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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| RAAF 43 Squadron Former Assignments 11 Squadron |
Pilot F/O Thomas Temperley, 420300 (KIA / BR) Toowoomba, QLD Crew F/O Ralph Martin Harsley, 418221 (KIA / BR) St. Kilda, VIC Crew F/O Leonard Joseph Blackwell, 424727 (KIA / BR) Tempe, NSW Crew F/Sgt George Ian Hamilton Neate, 419702 (KIA / BR) Moonee Ponds, VIC Crew Sgt Ronald John Robinson, 20477 (KIA / BR) Smithtown, NSW Crew F/Sgt Harold Leslie Coggin, 205771 (KIA / BR) Fairfield, VIC Crew W/O Jack Storer, 405221 (KIA / BR) Maryborough, QLD Crew Sgt Adam Thomson, 69119 (KIA / BR) Botany, NSW Crew Sgt Reginald Stanley Keith Wheatland, 11944 (KIA / BR) Adelaide, SA MIA July 20, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. Constructor Number 1183. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) bureau number 08269. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Catalina A24-45. Assigned to 11 Squadron. On March 12, 1944 assigned to 43 Squadron with squadron code OX-E on the fuselage. Mission History On July 20, 1944 took off from Darwin on a mission to attack shipping in Namlea Harbor off Namlea and failed to return. The other aircraft engaged on this mission was unable to locate the target due to bad weather. Wreckage During the 1990s the wreckage of the aircraft was located on Buru Island (Boeroe, Buroe) at an altitude of approximately 1,800 metres. According to the ADF Health magazine: "The aircraft was located in a saddle near the summit of one of the many mountains on this small island. The Catalina had burnt on impact and the fuselage had been all but destroyed. The wings and tail plane had sheared off on impact and were found some distance away. Four of the six 500 lb bombs carried by the Catalina remained unexploded in the wreckage. Two craters close to the aircraft were presumably from the other two bombs which exploded as a result of the crash." Recovery of Remains The site was visited by members of the RAAF, Indonesian Army and local villagers during 'Operation Buru' in 1994. According to the ADF Health magazine: "Human remains were found both close to the engines as well as in the burnt area of the fuselage. Unfortunately, several bones had already been retrieved by the local villagers without any reference to their original position. These bones were neatly placed in one box, further complicating the identification process." Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on July 20, 1944. After the recovery of remains, the crew was buried buried on October 7, 1994 at Ambon War Cemetery in collective grave 3, B, 10. References RAAF Casualty Card - Catalina A24-45 ADF Serials - Catalina A24-45 RAAF DB - Catalina A24-45 CWGC - Thomas Temperley CWGC - Ralph Martin Harsley CWGC - Leonard Joseph Blackwell CWGC - George Ian Hamilton Neate CWGC - Ronald John Robinson CWGC - Harold Leslie Coggin CWGC - Jack Storer CWGC - Adam Thomson CWGC - Reginald Stanley Keith Wheatland ADF Serials - Catalina A24-45 RAAF DB - Catalina A24-45 ADF Health "Recovery of Australian service personnel missing in action from World War II' (April 2000) pp 48-49 Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 3, 2021 |
 PBY  MIA 9 Missing Resolved |
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