RNZAF
8 Squadron
Former Unit Assignments
1 Squadron
K. Munday 1986 |
Pilot F/O
N. H. Benton (MIA / KIA)
Navigator F/S J. N. Cuneen (MIA / KIA)
Radio/Gunner F/S R. H. M. Buchanan (MIA / KIA)
Gunner F/S C. C. W. Jeffares (MIA / KIA)
Gunner F/S J. G. G. Mallet (MIA / KIA)
Observer Sgt N. E. Merfield [AIF, FELO Representative]
(MIA / KIA)
MIA June
9, 1945
Aircraft History
United States Bueuru Number 49452. Assembled at Oahu and BOC
with Unit 19, Whenuapai on 18 April 1944. To No.1 Squadron, Whenuapai,
and departed August 15, 1944 to Guadalcanal. Served with No.8 Squadron begining on January 1945.
Mission
History
Took off from Emirau Airfield, went missing
on a mission
over
New Ireland preforming
propaganda leaflet dropping. Belived to have been hit by anti-aircraft fire. Crashed into
a mountain near Kimidam. All the crew were killed on crash, and the Japanese
buried the bodies at the site.
Another
bomber, PV-1 Ventura NZ4609 was lost
over New Ireland the next day while searching for this plane, crashing
near Rabaulut, New Ireland.
Wreckage
Discovered
near Kimidan, inland from Lamerika in 1945. Vistited by the RNZAF MPIU [Missing Personel
Investigation Unit] during November 1946 and remains recovered.
References
Thanks to John Douglas for historical
details & crew list.
The Wreck of NZ4613 by Chis Bittner includes photos of the wreck
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Last Updated
December 19, 2008
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