Inside Story Of Aib

Functions and Exploits of the Famous "Hush-Hush"

Unit

JUST prior to the declaration of war with Germany, in 1939, there was formed, in New Guinea, by a well known Administration officer, an organi sation known as the Ferdinand Coast Watchers.

Personnel was drawn from the ranks of administrative officers and planters.

Radio transmitting sets were installed at vantage points along the coast and reports were made of shipping and air craft observations to headquarters in Port Moresby.

In 1942, the entry of the Japanese into the war changed the situation completely and the Coast Watchers were called upon to take up a new and dangerous role, and thus did Allied Intelligence Bureau, North-Eastern Area, commence operations, with volunteers from the three Services, preferably men with Islands’ experience.

The writer was accepted as a volun teer and 'can, therefore, record a few facts about an organisation that has meant much to the satisfactory conclu sion of the Pacific war. Recently the daily newspapers have published Veird and wonderful concoctions concerning the role of AIB. I term them “concoctions” because many of them did not give a true picture. Many of the stories told were true in substance, but exaggerated bits and nieces were added to complete a “scoop.” rpHE purpose of the Allied Intelligence ± Bureau was to: (1) Enter enemy ter ritory and report on enemy troop concentrations and movements; (2) report on enemy shipping movements; (3) report movements of enemy aircraft; (4) rescue Allied pilots who had been forced down in enemy territory; (5) con tact natives in enemy territory and free them from the yoke of the Japanese oppressor; (6) organise (in the latter months) guerilla warfare, aided by natives trained for that purpose.

The landings in enemy-occupied terri tories were, in most cases, made bv sub marine. The party, usually consisting of three white men, landed with a light pack of dehydrated rations sufficient for one month. Later, usually at monthly inter vals, planes dropped foodstuffs (tinned), medical and other supplies at an inland base. The Allied pilots performed an excellent job of work in this respect.

Once landed, it was the first job of the party, which was equipped with a portable transmitter, to move inland and set up a base camp. To remain on the beach was asking for trouble.

After the base had been established in some secluded spot away from native vil lages and roads, members of the party set out to secure contact with the natives.

This was essential, but one had to be careful to contact the right kind of native in view of the fact that the natives had been under enemy domina tion-for long periods. Knowledge of the country and native peoples was a great benefit, hence the preference for men with island knowledge. Selected natives were, in due course, attached to the party as guides and agents. Natives known to party members were usually selected.

Very few mistakes occurred in the selec tion of these natives —such mistakes cost valuable lives.

In 1944 it was decided that two parties of increased strength, would enter enemy occupied territory in New Britain and organise and train in the field, a native

guerilla force. This venture met with exceptionally good success and about 1,000 natives joined up and commenced to take revenge on the Japanese forces a nd settle old It was P a? efforTweh

'J'HIS article, read and author ised by the Controller of AIB in Brisbane, was written by Eric J. Robson, who served in the unit until it was disbanded after the end of hostilities.

worthy of the praise given by high officers of the Allied Forces. Similar guerilla tactics were later employed by AIB on Bougainville Island, with out standing success.

The parties also helped the sick and suffering native populations—disease and starvation caused the death of hundreds of natives prior to the arrival of the AIB parties. Thousands of injections were administered behind the enemy lines, and although the risk of discovery was great, many friends were made because of this service. Food and clothing supplies were issued to the native population when ever necessary also.

AT the latter part of 1944, Allied In telligence Bureau formed a native infantry battalion in New Guinea.

This new organisation was an integral part of AIB. and was most useful to field parties. (This unit must not be confused with other native forces, such as ANGAU, the Pacific Island Regiment, which in cluded the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the New Guinea Infantry Battalion, and the Royal Papuan Constabulary.) The AIB army, or as it was officially known, “M” Special Unit Native Infantry Battalion, carried out duties with the field staff. A number of these natives rec ceived Army decorations for brave and faithful performance of duty in the face of the enemy.

It was not until peace was declared that members of Allied Intelligence * Bureau were permitted to discuss the “hush-hush” doings in the field, and quite a lot must remain a secret for some time to come. A naval officer (Comman der Feldt, RANR. nreviouslv of the New Guinea Administration) will shortly pub lish a book covering the early days of the organisation.

There were good and bad times for us all, and many happy days were spent by the “gang” at the rest camp at Tabra galba, near Brisbane, but these, as the war continued, became less frequent.

There was, too, on all occasions, that spot of humour to make life worth while. 1 REMEMBER back in 1942, when a patrol was being carried out by canoes in enemy waters near Salamaua. A member of the party, a New Guineaite, accompanied by a native, was slowly pad dling towards an enemy-occupied island when, without warning on went the searchlights of an enemy aircraft car rier, which was about 100 yards away.

Our Sydney water speedsters had nothing on my old friend. He grabbed the oar from the native and went full speed ashore. On arrival, in record time, he spent about eight hours in the smelly swamps.

And there is the story from Buna of

of our AIB men that Sr°power sary to win the war. He had been talkmg air power for at least two hours, and Sk n an e o ver S aeam t £?nnS m6nCe h yf served *if 8 W6re ° b ‘ Thp Salamaua. t n T J| tood - U P on the pmflance the h t irt S aSi r ori P °h er . cl 9 sely > but and nS ab:eady ™9 ard ® d a canoe nnt* T £?L Y f nk called hv ait r?mxir en ? : That l What I made those yefiowso-andS savvv^o 6 dav ” y so ana so s savvy to- . A The Aussie wasn t interested in the Yanks speech for he had identified them as Nips, but he was soon forced to go back to save his drowning buddy who, finally realising his error, plunged head first into the sea, or more correctly, coral.

After a local MO had inserted several sutures, the Yank turned to the Aussie: B° y . I guess our lads will give those Nips hell when they get to Port Moresby.

We ve got air strength there.”

On one occasion when I was instructed to join up with my party, it was decided * y there in an old Anson. A Middle East fighter-pilot was obtained, so off we went, with stacks of precious gear.

As we had to fly over enemy territory I interested myseff in the armament of the

.twsns s:.ss;

roared out: “Don’t worry about that—it hasn’t got a magazine.”

After this setback my thoughts centred on parachutes. I searched unsuccessfully and appealed to the pilot: “I suppose those silly cows left them out, as usual.”

The silly cows had, much to my dismay, but we went along very smoothly until we located an air pocket, and the old kite took a header, a few rolls, and numerous tosses. In the general upheaval, I watched, with ever-increasing interest,’ pieces of the wing go merrily away and then with even more interest, half the floor follow in its wake. I took a grip on myself and waited. Soon I was overcome with an avalanche of batteries, clocks, altimeters, speedometers, tins of jam, bully beef, all floating merrily around me like Balinese dancing girls. I was becoming down in the dumps when the plane sud denly righted itself and the pilot yelled out that everything was OK. We then circled around for nearly two hours while the pilot studied maps. I was trying to work out how we could get anywhere without instruments, wihgs and parts of the engine. At last we returned to the home base where I was met by one of our lads, who asked, “What the heck are you doing back here? I thought you were going to .”

In 1943, we moved out of a certain area by ship, a dirty-looking affair of prac tically no speed. We went on joyfully through the night, but at dawn our journey ceased abruptly. We had struck

a reef The skipper informed us that we had lost the rudder, and that we were there to stay for an indefinite period.

In those days my knowledge of radio was just about nil. l could transmit Morse at about a word a week and knew where the aerial went, but that was all. On this occasion I, with another member of the party, was “escorting” a transmitter back to headquarters, as our operator had been removed to hospital.

I was now asked to rig the set and send out an SOS. After an hour’s hard work in the rough sea I managed to instal it, and together with a few. volunteers, i commenced to tap out a message. This went on for hours without success.

Eventually the ship got off the reef and managed to sneaK into an anchorage and procure a tow. Months later I was told that our operator had taken half of the set with him when he left to go to hospital. One cannot usually transmit witnout valves and other important bits and pieces!

ON my recent departure -from New Britain I was invited to attend a farewell function by local natives, I was a resident of New Guinea prior to the war, but never before have I been overwhelmed with such a display of loyalty and devotion. Every man, woman and child for miles around, joined in this hectic royal farewell. I was given gifts in large numbers, including tribal articles retained for generations. If this display is any criterion, then AIB headquarters know that its members’ interest in the welfare and wellbeing of the natives has not been in vain.

Neither does one forget those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the cause of duty. Fortunately our losses were com paratively few, but we did lose good men —men with whom we were proud to be associated, and who were the cream of the Islands.

The organisation has made history Friendships have been created that can never be forgotten, even in the passage of time. Hardships have been endured without complaint.

AIB days of toil are over, and it dons civvy clothes knowing full well that it has done its share, as a small cog in a mighty wheel, to bring about a satisfac tory conclusion of this war.