The Saviour of Ceylon: a thread Early April 1942 was possibly the bleakest time for the Allies in the Far East. With the Japanese holding most strategic locations, it looked like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) would be next. Churchill called it "the most dangerous moment in the war". 1/7
If Japan managed to control the whole Indian Ocean, they could link up with the Axis and cut off oil supplies from the Persian Gulf. Alanbrooke wrote "I do not like the look of things. And yet a miracle saved us at Dunkirk..." The miracle was a Canadian Catalina pilot. 2/7
Len Birchall and 413 Squadron RCAF was stationed at Koggala. He and his crew took off on April 4 to patrol the area southeast of Ceylon. That night, they spotted the Japanese fleet. Birchall flew in close while his wireless operator coded and sent the message. 3/7