RAAF
38 Squadron
Via CILHI 2000
Via RAAF 2005
Pilot WOFF Arthur Jack Hunter, 411069 (KIA)
Co-Pilot WOFF Albert Clifford Hughes, 414566 (KIA)
Passengers Complete passenger
list (all KIA)
Crashed Sepember 18, 1945
Mission History
Lost during a patient transfer flight from Biak
to Townsville.
It crashed onto the Carstenz
Ranges at 14,200' in Irian Jaya. On board the aircraft were 10 RAAF
passengers and crew and 19 Army personnel. The sad legacy of this wreck
were the twenty-nine passengers and crew, one that remains MIA to this
day.
Discovery
The wreck was discovered in December 1970 high in the mountains and broken
in a ravine. The site was discovered north west of the Grasberg mine
operated by PT Freeport.
Recovery & Memorial
From May 23 - June 6, 2005, a joint RAAF and Indonesian
Air Force (TNI-AU) team traveled to the region last month as part
of "Exercise Dakota Recovery". The mission, conducted in
extreme climatic conditions, recovered all the remains as well as
some personal effects of the passengers and crew. A memorial
plaque was left at the site. A formal military
funeral is planned for burial of the remains at the Port
Moresby Bomana War Cemetery on August 10, 2005.
References
Photo of the wreck appear in George Odgers' "Air Force
- Australia" book.
Thanks to Greg Williams and Daniel Leahy for additional information.
C-47
Crash Photos
Operation Dakota
Memorial
Service Story & Photos
