RAAF
24 Squadron
Brian Bennett 1980s
Justin Taylan 2003
Mission History
One
of the original eight RAAF planes at Vunakanau Airfield, that scrambled to intercept
a flight of 108 Japanese aircraft on January 20, 1942.
Wartime History
Rumors
that the Japanese repaired some of these Wirraways and used them is
most likely untrue, rather this wreckage remained in the vicinity of Vunakanau during the Japanese occupation from 1942 - 1945.
Wreckage
It rested on bomb casings at Catholic mission near Vunakanau
in the 1970's.
Display
Later it was taken to the Kokopo War
Museum for display. According to the museum display, it
has not been possible to identify this airframe's serial number, however
there is a strong possiblity that it might have been flown by Sgt
Hewitt with Flying Officer Tyrell on the January 20, 1942 mission,
and crash landed after the mission.
Wirraway
