PRIMARY SOURCES
OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY REPORTS
From the Operational Archives Branch, U.S. Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Abernethy, Lieutenant Commander E. P., Commanding Officer, USS Pecos (AO-6). “Sinking of the USS Pecos.”
Arnette, Fireman First Class E. H., USS Perch (SS-176). “Statement Concerning the Sinking of the USS Perch.”
Bermingham, Lieutenant Commander J. M., Commanding Officer, USS Peary (DD-221). “Engagements with the Enemy,” with enclosures:
A. Executive Officer’s Report
B. List of Damage in Navy Yard, Cavite
C. Navigator’s Report
D. Gunnery Officer’s Report
E. Assistant Gunnery Officer’s Report
F. Engineer Officer’s Report
Blinn, Lieutenant Commander W. C., Commanding Officer, USS Pope (DD-225). Recorded Narrative, “Sinking of the USS Pope.”
Bridget, Commander Francis J., Commanding the Naval Battalion on Bataan. “Action at Longoskawayan Point.”
Buass, Lieutenant Marion H., Executive Officer, USS Isabel (PY-10). “Personal Diary, Period 29 November 1941 to 7 March 1942.”
Bulkeley, Lieutenant John D., Commanding Officer, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3. “Summary of Operations from 7 December 1941 to 11 April 1942.”
———. “Report to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.”
Catlett, Lieutenant W. J., Senior Survivor, USS Peary (DD-226). “Sinking of the USS Peary.”
Chapple, Lieutenant Wreford G., Commanding Officer, S-38. “War Patrol Report for Period 8 December 1941 to 27 December 1941.”
Christman, Ensign E. L., Patrol Wing 10. “Dawn Bombing Attack on Jolo, P.I., on 27 December 1941.”
Coley, Lieutenant Commander L. E., Commanding Officer, SS Alden (DD-211). “Battle of the Java Sea on 27 February 1942.”
Cooper, Lieutenant Commander J. E., Commanding Officer, USS John D. Ford (DD-228). “Action of Allied Naval Forces with Japanese Forces off Surabaja, Java, on 27 February 1942.”
Crist, Electrician’s Mate Third Class Daniel, USS Perch (SS-176). “Statement Concerning the Sinking of the USS Perch.”
Crouch, Commander E. M., Commander, Destroyer Division 57. “Report Concerning the Sinking of the USS Langley and USS Pecos.”
Dawley, Ensign J. B., Patrol Wing 10. “Bombing Attack on Jolo, Sulu, on 27 December 1941.”
Eccles, Commander Henry E., Commanding Officer, USS John D. Edwards (DD-216). “Java Sea Battle, 27 February 1942, and Transcript of Ship’s Log for Period of the Battle.”
Glassford, Vice Admiral William A., Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific. “Narrative of Events in Southwest Pacific, 14 February 1942 to 5 April 1942.”
———. “Operations, Action, and Sinking of USS Langley (AV-3), Period 12 February to 5 March 1942.”
Goggins, Commander William B., Executive Officer, USS Marblehead (CL-12). “Narrative of Events from 25 November 1941 to 13 March 1942.”
Hargrave, Ensign William W., Patrol Wing 10. “Aerial Combat and Resultant Experiences.”
Hart, Admiral Thomas C, Commander in Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, and Commander, American, British, Dutch, and Australian (ABDA) Naval Forces. “Narrative of Events for the Asiatic Fleet Leading to War, and for 8 December 1941 to 15 February 1942.”
———. “Supplement of Narrative of Events for the United States Asiatic Fleet, 8 December 1941 to 15 February 1942.”
Hurt, Lieutenant Commander David A., Commanding Officer, USS Perch (SS-176). “Statement Concerning the Loss of the USS Perch on 3 March 1942.”
Kabler, Lieutenant W. L., Commanding Officer, USS Heron (AVP-2). “Attack by Japanese Aircraft on 31 December 1941.”
Karp, Lieutenant Commander Eugene S., Commanding Officer, USS Whipple (DD-217). “The Sinking of the USS Langley (AV-3), and USS Pecos (AO-6).”
King, Admiral Earnest J., Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, and Chief of Naval Operations. “Letter to Secretary of the Navy Concerning Operations, Action, and Sinking of USS Langley, Period 22 February to 5 March 1942.”
Maher, Captain Arthur L., Senior Survivor and Gunnery Officer, USS Houston (CA-30). “Postwar Reports Compiled with the Assistance of Surviving Senior Officers:
1. USS Houston on 4 February 1942 against Enemy Aircraft
2. USS Houston in Defense of a Convoy off Darwin, Australia, on 16 February 1942
3. USS Houston on 25, 26, and 27 February 1942 against Aircraft
4. USS Houston in the Battle of the Java Sea, 27 February 1942
5. USS Houston in the Battle of Sunda Strait, 28 February 1942.”
McConnell, Commander Robert P., Commanding Officer, USS Langley (AV-3). “Operations, Action, and Sinking of the USS Langley, Period from 22 February to 5 March 1942.”
Moorer, Lieutenant Thomas H., Patrol Wing 10. “Aerial Combat on 19 February 1942 and Resultant Experiences.”
Morrill, Lieutenant Commander John H., Commanding Officer, USS Quail (AM-15). “Escape from Corregidor.”
Parker, Lieutenant Commander Edward N., Commander, Destroyer Division 59. “Action between ABDA and Japanese Forces on 27 February 1942.”
———. “Engagement between U.S. Destroyers and Japanese Forces in Bali Strait on 1 March 1942.”
Payne, Commander John Walker, Commanding Officer, USS Isabel (PY-10). “Activities of the USS Isabel from 3 December 1941 to 7 March 1942.”
Pollock, Captain Thomas F., Patrol Wing 10. “Partial List of Combat Patrol Reports for Period December 1941, and February 1942.”
Ralston, Lieutenant (jg) Frank M., Patrol Wing 10. “Aerial Combat, and Resulting Experiences.”
Renard, Lieutenant Commander Jack C., Commanding Officer, Asiatic Fleet Utility Squadron. “Summary of War Activities.”
Robinson, Captain Arthur C., Commanding Officer, USS Marblehead (CL-12). “Engagement of 4 February 1942 with Japanese Aircraft.”
Rockwell, Rear Admiral Francis W., Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District. “Narrative of Events for 1 December 1941 through March 1942.”
———. Supplement of Narrative for 1 December 1941 through March 1942.”
Sackett, Captain Earl L., Commanding Officer, USS Canopus (AS-9). “The History of the USS Canopus.”
Schacht, Lieutenant Kenneth G., Torpedo Officer, USS Perch (SS-176). “Loss of the USS Perch on 3 March 1942.”
Sholar, Signalman First Class Marvin E., member of the USS Houston’s ship’s company assigned to the RNNS De Ruyter as signalman assistant during Battle of the Java Sea. “RNNS DeRuyter’s Final Action.”
Talbot, Commander Paul H., Commander, Destroyer Division 59. “Action 23–24 January 1942 against Japanese Forces in Makasar Strait by U.S. Destroyers.” (Talbot was relieved as commander, Destroyer Division 59 by Lieutenant Commander E. N. Parker on 29 January 1942.)
Wagner, Captain Frank B., Commander, Aircraft, U.S. Asiatic Fleet. “Patrol Wing Ten War Diary from 8 December 1941 to 19 March 1942.”
———. “Log and Status of Aircraft, Asiatic Fleet, from 8 December 1941 to 19 March 1942.”
OFFICIAL ROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY REPORTS
Courtesy of the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
Gordon, Captain O. L., RN, Commanding Officer, HMS Exeter. “The Battle of the Java Sea.”
Harper, Lieutenant Commander L. A., RN, Navigator, HMAS Perth. “Final Action and Loss of HMAS Perth.”
Lowe, Lieutenant Commander Ralph F. M., RAN, Paymaster, HMAS Perth. “Last Action of His Majesty’s Australian Ship Perth.”
Waller, Captain H.M.L., RAN, Commanding Officer, HMAS Perth. This was a rough report concerning “The Java Sea Battle,” which Captain Waller submitted to the commodore commanding the China force while at Batavia, Java, on 28 February 1942, several hours before his death in the Battle of Sunda Strait.
INTERVIEWS
While a Japanese prisoner of war, I was privileged to interview many Allied prisoners of war, and to record their experiences in my diary. Included were surviving officers of the Houston, Perch, Pope, Patrol Wing 10, and the following British and Australian naval officers:
Brougham, Lieutenant Patric, RN, Officer of the Deck, HMS Exeter, during the Battle of the Java Sea
Gay, Lieutenant William L., RAN, Assistant Gunnery Officer, HMAS Perth
Gordon, Captain O. L., RN, Commanding Officer, HMS Exeter
Harper, Lieutenant Commander John, RN, Navigator, HMAS Perth
Morgan, Lieutenant Commander E. V. St. J., RN, Commanding Officer, HMS Encounter.
SECONDARY SOURCES
BOOKS
Bergamini, David. Japan’s Imperial Conspiracy. New York: William Morrow, 1972.
Blair, Jr., Clay. Silent Victory. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1975.
Brereton, Major General Lewis H. The Brereton Diaries. New York: William Morrow, 1946.
Hara, Tameichi. Japanese Destroyer Captain. New York: Ballantine Books, 1961.
Hart, Liddel. History of the Second World War. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1971.
Karig, Commander Walter, USNR, and Kelly, Lieutenant Welbourn, USNR. Battle Report—Pearl Harbor to Coral Sea. New York: Rinehart, 1947.
Lockwood, Douglas. Australia’s Pearl Harbour—Darwin 1942. Adelaide, Australia: Rigby, 1973.
McKie, Ronald. The Survivors (HMAS Perth). Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1953.
Morison, Samuel Eliot. The Rising Sun in the Pacific. Boston: Little, Brown, 1950.
Payne, Alan. HMAS Perth—The Story of the 6 Inch Cruiser. Garden Island, NSW, Australia: Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1978.
Perry, George Sessions, and Leighton, Isabel. Where Away: A Modern Odyssey. New York: Whittlesey House, McGraw Hill, 1944.
Roscoe, Theodore. United States Destroyer Operations in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1953.
———. United States Submarine Operations in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1949.
Toland, John. The Rising Sun. New York: Random House, 1970.
Tolley, Rear Admiral Kemp. Cruise of the Lanikai: Incitement to War. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1973.
———. Yangtze Patrol and the U.S. Navy in China. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1971.
Wigmore, Lionel. The Japanese Thrust. Adelaide, Australia: Griffin Press, 1957.
Winslow, Walter G. Ghost of the Java Coast—Saga of the Heavy Cruiser USS Houston. Winter Haven, Florida: Coral Reef Publications, 1973.
MONOGRAPHS
Sackett, Commander Earl L., USN, Commanding Officer, USS Canopus. Narrative Concerning the Wartime Activities of the Submarine Tender USS Canopus (AS-9). Privately duplicated and distributed, 1942 (Sackett retired with the rank of Rear Admiral).
Smellow, Rear Admiral Morris, Supply Corps, USN (Ret.), Supply Officer, USS Marblehead. Wartime Activities of the USS Marblehead (CL-12) from 3 February 1942 to 4 May 1942. Privately duplicated and distributed following retirement in 1954.
OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS
Administrative Division, Second Demobilization Bureau. Japanese Naval Vessels at the End of the War. Unpublished report, April 1947.
Bulkeley, Jr., Captain Robert J. At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division, Department of the Navy, 1962.
Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee. Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses during World War II by All Causes. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, February 1947.
Military History Section, General Headquarters, Far East Command. The Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II: A Graphic Presentation of the Japanese Naval Organization and List of Combatant and Non-Combatant Vessels Lost or Damaged in the War. Unpublished report, February 1952.
Morton, Louis. U.S. Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific—The Fall of the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 1953.
Naval History Division. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, vols. 1, 2, 3. Washington, D.C.: Naval History Division, Department of the Navy, 1959, 1963, 1968.
Statistical Section, Division of Naval Intelligence. Japanese Merchant Vessels Lost. Washington, D.C.: Division of Naval Intelligence, Department of the Navy, January 1946.
U.S. Technical Mission to Japan. Japanese Major Warship Losses. Unpublished report, 1946.