafers while re-arming , 5 more destroyed. although 38 of more capable b-17e flying fortresses , dozen lb-30 liberators incrementally reinforced both heavy bombardment groups of feaf, losses severe , slow rate of reinforcement unable keep pace. despite dispersal , elaborate camouflage, lack of antiaircraft artillery , poor warning/communication systems resulted in loss of 65 feaf aircraft on ground alone.


evacuations of personnel java , diversion of resources india , australia began 20 february. 24 february ten heavy bombers, 4 a-24 dive bombers, , 13 p-40 fighters remained flyable against japanese forces. abda command officially dissolved next day. ground echelons of both heavy bomb groups began evacuation sea on 25 february, while bombers, carrying 20 passengers each, made daily six-hour flights broome, western australia, intermediate evacuation point aircraft fleeing java. malang/singosari closed on 28 february , jogjakarta next night, following final bomber sorties. 260 men, including remnants of 17th pursuit squadron, evacuated 5 b-17s , 3 lb-30s. 35 passengers crammed final lb-30 took off @ 12:30 am of 2 march. on 3 march, 9 japanese fighters attacked broome, destroying 2 of evacuated b-17s.


of 61 heavy bombers based on java, 23 escaped: 17 b-17es, 3 lb-30s, , 3 of original b-17ds of 19th bg. 6 had been lost in aerial combat, @ least 20 destroyed on ground japanese attacks. every fighter (39) , dive bomber (11) arrived on java destroyed. against these losses, provisional pursuit squadrons credited destruction of 45 japanese aircraft in aerial combat. heavy bombers had flown on sixty missions , @ least 300 bomber sorties, 40% of bombers turned or otherwise failed find targets. brereton s evacuation india on 23 february 1942 ended existence of far east air force, had been re-designated 5 air force on 5 february. headquarters not re-manned until 18 september 1942 in australia, when designated fifth air force.


fifth air force along thirteenth air force in central pacific , seventh air force in hawaii subsequently assigned higher echelon on 3 august 1944, newly created united states far east air forces acronym feaf. feaf subordinate u.s. army forces far east , served headquarters of allied air forces southwest pacific area.





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