08-01-2008, 10:20 AM
Gents,
Following the "Battle of Kalidjati Airfield"...a detachment of the Shoji detachment took off to block the Batavia to Bandung road/RR...
"Night Advance to Poerwakarta"
viz:
4 March, 1942
Near Poerwakarta, Java: Having successfully defended Kalidjati
Airfield against all day attacks by the Dutch, on the 3rd, the
exhausted but ardent Japanese Shoji Detachment, that evening,
detached it's component parts toward their diverse objectives:
LtCol Ono's Guard Unit retraced it's steps back toward the Eretanwetan beachhead, patrolling the lengthy and exposed Japanese supply line; Major Egashira's Unit moved off toward Tjikampek, northwest of Kalidjati and Major Wakamatsu's Unit headed due west from Kalidjati toward the crossroads town of Campaka, which, when reached, would put the Japanese astride the eastern Allied evacuation route out of Batavia to Bandung, the ultimate objective to be clearing the town of Poerwakarta due south of Campaka. Astride the Wakamatsu Unit's line of advance were a few Dutch roadblocks and the patrolling 1st Recon Cavalry Unit. All of the Dutch units were frazzled, to some extent, because of the extremely rough handling they had recieved from the Japanese troops at Kalidjati and the terrible punishment delivered by the Japanese
3rd Air Brigade operating out of Kalidjati Airfield. But now
it was nighttime, admitedly a favored time for Japanese mischief,
but at least the Allies could operate without the ubiquitous
Japanese airplanes blasting their every concentration. Unfortunately,
there just never seemed to be enough Allied troops concentrated
to achieve a decisive check to the Japanese advance. Maybe it
would come this early morning of the 4th on the Kalidjati to
Campaka Road. About 9.5 miles west of Kalidjati, in the dark
morning hours of March 4th, the issue was about to be decided.
.............
Cheers and enjoy,
Curt
Following the "Battle of Kalidjati Airfield"...a detachment of the Shoji detachment took off to block the Batavia to Bandung road/RR...
"Night Advance to Poerwakarta"
viz:
4 March, 1942
Near Poerwakarta, Java: Having successfully defended Kalidjati
Airfield against all day attacks by the Dutch, on the 3rd, the
exhausted but ardent Japanese Shoji Detachment, that evening,
detached it's component parts toward their diverse objectives:
LtCol Ono's Guard Unit retraced it's steps back toward the Eretanwetan beachhead, patrolling the lengthy and exposed Japanese supply line; Major Egashira's Unit moved off toward Tjikampek, northwest of Kalidjati and Major Wakamatsu's Unit headed due west from Kalidjati toward the crossroads town of Campaka, which, when reached, would put the Japanese astride the eastern Allied evacuation route out of Batavia to Bandung, the ultimate objective to be clearing the town of Poerwakarta due south of Campaka. Astride the Wakamatsu Unit's line of advance were a few Dutch roadblocks and the patrolling 1st Recon Cavalry Unit. All of the Dutch units were frazzled, to some extent, because of the extremely rough handling they had recieved from the Japanese troops at Kalidjati and the terrible punishment delivered by the Japanese
3rd Air Brigade operating out of Kalidjati Airfield. But now
it was nighttime, admitedly a favored time for Japanese mischief,
but at least the Allies could operate without the ubiquitous
Japanese airplanes blasting their every concentration. Unfortunately,
there just never seemed to be enough Allied troops concentrated
to achieve a decisive check to the Japanese advance. Maybe it
would come this early morning of the 4th on the Kalidjati to
Campaka Road. About 9.5 miles west of Kalidjati, in the dark
morning hours of March 4th, the issue was about to be decided.
.............
Cheers and enjoy,
Curt