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  Bristol Beaufighter Mark IXc Serial Number A19-145  
RAAF
No. 31 Squadron

Click For Enlargement
Bob Alford 1993
Pilot  F/Sgt Henry Harrington Gaunt, 406899 (MIA / KIA) Kojonup, WA
Navigator  P/O Trevor John Jones, 425671 (MIA / KIA) Shorncliffe, QLD

Crashed  November 21, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Bristol. Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). On July 11, 1943 assigned to 2 AP. On August 9, 1943 assigned to 5 Air Depot (5 AD). On October 6, 1943 assigned to No. 31 Squadron.

Mission History
On November 21, 1943 at 7:30am took off from Coomalie Airfield piloted by F/Sgt Henry Harrington Gaunt as one of six Beaufighters on a strike against Taberfane in co-operation with six B-25 Mitchells from Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (NEIAF) No. 18 (NEI) Squadron.

The aircraft formed up in groups of three and upon reaching the target, were intercepted by three Rufes - two of which were claimed as being shot down. A19-145 was not seen to suffer any damage due to enemy action.

On the return flight, all aircraft stopped to refuel at Millingimbi Airfield before departing individually (at short intervals) for the flight back to Coomalie. When Beaufighter A19-140 landed at Coomalie Airfield it was learnt that A19-145, which had taken off immediately before it, had not arrived and "overdue procedure" was immediately put into place.

Search
A four day air search, in which 31 Squadron took part, returned negative results and both crew members were reported "Missing on 21 Nov 1943 as a result of a travel flight between Millingimbi and Coomalie".

Wreckage
First located by Aboriginal people during 1944, approximately 10 miles from Junction Bay. Afterwards, the RAAF visited the wreckage and recovered the remains of Jones.

Rediscovered in 1993, the wreckage was again investigated.

Bob Alford adds:
"The pilot, Harry Gaunt, was never recovered to my knowledge and that was a factor in the way we investigated the wreck. No human remains or personal items were found."

Memorials
P/O Jones is now buried at the Adelaide River War Cemetery at C.A.9. F/Sgt Gaunt is memorialized at Adelaide River War Cemetery on the Northern Territory Memorial, panel 9.

References
Thanks to Bob Alford and Daniel Leahy for additional information
ADF Serials Beaufighter A19-145
Oz @ War - Beaufigher Crash 10 miles inland from Junction Bay on 21 November 1943


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Last Updated
March 19, 2023

Tech Info
Beaufighter

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
1 Resolved
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