Pilot F/L Wilfred Opawa Rutherford, 1299 (KIA)
Co-Pilot F/O Vivian Roberts Eady, 413828 (KIA)
Crew Sgt Lisle Gordon Smith, 412754 (KIA)
Crew Sgt William Clement Lankshear, 413262 (KIA)
Crew Sgt John Robert McDougall, 413765 (KIA)
Shot Down July 7, 1943
Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed, constructors number 3856. Previously AE501 from British Purchasing Mission contracts. Shipped to New Zealand on Manuel, BOC Unit 1 Hobsonville on October 29, 1941 and assembled at No.1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville. Next, assigned to 1 GR Squadron Whenuapai. Then to 3 Squadron based on Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Officially written off books at Guadalcanal on 23 August 1943.
Mission History
Took off from Henderson Field at 5:15pm on a flare dropping mission for three TBF Avengers over the Kahili / Buin area. The operation called for 12-15 Flares to be dropped across Tonolei Harbor at 500 yard intervals, with a further 4 flares dropped off Vella Lavella in the return journey to assist the TBF pilots find their way home.
One of the American pilots later reported the Hudson had dropped about 12 flares at Tonolei at 7:45pm, as arranged, but nothing further was heard or seen of the aircraft.
In fact, this Hudson was shot down by a night fighter J1N1 Irving piloted by Shigetoshi Kudo on an evening patrol from Ballale Airfield. Attacked this Hudson, causing it to quickly catch fire and crash over western Shortland Island. There were no survivors.
Memorial
The crew was declared dead the day of the mission. The entire crew is commemorated at the Bourail Memorial on New Caledonia.
References
Moonlight Interceptor, page 40 mentions this victory.
ADF Serials - NZ Serials
Thanks to John Douglas for RNZAF information.
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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