RAAF
30 Squadron
Pilot F/Sgt
C. E. Wein
Navigator F/Sgt
D. C. Kirkwood
Crashed December 17, 1943
Mission History
No emergency message or message of any kind came to other aircraft on that mission. The aircraft crashed near Hoskins.
Both of the crew bailed out, and were later captured by the Japanese and taken to Rabaul, and later executed.
Wreckage
Discovered on April 25, 2005 by Timber workers, about 19km away from Hoskins.
Cecilie Benjamin adds:
"When I ID'd A19-141 about 19 kms inland from the sea end of Hoskins runway. They were off hunting birds during their mid day break. I got into the wreck on the 27th April. The timber workers arrived to a scene where all the guns, ammo, ammo boxes, wireless wires, absolutely everthing was there. It had never been disturbed. I have my theories about that. The 2 crew members even though they were some distance apart were captured by the Japanese, taken to Rabaul and a couple of months later executed by the Japanese along with about 30 USA airmen and 8 other Australian air crews. The Allies came into the Hoskins area not long after these men were most likely turned in by locals. The elders probably told everyone that particular area was a "ples masili" (full of spirits) and this kept people away to keep the aircraft unfound by the Allies and no questions about what happened."
References
Thanks to Cecilie Benjamin for additional information
Beaufighter
