RAAF
20 Squadron
Pilot F/O Allan Norman (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
2nd Pilot F/O Fred Dierecks (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
Navigator P/O Frank Anderson (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
Engineer Cpl Harry Lanigan (6853) (KIA May 4, 1942)
Asst Engineer Cpl Alfred Hocking (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
Radio LAC William Parker (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
Asst Radio LAC Vern Hardwick (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
RIgger LAC John Burns (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
Armor LAC Ernest McDonald (POW / KIA Nov 4, 1942)
Shot Down May 4, 1942
Pilot History
Hemsworth had flown a raid over Rabaul on the night of February 3-4 and his Catalina was heavily damaged—possibly by FPO/1C Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, who was flying a A5M4 Claude (a few of them teamed up with the searchlight crews) and claimed a Catalina that night. Hemsworth did an amazing job of getting the plane back to Port Moresby on one engine. The total event lasted more than 24 hours including a night water landing off Salamaua.
Aircraft History
Constructors Number 350. Delivered by Qantas as VH-AFS 23/10/41. 11 Sqn 30/1/42. 20 Sqn 3/4/42. 11 Squadron.
Mission History
During the preliminaries to the battle of the Coral Sea, the PBY reported to be under attack south of Bougainville, by anti-aircraft fire (crew reported fighters). The aircraft failed to return to base.
Crew POW
After being shot down, they were picked up by a Japanese warship and brought to Rabaul. The rest of the crew became POWs at Rabaul. The date of their execution is listed by the Australian War Memorial as November 4, 1942. They were killed exactly six months after they were captured, all were bound with wire and had been decapitated.
Postwar
In 1950, a mass grave was uncovered at Rabaul at the foot of Tavurvur volcano (known to Australians as Matupi), and the bodies of Norman and his entire nine-man crew were found.
References
"CATALINA SQUADRONS First and Furthest" by Jack Riddell (privately published) mentions this loss.
PBY
POW
S 8
E 155
