First to fall, civilian aircraft at Pearl Harbour, 1941

[bob10]

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[Fourgearsticks]

I read somewhere that there were round 50 civilian causalties from "friendly fire" during Pearl Harbour attacks. Most were from AA shells missing aircraft and landing incivilian areas.

[JDNSW]

Not directly relevant, but my brother in law was manning an antiaircraft battery on a hilltop outside Port Moresby in 1942. He said that when the first US aircraft arrived to help the town defence (P40), nobody told them - and they made much better targets, because they did not take evasive action. None survived.

[bob10]

The USAF had their C47's parked close together at Moresby, against all advice from the Australians, and the Japanese bombed and strafed them until almost all were lost. Crucial supplies for the diggers on the track could not be delivered when needed, which proved a major set back to the campaign.