RAAF
23 Squadron
Melvyn Maltz 1997
Pilot F/Sgt Frank Graeme McDonald, 418154 (POW / MIA / KIA)
Observer F/O Charles McAllister, 23352 (KIA)
Crashed February 24, 1944
F/O Charles McAllister, 23352 was KIA and is now buried at Lae War
Cemetery - Only F/Sgt McDonald is still MIA (after being POW). Here are
details as per Rundle Reports:
Aircraft History
USAAF Serial Number unknown. RAF Serial Number AF841. Recieved by the RAAF on August 19, 1943 to 1AD. Assigned to 23 Squadron on November 9, 1943.
Mission History
Took off on a mission with twelve Vengence aircraft on a bombing mission. On the return flight, this aircraft was reported to fall out of formation.
Statements from accompanying aircraft crew indicated A27-276 was last seen on a bearing of 178 degrees from Amaimon losing height from 3000' at a probable speed of 100 to 130 miles per hour. Clouds obscured vision and it was the opinion of accompanying aircrews that the aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Sepu.
Following the ceasing of hostilities, the officer in charge of research operations in New Guinea recovered the aircraft at a place in the vicinity of Aber village is situated in the mountain range west of Alexishafen, approximately 15 air miles inland.
In June 1946 a search party departed from Alexishafen and proceeded to the village of Bau which is 2 to 3 miles from Aber village. Bau village is a top a mountain range. Villagers reported that they had seen the crash and proceeded to the scene, arriving 3-4 hours later. They reported seening a parachute open and on arrival near the wreck (which is in a deep gully between 2 mountains). They found the remains of Charles McAllister who was killed instantly when he hit a tree on descent and buried his body beside the wreck.
McDonald had parachuted at a low altitude and suffered a broken leg. They found him hiding in the jungle and hid him for five days until Japanese soldiers captured and interogated him. It was reported MacDonald was executed in the vicinity of Amron in the middle of March 1944 together with another Australian airman who crashed some ten day after him.
Recovery of Remains
At some time after the crash , F/O McAllister's body was removed to the Bau village cemetery, until an American War Graves party unit visited the area and exhumed his remains and transported them to HQ at Kranket Island where formal identification by wristwatch and belongings occurred. F/O McAllister was finally buried in Lae War Memorial cemetery. F/Sgt McDonald is still MIA (after being exicuted as a POW).
Wreckage
RAAF Search team lead by
Rundle advised that this aircraft had been located and identified by serial number. The aircraft crashed at Kalibal and according to native reports, one of the crew was killed instantly. His body was buried alongside the wreckage but was later exhumed by US personnel and taken to Kranket Island. This appears to be McAllister's body.
A wreck discovered in the Adelbert Mountains in 1997 is possibly this wreck.
Melvyn
Maltz visited the crash site:
"According to locals, the pilot was killed, but the navigator
survived the crash but was later executed by the Japanese. The
pilot's body was recovered soon after the crash."
Relatives
Paul Eden (nephew of Charles McAllister)
References
Thanks to Melvyn
Maltz, Daniel Leahy and ADF Serials for details and crew info.
Vengence
MIA
