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  Lockheed Hudson Mark IIIA Serial Number A16-233 Code KO-N
RAAF
No. 2 Squadron

Former Assignments
1 AD
No. 13 Squadron
5 AD
1 RSU
4 RSU


RAAF February 1943
Pilot  F/O Lynnton A. Martin, 408816 (MIA / KIA) Mornington, VIC
Observer  F/O Marcus C. Wettenhall, 418818 (MIA / KIA) Rosedale, VIC
Radio  F/Sgt Maurice A. Graham, 410337 (POW, executed October 31, 1943, BR)
W/AG  P/O Ralph H. Williams, 410391 (MIA / KIA) Moonee Ponds, VIC
Rear Gunner  F/Sgt Jack W. R. Boanas, 417331 (POW, executed October 31, 1943, BR) Darlinghurst, NSW
Crashed  September 8, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 6483. Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-29-LO Hudson serial number 41-36994. Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number FH193. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia part of Defense Aid consignment.

Wartime History
During early May 1942 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Hudson serial number A16-233. On May 6, 1942 reassembled by 1 Air Depot (1 AD) at Laverton Field.

On June 2, 1942 assigned to No. 2 Squadron but this allotment was canceled sixteen days later. On June 24, 1942 assigned to 13 Squadron. On September 7, 1942 assigned to 5 Air Depot (5 AD). On October 13, 1942 returned to No. 13 Squadron.

Next, on November 13, 1942 assigned to 1 Repair Salvage Unit (1 RSU). On January 13, 1943 back to No. 13 Squadron. On March 22, 1943 again to 1 Repair Salvage Unit (1 RSU). On March 20, 1943 back to No. 13 Squadron. On April 4, 1943 assigned to No. 2 Squadron with code KO-N. No known nickname or nose art.

On July 17, 1943 took off from Hughes Field (30 Mile) aboard were F/O O'Neil, Sgt Lord, LAC Lockyer and LAC Rogerson aboard. Returning to land at 3:30pm, this Hudson yawed to the right and ran off the strip damaging the left tire and left propeller airscrew tip. The crew were uninjured in the landing.

On August 15, 1943 took off from Millingimbi Airfield on mission HUG.32 with Hudson A16-181 on a search for Japanese shipping off Keaukwa on the southern coast of New Guinea. Over the target, Hudson A16-233 spotted an enemy vessel, bombed from 6,500' and was intercepted by two Zeros from Timoeka Airfield over Keaukwa. This Hudson but managed to evade flying at sea level and returned to base safely. Lost was Hudson A16-181 (MIA).

On August 19, 1943 assigned to 4 Repair Salvage Unit (4 RSU) then returned to No. 2 Squadron.

Mission History
On September 8, 1943 at 8:01am took off from Hughes Field (30 Mile) piloted by F/O Lynnton A. Martin on mission HUG.14 a search of "Horse", the code name for an area of the Arafura Sea near the Tanimbar Islands. When this aircraft failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially stricken off charge on September 15, 1943.

Search
On September 9, 1943 three planes Hudson A16-192, Hudson A16-236 and Hudson A16-204 searched for the this missing plane and crew for six hours with no sightings.

Fates of the Crew
In fact, this Hudson attacked a small ship Sugi Maru and was shot down by anti-aircraft fire roughly 20 miles north of the Tanimbar Islands. Three of the crew: Martin, Wettenhall and Williams were killed in the crash and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Two of the crew: Graham and Boanas bailed out and landed safely. Both were captured by the Japanese Army and became Prisoners Of War (POW). They were taken to Toeal on Kai Island and later transferred to Ambon and were detained at Kempeitai (Japanese Army military police) at Victoria Barracks. The pair were interrogated by Lt General Matsumoto before being transferred to to the Kempei Tai at Victoria Barracks, Ambon. On October 31, 1943 both were executed by Lt. Hara and their remains were buried at Benting in a mass grave.

On August 22, 1946 a RAAF Searcher Team led by Ft Lt Belcher investigated this missing crew and interrogated Japanese Army guards Yasumura Okama and Sgt Manuhutu plus Dutch Army soldier Ambonse who guarded Gram and Boanas on Ambon.

Recovery of Remains
During 1947, a mass grave at Benting on Ambon was exhumed the remains of Graham and Boanas were each individually identified.

Memorials
Three of the crew: Martin, Wettenhall and Williams were officially declared dead the day of the crash on September 8, 1943. All three are memorialized at Adelaide River War Cemetery on the Northern Territory Memorial. Martin on panel 5. Whitehall and Williams on panel 8.

Graham and Boanas were officially declared dead October 31, 1943. After their remains were recovered in 1947, both were buried at Ambon War Cemetery. Graham at 2. B. 14. Boanas at 2. B. 13.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Lynnton A. Martin, 408816
WW2 Nominal Roll - Marcus Cedric Wettenhall, 418818
WW2 Nominal Roll - Maurice Anthony Graham, 410337
WW2 Nominal Roll - Ralph H. Williams, 410391
WW2 Nominal Roll - Jack W. R. Boanas, 417331
USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-29-LO Hudson 41-36994
"36994 (MSN 414-6483) to RAF as FH193 then to Australia as A16-193 [sic A16-233. Failed to return from mission Sept 9, 1943 while with 2 Sqdn"
ADF Serials - Hudson A16-233
Missing Air Crew Report 11060 (MACR 11060) mentions P-40N A29-688 on pages 14-16
Page 14: "Australian War Graves Unit Ambon Paren For Flight Officer Lt. Belcher RAAF Searcher Officer Paren August 30, 1946"
Page 16: "On the 22nd August [1946] I located Yasumura Okama the Japanese who guarded Grahm and Boanas (Hudson A16-233). I interrogated him also Sgt Manuhutu an Ambonese in the Dutch Army, who recognized the photos."
CWGC - Lynnton Ainsley Martin
FindAGrave - Flying Officer Lynnton Ainsley Martin (Northern Territory Memorial photo)
CWGC - Marcus Cedric Wettenhall
FindAGrave - Pilot Officer Marcus Cedric Wettenhall (Northern Territory Memorial photo)
CWGC - Maurice Anthony Graham
FindAGrave - Maurice Anthony Graham (Ambon War Cemetery)
CWGC - Ralph Henry Williams
FindAGrave - Pilot Officer Ralph Henry Williams (Northern Territory Memorial photo)
CWGC - Jack W. R. Boanas
FindAGrave - Flight Sergeant Jack William Boanas (Ambon War Cemetery photo)

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Last Updated
December 12, 2023

Tech Info
Hudson

MIA
MIA / POW
3 Missing
2 Prisoners
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