2 February 1942

Young Diggers of 39^th Bn take break from digging dfeneces to watch three Lockheed Hudson bombers take off from Moresby Aerodrome. Some hours they receive a reality check when only two of them return.

Australian Army HQ warns New Guinea commander, Gen Basil Morris, that intelligence suggests the Japanese may land an invasion force on the north coast of Papua, aiming to attack Moresby over the Owen Stanley Range. Morris orders redoubling of work on defences.