USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS
Pilot 2nd Lt. Johnson
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. L. Baker
Crew S/Sgt L. Cooley
Gunner SS/ F. Aubrey
Gunner Cpl. D. Welch
Gunner Cpl. T. Perkins
Ditched April 24, 1942
Aircraft
History
Exact serial number unknown, as many unit records were lost in a plane crash
in 1943. It was deemed too dangerous
to permantly base planes at Port Moresby due to frequent Japanese air
raids.
Mission History
Took off from Charters Towers via Cairns as one of three B-25s bound for Port Moresby to fly a combat mission planned for the following
day against Lae. The group reached the New Guinea coast, headed
west, but unable to find Port
Moresby, and
turned around to fly east. At dusk and short on fuel they jettisoned
their bombs into the sea. Ditched with
B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare" near Mariawate, Mullins Harbor. The other plane in the group, B-25C "Salvo
Sadie" ditched further to the west. This aircraft sank in 3 fathoms
of water. The
crew swam ashore.
The crew were found and assisted by Reverand M. Nixon of the London Missionary Society, as well as Sgt Hill, the soul survivor of "Tojo's Nitemare". Nixon reported the ditchings to ANGAU officer, Captain 'Mac' Rich, who sailed from Samarai aboard the Marek, who arrived and met them, then looked for "Salvo Sadie", returning with that crew on May 1st to Fife Bay area.
On May 2nd, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" crew wanted to salvage personal effects from the plane, and three launches were commandeered, and they unsuccessfully attempted to drag the aircraft to shallower water, they gave up at sunset.
The survivors of the triple ditching left the area on May 3rd aboard the Marek to Milne Bay, where they held a memorial service for the crew of "Tojo's Nitemare", then sailed on another boat, the Matoma to Port Moresby, arriving ten days late, and were sent back to Australia.
Issac Luile adds
"The bomber is actually in Mullins Harbor, part of Fife Bay district.
As a school boy in about 1968 we used to go out there at low tide and
play on the wreckage. Now, it is dropping deeper and deeper in the
mud. The
whole body is still there, but bits and pieces have been taken only."
Reference
Flightpath Magazine "Underwater Trio" by Michael Claringbould
B-25
