Top Secret Operation Timor: The Japanese Encounter

The first assault Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a 1,400 strong Australian Army detachment, known as Sparrow Force, arrived at Kupang in Dutch Timor, on December 12, The force was initially commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Leggatt, and was centred on the Australian 8th Division's 2/40th Battalion (raised in Tasmania), and the commandos of the 2nd Independent Company (recruited mostly in Western Australia). Sparrow Force joined about 650 Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) troops under Lieutenant Colonel Nico van Straten, including the Timor and Dependencies Garrison Battalion, a company from the VIII Infantry Battalion, a reserve infantry company, a machine- gun platoon from the XIII Infantry Battalion and an artillery battery. The Allied land forces were supported by the 12 Lockheed Hudson light bombers of No. 2 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a 189-strong contingent from the British Royal Artillery's 79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (which had served in the Battle of Britain). The Allied forces were concentrated around Kupang and the strategic airfield of Penfui in the south-west corner of the Island, although other units were at Klapalima, Usapa Besar, Babau and Sparrow Force's supply base was further east at Champlong. [

Japanese invasion The airfields at Penfui came under attack from Japanese aircraft on January 26 and January 30. The raids were hampered by the British AA gunners and, to a lesser degree, by the 11 P-40s of the United States Army Air Forces's 33rd Pursuit Squadron, based in Darwin, Australia. On February 16, an Allied convoy carrying reinforcements and supplies to Kupang — escorted by the heavy cruiser USS Houston, the destroyer USS Peary, and the sloops HMAS Swan and HMAS Warrego — came under intense Japanese air attacks and was forced to return to Darwin. The reinforcements on the aborted mission included an Australian pioneer battalion (2/4 Pioneer Battalion) and the 49th American Artillery Battalion U.S. Army.

Dutch Timor invasion On the same night, Allied forces in Netherlands Timor were under extremely intense air attacks. The bombing was followed up by the landing of the main of the 228th Regimental Group.On the undefended southwest side of the island, at the Paha River. 5 Type 94 tankettes were landed to support the Japanese infantry, and the force advanced north, cutting off the Dutch positions in the west and attacking the 2/40th Battalion positions at Penfui. A company of Japanese thrust, to the north-east aimed to cut off,the Allied retreat, at Usua. Sparrow Force HQ was immediately moved further east, towards Champlong Leggatt ordered the destruction of the airfield, but the Allied line of retreat towards Champlong had been cut off by the dropping of about 500 Japanese marine paratroopers, Sparrow Force HQ moved further eastward, and Leggatt's men launched a sustained and devastating assault on the paratroopers. By the morning of February 23, they had only killed 78 parrtroopersWith his soldiers running low on ammunition, exhausted, and carrying 132 men with serious wounds, Leggatt consulted his men and then accepted a Japanese invitation to surrender at UsuaVeale and the Sparrow Force HQ force — including about 290 Australian and Dutch troops — continued eastward across the border, to link up with the 2/2 Company.

Portugese Timor During the night of February 19–20, the Imperial Japanese Army(1500 men), under the command of Col. Sadashichi Doi, began landing in Dili. The Japanese ships were mistaken for vessels carrying Portuguese reinforcements, and the Allies were caught by surprise. Nevertheless, they were well-prepared, and the garrison began an orderly retreat, covered by the 18-strong Australian commando No. 2 section stationed at the airfield. Australian army claim that the section managed to kill an estimated 200 Japanese in the first hours of the battle. Another section was less fortunate, driving by chance into a Japanese roadblock. Although they surrendered, it is believed that all but one were massacred. The Australian commandos withdrew south and east into the mountainous interior, and about 200 Dutch East Indies troops, under Van Straten, headed southwest toward the border.

Japanese The type 100 is the only sub-machine gun used by the Japanese Imperialist Army. Though it is weak with only a 22X8 mm Nambu round. The type 99 light machine gun is used by the Japanese as a covering and defensive weapon. With devastating power and a 7.7 Calibre round the type 99 LMG is a dangerous weapon.

Australian weapons The Lee-Enfield is a Britain made, Australian gun. It was a bolt action repeating rifle. The M1Garand is an American made semi- Automatic.30 calibre standard issue rifle. Very common amongst most infantries

During the battle The population of the capital went to live in the interior, mainly in Aileu, Liquiçá and Maubara. Some of the few Portuguese that remained in Díli pursued nevertheless with their usual lives, socializing with the forces stationed in Timor. They were given instructions by the local government to maintain a correct attitude but to show no familiarity neither to collaborate. An atmosphere of normality gain form, and some families were prepared to go back. It is even reported by Carvalho that an agreement signed by English and Portuguese governments defined that the allied troops would retire as soon as arrived a contingent of Portuguese forces from Maputo (Mozambique)

Thanks for reading By adam nicholl and joel ward