078 - The Suicide Squadrons

The All-Too-Important Scouting Missions

As the Japanese Navy had conquered the South China Sea and moved deep into the Indian Ocean, so, too, did the Japanese Army with its advance upon Burma, the Dutch East Indies, and Australia. Before and during the War, these countries were British and Dutch Colonies, ruled over by appointed leaders from England and the Netherlands.

.

However, as war against the Germans waged in Europe during 1940 and the Battle of Britain commenced, the British had to use all her might to defend herself against total defeat. This left the colonies largely unsupported.

.

By the time the Indian Ocean raids began to occur, shipping routes through the Indian Ocean had become as treacherous as the English Channel with the advance of Nazi Germany’s Navy.

.

The Allies had to use Military intelligence (fact gathering) to gain an advantage over their enemies. In the Pacific, it was Scout Planes such as the PBY Catalina. The scout planes were poorly armed and vastly outnumbered by the Japanese Air Force.
.
Often, the Scouts were aware that they faced insurmountable odds and it was likely they would not return home. Still, their information was vital to helping the Allied troops and these crews went anyway, risking life and limb for their mother country.

.