After the fall of Lae and Salamaua to enemy forces, daylight reconnaissance by Japanese long range aircraft occurred several times between March and late July 1942 when Townsville experienced its first air raids. On at least two occasions, four engined Kawanishi 'Mavis' flying boats were fired on by anti-aircraft guns in broad daylight prior to the night raids. The aircraft flew over Townsville at midday as the absence of sun shadows to distort building outlines enabled clearer images of base installations and the port facilities. These intelligence gathering missions would be used to pinpoint bombing targets in the July 1942...