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  DB-7B Boston Mark III Serial Number A28-12  
RAAF
22 Squadron

Pilot  F/L Vernon William Morgan, 550 (KIA) Claremont, WA
Crew  F/O John Harold Borland, 405569 (KIA) Caloundra, QLD
Crew  Sgt Ronald Thomas Power (KIA) Alexandria, NSW

Crashed  November 10, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 2748. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number AL365. At the factory, painted in RAF markings and camouflage. No known U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) serial number was allocated.

This Boston was one of twenty-two Bostons from the RAF production that were instead allocated to the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) and over painted with the markings of the Kon Marine (Dutch Navy). Disassembled and shipped overseas bound for the Netherlands East Indies. After the fall of Java while still in transit, diverted to Australia.

Wartime History
During March 1942, delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as DB-7B Boston serial number A28-12. Assigned to 22 Squadron. No known nose art or nickname.

On June 6, 1942 this Boston claimed to sink a Japanese submarine off Botany Bay south of Sydney, but this claim was erroneous.

Mission History
On November 10, 1942 at 2:00pm took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby with two other Bostons on a practice bombing mission over SS Pruth. Near the shipwreck, this aircraft suddenly exploded, possibly due to the premature detonation of a fragmentation bomb in the bomb bay hitting the fuselage or coming loose prematurely.

Recovery of Remains
The remains of the crew were later recovered and buried at Bomana War Cemetery. Morgan at B2. C. 12. Borland at B2. C. 9. Power at B2. C. 11.

References
Boston in service with Royal Australian Air Force
ADF Serials - Boston A28-12
Wrecks & Reefs (1994) page 218

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Last Updated
December 28, 2021

Tech Info
Boston
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