"The Japanese having captured Tarakan and Menado were ready in the last week of January 1942 to thrust their trident further south. One prong aimed at Kavieng and Rabaul, another towards Ambon and Timor, and one at Balikpapan and Bali. As the Japanese advanced down the Malaya Peninsula the allied bombing aircraft were forced to operate from Singapore Island and there the raiders took a heavy toll of them then were withdrawn to southern Sumatra. Wavell's orders for further withdraw of aircraft leaves only eight Hurricanes and six Buffalos on the Fortress Island. On the far right the Japanese also leapfrogged Singapore and landed on Sumatra. These advances by the Japanese carried them across the equator established bases in Dutch and Australian territory whence they would advance onto the final objectives, the New Guinea mainland and the isolation of Java. In the meantime while the political and military proposals and predictions were being deliberated over the lead vessel of the convoy the Ocrades, shipping 3,400 troops mostly Australian, had been ordered to Sumatra.
Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, the commanding officer of all British forces on Far East, had been ordered to consult the Dutch about land and air reinforcements for Java and Sumatra by the Chiefs of Staff, and on 16th December an AHQ team had been sent to reconnoiter the airfields in Sumatra, at that stage their value was mainly seen for a reinforcement route. Plans were made to stock Sabang, Medan and Pakan Baroe with supplies and to send in handling parties, but on 27th December Air Vice Marshal Pulford, the RAF commanding officer for Malaya, was ordered to prepare facilities for a substantial bomber force. Palembang was selected as the new headquarters, which had two nearby airfields, one of which was secret. This was despite the fact that Palembang would probably be the focal point of the initial Japanese attack, the town also had good road and rail links, a port and an oilfield nearby. Work began on the airfields on 31st December.
Within two weeks, the first Japanese troops had entered Johore, in front of the Singapore Fortress. Air Vice-Marshal Maltby ordered the formation of 225th RAF (Bomber) Group on 1th January, which moved to Palembang on 18th and was taken over on the 30th by Air Commodore H.J.F. Hunter who had just arrived directly from the United Kingdom. The group consisted of 1st and 78th RAAF and 62th RAF Squadrons, flying Hudsons, as well as 27th RAF and 84th RAF Squadrons Blenheims. In addition 84th RAF and 211st RAF Squadrons Blenheims had flown in from the Middle East without ground support, losing 11 aircraft en route. The Hurricanes of No.226 RAF (Fighter) Group under Air Commodore S.F. Vincent were based at the civilian airfield. Vincent was also a new arrival. It is interesting that Air Vice-Marshal Pulford had been told about neither of the new arrivals before they showed up…"
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