Easter Sunday Raid
Colombo Harbour, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon)
What happened
Japanese carrier aircraft under Admiral Chūichi Nagumo attacked Colombo, defended by British forces under Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton, while Admiral James Somerville's Eastern Fleet stayed at sea. In April 1942 a powerful Japanese carrier fleet entered the Indian Ocean. The day before, a Canadian pilot, Leonard Birchall, spotted the fleet and sent a warning before his plane was shot down. On Easter Sunday, Japanese aircraft attacked Colombo harbour, sinking some ships and damaging the port, while British fighters and guns fought back.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Most of the British Eastern Fleet survived because the Japanese did not find it. Ceylon remained in Allied hands, protecting the defence of India and Indian Ocean convoys.
What came next
The same day, Japanese aircraft sank the British cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall at sea. The Japanese fleet soon returned to the Pacific and never repeated the raid.
Did you know?
Birchall's crew was captured, but the Japanese learned of his warning when they intercepted a radio message from Colombo asking him to repeat it.
Timeline
- 31 March 1942The Japanese Indian Ocean raid begins.
- 4 April 1942Leonard Birchall spots the Japanese fleet.
- 5 April 1942Japanese aircraft attack Colombo.
- 10 April 1942The Indian Ocean raid ends.