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| RNZAF No. 16 Squadron Former Assignments No. 22 Squadron |
Pilot Flight Lieutenant Graham Cargill Howie, NZ416118 (KIA, BR) Morrinsville, NZ Crashed June 13, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Constructors Number 5545. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A Corsair bureau number 50298. Disassembled and loaded aboard SS Coolee Dam as cargo. On June 11, 1944 departed the United States as part of defense aid to New Zealand. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5394 with fuselage code "394". On July 3, 1944 reassembled and BOC by Unit 60 on Espiritu Santo. On December 14, 1944 assigned to No. 22 Squadron. On April 27, 1945 assigned to No. 16 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. On June 9, 1945 took off piloted by Bryan B. Cox armed with a bomb for a strike against enemy troop concentrations near the Hari River on Bougainville. After take off, the engine failed and moments later exploded back to life. Afterwards, he turned over the sea expecting to ditch but the engine seemed to be performing normally and opted to rejoin the formation and complete the bombing and strafing mission and landed safely after the 1 hour 25 minute mission. Mission History On June 13, 1945 at 8:05am took off from Piva South Airfield (Piva Uncle) on Bougainville piloted by Flight Lieutenant Graham C. Howie on a test flight. Shortly after takeoff, suffered an engine failure and made a wheels up crash landing in the jungle killing the pilot. Afterwards, this Corsair was written off on Bougainville. Recovery of Remains After the crash, his remains were recovered and temporarily buried on Bougainville. Wreckage This aircraft remains in situ on Bougainville. Memorials Howie was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar, he was permanently buried at the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery at grave 5. 2. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 50298 "50298 (MSN 5545) to New Zealand as NZ5394" ADF Serials - NZ Serials Corsair NZ5394 Flight Logbook Bryan B. Cox "June 9th 1945 - F4U - 5394 – Self – Strike - Hari River - 12 a/c – 325 DC – 1hr 25 min Engine cut and picked up again after takeoff. Bombed and strafed troop concentration. Graham Howie killed in same a/c June 13th." CWGC - Graham Cargill Howie, 416118 FindAGrave - Graham Cargill Howie (Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery) Auckland Museum - Online Cenotaph - Graham Cargill Howie (grave photo) Corsair NZ5394 The last survivor? by Bryan B. Cox (2011) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 24, 2022 |
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