Sparrow Force (SP) CG PTO (id:#66523)

(ASL Journal #14 ID: SP CG)   [next]   [previous]

West Timor 1942-02-20 (7 others)

Overview:

The island of Timor was crucial to the Japanese expansion plans in early 1942. This island formed an important land bridge between the Australian mainland and Java and Sumatra. The Japanese invasion of Timor had begun at early morning 20 February with a seaborne landing on the undefended southwest coast by two battalions of the 228th Infantry Regiment and attached marines. In support of this landing, an airdrop of Japanese Naval paratroopers was conducted to the east of the main Allied defenses which were centered around the town of Koepand and the Penfui airfield. The Japanese paratroopers' objective was to secure the airfield and encircle the defending Australian and Dutch troops of "Sparrow Force." The paratroopers moved west towards the airfield after landing and used the main east-west road to Penfui airfield as their axis of advance. The first village between the drop zone and Penfui was Babau, which was being used by the Australian 2/40th Battalion headquarters and rear echelon. Babau became the focal point of engagements between the Australian and Japanese forces over three days. After finally securing this location, another critical battle was fought in the nearby village of Oesau. Despite a large portion of the Japanese paratroop force being destroyed, the overwhelming numbers of Japanese in the seaborne landing forced many members of the Sparrow Force to surrender. The fight at Timor would switch to a guerrilla campaign led by Australian commandos from the 2/2nd Independent Company.

Defender: Australian (2/40 Battalion, "Sparrow Force")  

Errata (source)