RNZAF
3 Squadron

Pilot  F/Lt William George Clifford Allison, 1222 (MIA)
Co-Pilot  P/O Frank Bevan Kerr, 424473 (MIA)
Navigator  Sgt Ronald Graham Douglas, 413041 (MIA)
Gunner  Sgt James Henry Johnstone, 412916 (MIA)
Tail Gunner  Sgt Trevor Ganley (WIA, survived)
Passenger Lt Col. C N F Bengough (MIA)
Shot Down  July 24, 1943

Aircraft History
Constructor Number 3834. RAF Serial Number V9249.

Mission History
At 1:00pm this crew took off in Hudson NZ2027 off from Bomber 1 on Guadalcanal to carry out a patrol between New Georgia and Bougainville. The IFF was defective, so they returned and took of again in Hudson NZ2021 (this aircraft). Passenger Bengough was the C.O. of the BSIPDF (British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defense Force) and Resident Commissioner.

The patrol was without incident until eight Zeros attacked. Sgt Ganley claimed one Zero shot down. Passenger Bengough was killed during this attack. Ganley was wounded in his hip, also shrapnel hit him the hand, arm and leg. Following this attack, the Hudson, kept flying for a further 40 miles despite regular attacks from the Zeros. Eventually the engines caught fire. Although on-board fire extinguishers put out the fires.

The Hudson was forced to ditch, two miles west of Baga Island [Baanga or Mbava] off the west coast of Vella Lavella. All five crew escaped although three were wounded. The Japanese planes strafed the survivors for ten minutes. Afterwards, only Ganley was still alive.

Japanese Side of the Mission
Justin Taylan adds: "I researched this mission at the Tokyo Defense Archives. The Zeros belonged to the Ryuhō Air Group. Eight A6M Zeros took off from Buin Airfield (Kahili) and made a patrol to Choisel and Vella Lavella. Siting a Hudson, they attacked it and shot it down. All the Zeros returned to Buin Airfield without loss, according to the records."

Sole Survivor Escapes
Ganley was wounded but swam four miles to a deserted island where he found an abandoned US life raft, with some chocolate "D" rations inside, and ate them with coconuts. He spent nine days on the island and repaired the raft, then paddled to Vella Lavella which was still occupied by the Japanese.

Found by armed locals, they asked him his nationality. When he replied New Zealand. One of them had been educated in New Zealand, and they agreed to hide him. Later, he contacted a coastwatcher, who treated his wounds and looked after him for a month. He was eventually picked up by a American PT Boat and returned to his squadron 37 days later. He was awarded a DFM. Because the Zero shoot down could not be confirmed, it is recorded as a 'probable' in the official records. The pilot was awarded a MID.

References
Kodochosho July 24, 1943
Air to Air, page 126 - 128
Kiwi Air Power, page 97
Thanks to John Douglas for additional historical information.

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Hudson

MIA