Crew  F/Lt Kenneth John Hanson, 403585 (KIA)
Crew  W/O Alfred Cook, 419295 (KIA)
Crew  Sgt Arnold Alexander Lockyer, 80471 (POW / KIA)
Crew  P/O George Grey Lindley, 427712 (POW / *KIA)
Crew  F/Sgt William James Maxwell, 435994 (KIA)
Crew  F/Sgt Stephen Patrick Cloake, 441014 (KIA)
Crew  F/O John James Oliver Hume, 427095 (KIA)
Crew  F/Sgt Frank Grainer Vincent Hutton, 437421 (KIA)
Crew  F/Sgt John Victor Orgill, 441469 (POW / MIA)
Crew  F/Sgt Brendan Michael Heslin, 440787 (KIA)
Crew  F/Sgt Charles Neville Nichol, 440381 (KIA)
Crew  Cpl Waite, USAAF 36404344 (KIA)
Crashed  July 27, 1945

Aircraft History
USAAF Serial Number 44-41581

Mission History
Took part in a photographic reconnaissance of Celebes when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire near Tomohoan.

Wreckage
S/Ldr Angus Greenfield, whose crew spotted the wreckage the next day, reported no signs of survivors. After the war, the site was visited by a RAAF Searcher team who located the remains of F/Lt Hanson, W/O Cook, F/Sgt Maxwell, F/Sgt Cloake, F/O Hume, F/Sgt Hutton, F/Sgt Heslin and Cpl Waite.

Four crew members were seen to bale out of the aircraft - One of which without a parachute. This was F/Sgt Nichol whose remains were buried by a Japanese servicemen.

The three remaining crew members were taken prisoner. F/Sgt Orgill apparently landed in the garden of a Chinese family who attempted to persuade him to escape while he still could. F/Sgt Orgill refused until he could ascertain the fate of his comrades. He was later captured.

A native soldier reported that on arrival at the prison, Orgill grabbed the native soldier's bayonet and began attacking guards. Four Japanese soldiers subdued him and he was beaten with sticks for half an hour until unconscious. He was stripped of his clothing and thrown into a cell with Lindley and Lockyer, dying during the night.

P/O Lindley and Sgt Lockyer, who had both been injured when baling out of the aircraft, were subject to brutal interrogations. On about August 5, they were moved to Kaaten and kept in solitary confinement.

After midnight on August 21, both Lindley and Lockyer were moved from their cell to a garage where a grave had been dug. The first man was chloroformed and buried alive. The second was chloroformed but did not lose consciousness, so he was strangled with a piece of rope and then buried.

The Japanese had tried to cover up the killings by stating the prisoners were moved to Macassar. When the remains of Lindley and Lockyer were found, there was some confusion as they had been given Origll's clothes which had his name and Wireless/Air Gunner badge sewn on. Later, dental records would prove their identities.

Memorials
Lindley and Lockyer are now buried side-by-side at the Ambon War Cemetery, with Nichol not too far away. The remains of those found at the crash site are buried in a collective grave at Ambon. Orgill is still listed as missing - In an effort to cover up his death, the Japanese exhumed his and others' remains, burnt them and reburied them - When discovered, individual identification was not possible.

References
RAAF Searcher Brief.
B-24 Liberator Squadrons of Australia Newsletter #75
ADF Serials website
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information

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