VIA RAAF MELBOURNE
FOR OFFICER COMMANDING RAAF MORESBY
MOST SECRET
START
PART ONE
INFORMATION TO LT COMMANDER E. FELDT RANVR
PART TWO
START FOLLOWING FROM BANNING:
SUB A
SWIMMER WITH PATIENCE AS OF 1010 7OCT
SUB B
GREYHOUND DEPARTED STATION ABLE 1110M ETA STATION BAKER 1700M RPT 1700M
SUB C
STATION C COORDINATES 06 13 21 XXXX 14 16 07
RPT 06 13 21 XXXX 14 16 07
SUB D
RENDEZVOUS STATION C 0550M 9 OCT RPT 05SOM 9 OCT
END FROM BANNING
PART THREE
ADVISE ADMIRALTY MOST URGENT SIGNAL
SUB A ON ARRIVAL GREYHOUND
SUB B READINESS TO EFFECT SCHEDULED RENDEZVOUS
SUB C CAUSE OF AND EXPECTED TIME OF REMEDY ANY DELAY
SUB D ON DEPARTURE GREYHOUND FOR STATION C
SUB E RETURN OF GREYHOUND TO STATION B
BY AUTHORITY: SOAMES-HALEY, VICE ADM RAN
END
When the R4D With MARINES lettered along the side of its fuselage made a low approach from the sea and touched down smoothly, Lieutenant Commander Eric Feldt, RANVR, was standing outside RAAF Moresby Base Operations. It was 1655 hours (Melbourne Time).
A BSA motorcycle with a sidecar onto which a FOLLOW ME sign had been bolted led the R4D to a sandbag revetment. The driver signaled the aircraft where to shut down, then a ground crew appeared and manhandled the airplane into the revetment.
The rear door opened and a ladder was lowered. Once that was done, Major Jake Dillon climbed down.
"Hello, Jake," Feldt said. "How are you, old man?" It was not the profane and/or obscene greeting Dillon expected.
"Can't complain, Eric. Yourself,?"
Captain Charley Galloway appeared and climbed down the ladder.
"Captain Galloway, Commander Feldt," Dillon said.
Galloway saluted.
"You're the Coastwatcher commander, Commander?" Galloway asked.
Feldt nodded.
"A lot of people where I come from have a lot of respect for your people, Commander," Charley said.
Feldt looked uncomfortable.
"I hope you had a good flight," he said after a moment. Then he put out his hand to Second Lieutenant Malcolm S. Pickering as he turned from climbing down the ladder. "My name is Feldt, Lieutenant. Welcome to Port Moresby."
"Thank you, Sir."
"is the aircraft all right, Captain?"
"It ran like a Swiss watch, Sir. I'd like to go over it before we leave, of course."
"There's plenty of time for that. You're not due at Buka until six the day after tomorrow. Major Banning sent some steaks and whiskey. The rest of the lads are guarding it from the RAAF boys. I've got a car whenever you're ready."
MOST URGENT
RAAF MORESBY 1705 7Th OCTOBER NUMBER 107
FROM OFFICER COMMANDING RAAF MORESBY
FOR ADMIRALTY MELBOURNE FOR VICE ADMIRAL SOAMES-HALEY
VIA RAAF MELBOURNE