9 March 1942

The first of 20,000 Australian 7^th Division troops returned from the Middle East start disembarking from transport ships in Fremantle and Adelaide.

Their elation at returning home after years away is shattered when their leave is cut short by an order from Gen Lavarack “ … the safety of Australia precludes your immediate dispersal to your homes on leave.”

Around 350 Diggers from the WA’s 2/16^th Battalion disregard the order and return to their homes.

8 March 1942

Japanese forces land unopposed at Lae and Salamaua, on the northern PNG coast, to establish airbases to attack Port Moresby and provide defensive depth to their main South Pacific operational air and sea base at Rabaul, where Admiral Yamamoto commands operations.

Rangoon falls to Japanese as their sweep through Asia continues unchecked.

7 March 1942

The government of the Dutch East Indies flees Java for Australia as the Japanese 16^th Army takes control of the territory. The under-strength Allied forces there cannot hold the invaders.

Without sufficient range to evacuate, all surviving Allied aircraft on the island are being destroyed to prevent them falling into enemy hands.

6 March 1942

For the eighth time, Japanese bombers strike Port Moresby with about 10 bombers appearing over the city around lunch time and dropping 39 bombs. Their inaccuracy and the response of the Australian anti-aircraft gunners mean the raid causes neither damage nor casualties.

The war continues to turn against the Allies elsewhere as Japanese forces land and occupy Batavia in Java. The RAAF responds by bombing Japanese positions at Koepang on Dutch Timor.

5 March 1942

Japanese air raids Nos 6 & 7 on Port Moresby: first from south-east about half past midnight and the second starts around 2.30am.

Luckily the first Reid's parachute flare fails to function leaving the area in darkness and although the three bombers drop about 20 bombs near the 7-mile aerodrome they cause neither damage nor casualties.

In the second raid four bombers attack the RAAF's base at Konedobu and drop flares near Paga Point but again fail to cause casualties or damage.