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| RAAF No. 100 Squadron |
Pilot F/O John Clifton Davis, 416834 (MIA / KIA) Clare, SA Navigator F/Sgt Geoffrey Raymond Emmett, 401932 (MIA / KIA) Balwyn, VIC Gunner Sgt William Thomas Brain, 420130 (MIA / KIA) Newcastle, NSW Gunner Sgt George Collins, 420447 (MIA / KIA) Bondi Junction, NSW MIA July 12, 1943 Aircraft History Built by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne. Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Beaufort Mark VIII serial number A9-225. Wartime History Assigned to No. 100 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On July 12, 1943 took off from Gurney Field near Milne Bay piloted by F/O John Clifton Davis on a patrol mission over Bougainville. Meanwhile, a U.S. Navy (USN) PB4Y-1 Liberator pilot Lt(jg) Bill Corbett co-pilot Bill Reid from Photographic Squadron 1 (VD-1) on a routine patrol observed a G4M1 Betty at the same altitude and the turned to attack it but the enemy bomber turned towards Buka Passage and managed to escape. Another "unidentified twin engine aircraft" was spotted about 100' off the sea and was observed to turn towards the PB4Y-1 and closed to 1,000 yards then opened fire and the unidentified aircraft returned fire then pulled away. The PB4Y followed and observed the plane smoking then made a 90° turn and crashed into the sea west of Bougainville roughly Lat 6° 30' S Long 154° 2' E. In fact, the PB4Y-1 shot down this Beaufort. Fate of the Crew Circling the crash site, the PB4Y-1 observed two survivors and identified them as white men and dropped life rafts, survival gear and circled them until the limit of their fuel endurance. Aboard the life raft, three crew members survived for almost three weeks in the life raft and were spotted twice at sea. During a tropical storm, the life raft disappeared and no trace of the crew was seen afterwards. As a result of this incident, other aircraft were forbidden to enter the areas covered by search planes. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. In fact, at least two survived the crash and were alive in a life raft for at least three weeks aftrwards. All four are memorialized at Bomana War Cemetery on the Port Moresby Memorial on panel 9. References ADF Serials - Beaufort A9-225 CWGC - John Clifton Davis CWGC - Geoffrey Raymond Emmett CWGC - William Thomas Brain CWGC - George Collins Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 12, 2022 |
 Beaufort  MIA 4 Missing  Approximate 06°30'S 154°02'E |
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