From: Japanese Auxiliary Seaplane Tenders This RAF crew of 205sq RAF were the first battle casualties of the Pacific War. Researching my Australian deaths for the 7th of December I came across this other info. 6 December 1941: Kota Bharu, Malaya. At 1030, a flight of three Lockheed "Hudson" light bomber patrol planes of No. 1 RAAF Squadron takes off on a reconnaissance flight over the South China Sea. 185 miles E of Kota Bharu. About noon, the crew of one of the Hudsons spots three Japanese ships steaming west. Fifteen minutes later, the same crew spots and reports sighting the main IJN convoy consisting of a battleship, five cruisers, seven destroyers and 22 transports. KAMIKAWA MARU launches a Pete floatplane to intercept the Hudson, but it is spotted and the Hudson takes cover in the clouds. A few minutes later, a second Hudson also spots and reports details on the convoy. At 1400, Air Chief Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, CINC, Far East, is advised of the sightings. Brooke-Popham is unsure of the meaning of the movements of the Japanese ships: perhaps they are just testing British defenses or perhaps they are heading for Siam. In any event, lacking authority from London to do anything unless Allied Forces are actually attacked, he places all his forces in Malaya on full alert. He orders continued surveillance of the convoy by his recce aircraft. Off Occupied French Indo-China (Vietnam). A floatplane from KAMIKAWA MARU sights the American Yacht ISABEL (PY-10). ISABEL was dispatched to reconnoiter the coast of Indo-China by Admiral (later Senator) Thomas S. Hart, CINC, US Asiatic Fleet, on orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Later that day, ISABEL is ordered to return to Manila. 7 December 1941: Off Malaya. At 0300, Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo orders patrols in the area between the convoy and Malaya. The convoy is then 100 nautical miles off Kota Bharu. There is heavy rain and zero visibility. The Southern Expeditionary Fleet has two seaplane carriers, KAMIKAWA MARU with 14 E13A1 Jakes and F1M2 Petes and SAGARA MARU with six F1M2s and two E8N2 Daves. Both ships catapult off 11 F1M2 and six E13A1, but the planes report nothing. Gulf of Siam. 20 miles WNW of Panjang Island. At 0820 (local), an E13A1 coded ZI-26 from KAMIKAWA MARU’s Air Unit, piloted by Ensign Ogata Eiichi, spots Consolidated PBY “Catalina” reconnaissance flying boat W8417, coded "FY-W"of the RAF's 205 Squadron piloted by Warrant Officer William E. Webb, RAF. Ogata attacks the PBY from the rear and succeeds in damaging the flying boat. With their radio destroyed, the 8-man Aussie crew can not report . Ensign Ogata shadows the Catalina for 25 minutes until five Type 97 Kawasaki Ki-27 "Nate" fighters from the JAAF's 1st Sentai arrive and quickly shoot down the PBY about 0845. WO Webb and his crew become the first casualties of the Pacific War. Crew of Catalina W8417 F/O Patrick Edwin Bedell, RAFVR 81334 WO William Edward Webb, RAF 590711 Sgt. Colin Burns Treloar, RAAF 407554 Sgt. Edward Alexander Bailey, RAF 567431 Sgt. Stanley Abram, RAFVR 909403 Sgt. Peter Eaton, RAFVR 755182 LAC Arthur Henry Chapman, RAFVR 967971 AC1 William Thomas David Burnett, RAFVR 1004210 In Memory of Flying Officer PATRICK EDWIN BEDELL 81334, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 07 December 1941 Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Warrant Officer WILLIAM EDWARD WEBB 590711, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 25 on 07 December 1941 Son of Edward and Harriette Webb; husband of Kathlyn A. Webb. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant COLIN BURNS TRELOAR 407554, Royal Australian Air Force who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of Francis James Treloar and Fanny Lydia Treloar, of North Adelaide, South Australia. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant EDWARD ALEXANDER BAILEY 567431, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 22 on 07 December 1941 Son of John C. and Louisa E. Bailey, of Sidmouth, Devon. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant STANLEY ABRAM 909403, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 22 on 07 December 1941 Son of James Stanley and Louisa Abram. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant PETER EATON 755182, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of George and Annis Eaton, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Leading Aircraftman ARTHUR HENRY CHAPMAN 967971, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Chapman, of Chew Stoke, Somerset; husband of M. Chapman, of Acton, Middlesex. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Aircraftman 1st Class WILLIAM THOMAS DAVID BURNETT 1004210, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 07 December 1941 Son of John Robert and Bridgett Burnett of Dundee,Scotland. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
CWGC details. Anyone have any info on the NOK details that are missing. In Memory of Flying Officer PATRICK EDWIN BEDELL 81334, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 07 December 1941 Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Warrant Officer WILLIAM EDWARD WEBB 590711, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 25 on 07 December 1941 Son of Edward and Harriette Webb; husband of Kathlyn A. Webb. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant COLIN BURNS TRELOAR 407554, Royal Australian Air Force who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of Francis James Treloar and Fanny Lydia Treloar, of North Adelaide, South Australia. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant EDWARD ALEXANDER BAILEY 567431, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 22 on 07 December 1941 Son of John C. and Louisa E. Bailey, of Sidmouth, Devon. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant STANLEY ABRAM 909403, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 22 on 07 December 1941 Son of James Stanley and Louisa Abram. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant PETER EATON 755182, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of George and Annis Eaton, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Leading Aircraftman ARTHUR HENRY CHAPMAN 967971, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Chapman, of Chew Stoke, Somerset; husband of M. Chapman, of Acton, Middlesex. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Aircraftman 1st Class WILLIAM THOMAS DAVID BURNETT 1004210, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 07 December 1941 Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
I do find this strange with the time difference. This incident occurred at 0845 (local) on the 7th of December. Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) local time would have been 16/17 hours prior or 1700/1600 Saturday 6th of December. The report received from 1sq RAAF Hudson's that the main IJN convoy consisting of a battleship, five cruisers, seven destroyers and 22 transports would have been a cause for concern to the British but not to Pearl Harbor.
From: Japanese Auxiliary Seaplane Tenders This RAF crew of 205sq RAF were the first battle casualties of the Pacific War. Researching my Australian deaths for the 7th of December I came across this other info. 6 December 1941: Kota Bharu, Malaya. At 1030, a flight of three Lockheed "Hudson" light bomber patrol planes of No. 1 RAAF Squadron takes off on a reconnaissance flight over the South China Sea. 185 miles E of Kota Bharu. About noon, the crew of one of the Hudsons spots three Japanese ships steaming west. Fifteen minutes later, the same crew spots and reports sighting the main IJN convoy consisting of a battleship, five cruisers, seven destroyers and 22 transports. KAMIKAWA MARU launches a Pete floatplane to intercept the Hudson, but it is spotted and the Hudson takes cover in the clouds. A few minutes later, a second Hudson also spots and reports details on the convoy. At 1400, Air Chief Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, CINC, Far East, is advised of the sightings. Brooke-Popham is unsure of the meaning of the movements of the Japanese ships: perhaps they are just testing British defenses or perhaps they are heading for Siam. In any event, lacking authority from London to do anything unless Allied Forces are actually attacked, he places all his forces in Malaya on full alert. He orders continued surveillance of the convoy by his recce aircraft. Off Occupied French Indo-China (Vietnam). A floatplane from KAMIKAWA MARU sights the American Yacht ISABEL (PY-10). ISABEL was dispatched to reconnoiter the coast of Indo-China by Admiral (later Senator) Thomas S. Hart, CINC, US Asiatic Fleet, on orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Later that day, ISABEL is ordered to return to Manila. 7 December 1941: Off Malaya. At 0300, Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo orders patrols in the area between the convoy and Malaya. The convoy is then 100 nautical miles off Kota Bharu. There is heavy rain and zero visibility. The Southern Expeditionary Fleet has two seaplane carriers, KAMIKAWA MARU with 14 E13A1 Jakes and F1M2 Petes and SAGARA MARU with six F1M2s and two E8N2 Daves. Both ships catapult off 11 F1M2 and six E13A1, but the planes report nothing. Gulf of Siam. 20 miles WNW of Panjang Island. At 0820 (local), an E13A1 coded ZI-26 from KAMIKAWA MARU’s Air Unit, piloted by Ensign Ogata Eiichi, spots Consolidated PBY “Catalina” reconnaissance flying boat W8417, coded "FY-W"of the RAF's 205 Squadron piloted by Warrant Officer William E. Webb, RAF. Ogata attacks the PBY from the rear and succeeds in damaging the flying boat. With their radio destroyed, the 8-man Aussie crew can not report . Ensign Ogata shadows the Catalina for 25 minutes until five Type 97 Kawasaki Ki-27 "Nate" fighters from the JAAF's 1st Sentai arrive and quickly shoot down the PBY about 0845. WO Webb and his crew become the first casualties of the Pacific War. Crew of Catalina W8417 F/O Patrick Edwin Bedell, RAFVR 81334 WO William Edward Webb, RAF 590711 Sgt. Colin Burns Treloar, RAAF 407554 Sgt. Edward Alexander Bailey, RAF 567431 Sgt. Stanley Abram, RAFVR 909403 Sgt. Peter Eaton, RAFVR 755182 LAC Arthur Henry Chapman, RAFVR 967971 AC1 William Thomas David Burnett, RAFVR 1004210 View attachment 41751 View attachment 41752 In Memory of Flying Officer PATRICK EDWIN BEDELL 81334, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 07 December 1941 Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Warrant Officer WILLIAM EDWARD WEBB 590711, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 25 on 07 December 1941 Son of Edward and Harriette Webb; husband of Kathlyn A. Webb. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant COLIN BURNS TRELOAR 407554, Royal Australian Air Force who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of Francis James Treloar and Fanny Lydia Treloar, of North Adelaide, South Australia. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant EDWARD ALEXANDER BAILEY 567431, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died age 22 on 07 December 1941 Son of John C. and Louisa E. Bailey, of Sidmouth, Devon. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant STANLEY ABRAM 909403, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 22 on 07 December 1941 Son of James Stanley and Louisa Abram. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Sergeant PETER EATON 755182, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of George and Annis Eaton, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Leading Aircraftman ARTHUR HENRY CHAPMAN 967971, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 07 December 1941 Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Chapman, of Chew Stoke, Somerset; husband of M. Chapman, of Acton, Middlesex. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL In Memory of Aircraftman 1st Class WILLIAM THOMAS DAVID BURNETT 1004210, 205 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 07 December 1941 Son of John Robert and Bridgett Burnett of Dundee,Scotland. Remembered with honour SINGAPORE MEMORIAL Added the CWGC details of the crew and some information from the Nephew of Aircraftman 1st Class William Thomas David Burnett.
