USS PERRY ATTACKED IN ERROR BY
2 SQUADRON RAAF
IN JANUARY1942

Early in January 1942, 2 Squadron RAAF received instructions from a US Catalina aircraft to attack a Japanese destroyer in Australia's northern waters. The Lockheed Hudson's of 2 Squadron attacked and damaged the ship which was later discovered to be the USS Perry.

Note:-   I wonder if this was actually USS Peary which was sunk with the loss of 91 men when the Japanese attacked Darwin on 19 February 1942. Or was there also a destroyer called USS Perry? Can anyone please confirm.

On 22 September 2009, John C. Finley provided me with the following confirmation of existence of a Destroyer called USS Perry:-

"The USS Perry DMS-17 (Destroyer Mine Sweeper) was not lost until 13 Sep 1944 when it struck a mine and sank off the southeast coast of Angaur in the Palau Islands. It was clearing mines preparatory to invasion of Anguar on the 17th of September. "

"The USS Peary DD-226 (Clemson-class Destroyer) was lost when hit by 5 bombs during an air raid from carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu plus 54 land-based bombers from Ambon 19 February 1942."

After receiving the above from John C. Finley I did a quick search of National Archives of Australia and found the following file which suggest that it might have been USS Peary that 2 Squadron attacked:-

Title:-  Darwin narrative - Royal Australian Air Force attack on USS PEARY
Series number A9695          Control symbol 449
Contents date range             circa 1940 - circa 1946
Access status                     Open
Location                              Canberra
Barcode                              30045431

REFERENCE BOOKS

"Kalumburu War Diary"
By Fr. Eugene Perez O.S.B

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank John C. Finley for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 10 March 2002

This page last updated 20 April 2024