RAAF
8 Squadron
Bob Halstead 2007
Pilot Flight Sergeant Jack Carroll
Woodgate, 420730 (MIA / KIA)
Navigator Flight Sergeant Stewart Ian Drakes, 427073 (MIA / KIA)
WAG Flying Officer Geoffrey
Stewart Wells, 410824 (MIA / KIA)
WAG Flight Sergeant Byron Veitch Maclean,
414053 (MIA / KIA)
Crashed November 15, 1943
Discovered January 2000 by Rod
Pearce
Mission History
The aircraft was involved in a torpedo attack on enemy
shipping near Simpson
Harbor off Rabaul.
Last observed at the southern end of St. George's Channel returning
to base. Later seen circling near
Kawa Island.
Early the next morning a USN PT boat attempted
to locate survivors after it was discovered that the aircraft
had ditched, but nothing was found. The PT crew did however recover
a fuel tank found floating on the surface. That tank still resides
on the island's only village and has now become part of their folklore.
Discovery
Discovered in January 2000 by by Rod
Pearce on sandy bottom off Kawa
Island, with research assistance from Don Fetterly.
Recovery of Remains
The RAAF Searcher Party visited the site in March 2001, and sucked the sand out of the fuselage interior, discovering the remains of the crew..
Crew members were identified from dental records and identity tags. Australian Veterans
Affairs Minister, Bruce Scott, says they have managed to locate the
families of the other three Australian airmen but have been unable to
find Flight Sergeant Drakes' next-of kin. The crew
were buried at Bitapaka
War Cemetery, Rabaul.
References
Thanks to Michael
Lee, Greg Williams for information. Graeme Leech for the article.
Beaufort
60' / 15m
MIA
(Resolved)
Photo Archive
S 08 32'
E 150 18'
RAAF Beaufort Discovery
