Pilot  Lt. George Leland Hutchingson (KIA) San Francisco, CA
Co-Pilot  Tom Rowe (KIA)
Engineer  Murphy (KIA)
Radio  Arthur Meadows (KIA)
Asst Radio  Downes (KIA)
Gunner  Sgt Doug Coote (KIA)
Port Waist Gunner  Bruce Craigie (KIA)
Starbord Waist Gunner  Cpl Tom Keen (survived)
Rear Gunner  Jack Wyche (KIA)
Shot Down  January 21, 1942

Pilot History
The pilot, George "Hutch" Hutchingson was an USN pilot who had been serving at the US delegation (embassy) in Canberra, Australia. When the Pacific War started, he volunteered to fly with the RAAF. He flew missions including searching for the HMAS Sydney and a raid on Truk. He became the first American killed in action in the New Guinea theater.

Aircraft History
Constructors Number 259. Delivered by Qantas as VH-AFJ August 26, 1941. Assigned to 11 Squadron. This aircraft became the first reconnaissance aircraft shot down in New Guinea.

Mission History
Took off from Port Moresby at 7:35am on a mission to deliver radio equipment to Salamaua. They flew down the coast to the east to Baniara, then to the north coast of New Guinea. They spotted about 13 Japanese fighters returning form a strike on Salamaua, and tried to escape by climbing into clouds at 7,000'. Sited, they were attacked shooting at one of the Zeros and causing it to fall away, but where fatally hit. The aircraft, with the other crew dead aboard, crashed at Yambo.

Sole Survior
As the PBY dove, and gunner Keen was thrown out, without his parachute attached but managaned to get it attached in the air. When opened, the Zeros straffed him, while he pretended to be dead. Keen made his way through the jungle to a village, and took him down to Hopoi to a German missionary, Mr. Lehner, who had witnessed the dogfight. Ten days later, he helped him to Nadzab, Wau and Post Moresby ten days later.

Wreckage
Some villagers that went to the crash site shortly after it had gone down and they found a few items and some bodies that were in many different places. The brought back a couple of guns with the wood burnt away and tools. In 2002, the RAAF returned to the crash site to look for anything additional.

References
Thanks to Robert Piper for photos and information.
"The day a Cat's luck gave out" by Robert Piper

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