Pilot  F/Lt Francis Joseph Gardiner, RAAF 407575 (MIA)
Navigator  F/O Lewis John Lyne, RAAF 13986 (MIA)
Crashed  August 21, 1943

Mission History
One of seven aircraft engaged on a mission to attack Taberfane Seaplane Base.

Beaufighter A19-63 and Beaufighter A19-47 made a converging attack, diving from 2500 feet on a biplane type floatplane which had just become airborne. The starboard wing of A19-63 collided with the port wing of A19-47. Both wings broke off and engines caught fire, with both aircraft crashing into the sea in flames approximately 3,000 - 4,000 feet from Taberfane village.

Postwar Search
In 1946, F/Lt O'Shea of the RAAF Searcher Party reported:
No definite news either of these aircraft - Native report that Australian aircraft crashed into bay at Taberfane date unknown may refer to [these] aircraft.

Memorials
All crew members are listed on the Ambon Memorial as having "No Known Grave".

References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information

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