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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| RAAF No. 11 Squadron Former Assignments 3 OTU No. 20 Squadron |
Pilot S/Ldr John Evelyn Todd, 271707 (POW, died 7-22-44) Dalby, QLD 2nd Pilot F/Lt Brian Paul Stacy, 406446 (POW, survived) Perth, WA 3rd Pilot F/O Ian Douglas Vaughan Ralfe, 405501 (survived) Longreach, QLD Navigator F/O Frank Ronald Pocknee, 401663 (POW, executed 3-5-44) Burramine South, VIC W/AG P/O Allan Bernard Liedl, 426624 (survived) LIsmore, NSW W/AG F/Sgt Henry Laurence Murphy, 412621 (POW, executed 3-5-44) Liverpool, NSW Engineer Sgt Fred Woolley, 43098 (POW, executed 3-5-44) Chermside, QLD Engineer Sgt Ernest Hubert Kraehe, 27791 (POW, executed 3-5-44) Unley, SA Fitter LAC (A/Sgt) Richard Murray Howard, 47149 (escaped) Mt, Gambier, SA Armourer LAC (A/Sgt) Harold Francis Jones, 71534 (survived) Scone, NSW Ditched February 8, 1944 at 1:50am Aircraft History Built by Consolidated. Constructors Number 1044. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PBY-5 Catalina bureau number 08150. Sent to Australia as part of defense aid. Wartime History On April 20, 1943 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Catalina A24-34 with code RB-T to 3 Operational Training Unit (3 OTU). On June 11, 1943, assigned to 20 Squadron with tail code FJ-H. On October 6, 1943 assigned to No. 11 Squadron. No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. On February 7, 1944 took off from Cairns Harbor at 10:40pm and flew northward landing at Milne Bay to refuel prior to Operation CFB 9 against Kavieng on New Ireland. Mission History On February 7, 1944 at 4:00pm took off from Milne Bay a night bombing and photography mission over Kavieng. At 11:00pm, this Catalina reached the target area at an altitude of 9000' with bright moonlight. During the first bomb run over Panapai Airfield, this Catalina did not release any ordnance and received light anti-aircraft fire. On their second bomb run, dropped two 250 pound bombs and numerous incendiaries and took photographs and was targeted by heavy anti-aircraft fire that was not accurate. Over Kavieng Harbor, ships opened fire with intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire. During the third bomb run over Kavieng Airfield, released two 500 pound bombs and took more photographs while receiving intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire that required evasive maneuvers then departed the target area. On February 8, 1944 at approximately 1:36am a parachute flare inside the Catalina ignited prematurely when its altitude setting ring was being adjusted. At 1:50am a final radio message was received updating their position. Unable to extinguish the flare, they ditched into Jacquinot Bay off the south coast of New Britain. When this Catalina failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search The next night, a Catalina from the squadron searched the area when returning from a mission to Kavieng, used their reconnaissance light to flash "TODD" the pilot's surname in morse code without result. They returned with nil sightings. Fates of the Crew The entire crew survived the ditching and swam ashore in the vicinity of Malakua. Four of the crew managed to escape and were rescued: Ralfe, Liedl, Jones and Howard. The other six crew: Stacy, Todd, Murphy, Pocknee, Woolley and Kraehe were captured by the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POWs) and were transported to Rabaul and imprisoned at Tunnel Hill POW Camp. On February 17, 1944 Stacy was one of six Allied prisoners transported aboard a G4M1 Betty bomber from Rabaul to Truk, and then onward to Japan. He survived captivity. Four of the crew: Murphy, Pocknee, Woolley and Kraehe were among a group of thirty one selected from the prisoners at Tunnel Hill POW Camp and executed on March 5, 1944 at Talili Bay during the Talili Bay Massacre (Tunnel Hill Massacre / Tunnel Hill Incident). Towards the end of the Pacific War, to cover up the executions and war crimes, the Japanese claimed that approximately forty Allied prisoners were killed by Allied bombing during an air raid while at Talili Bay after being evacuated from Tunnel Hill and their bodies were cremated and the ashes placed into a single box. They rehearsed a story that the prisoners were killed in an Allied bombing when a bomb scored a direct hit on their shelter. This was a lie to cover up the murders. Todd died in captivity on July 22, 1944. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the box alleged to contain the ashes of the Allied dead at Talili Bay including members of this crew were turned over to the Allies and divided porportional between the Australians and United States. The Australian ashes were retained at Rabaul. Todd's remains were recovered and shipped to Lae for permenant burial. Memorials Kraehe was officially declared dead on March 5, 1944. The Australian ashes were buried in Collective Grave E.C.5-11 at Bita Paka Cemetery. Todd is buried in Bita Paka Cemetery at grave D.B.1. References Navy Serial Number Search Results PBY-5 Catalina 08150 "08150 (MSN 1044) to RAAF as A24-34. To Sqd. 20, Apr 20, 1943 coded RB-T then Jun 11, 1943 F-JH, to Sqd 11 Oct 6, 1943. Lost Feb. 7, 1944, when it landed on fire near the south coast of New Britain. A flare in the aircraft had been ignited prematurely and the pilot was forced to land the burning PBYs as rapidly as possible. Sadly, the plane landed in Japanese held territory in Jacquinot Bay, with the crew members making it to shore in the vicinity of Malakua.. Of the ten men in the crew, five would die as POWs at Rabaul, one would survive as a POW in Japan, and four others would have the good fortune to evade capture." A letter from C. O. 11 Squadron to the Air Board on 15 February 1944: "At 0136/L 8th February, signal received SOS LFIA in flames 010* 180 miles heading west (received from Catalina A24-34 on Operation CFB 9 on 8th February 1944). Further message received at 0150/L. SOS LFIA 340* 130 miles (near Gasmata). This was last message received from this aircraft. No further word has been received from aircraft or bases at which it might have sighted." CWGC - John Evelyn Todd CWGC - Frank Ronald Pocknee CWCG - Henry Laurence Murphy CWCG - Fred Woolley CWCG - Ernest Hubert Kraehe World War II Nominal Roll - Brian Paul Stacy World War II Nominal Roll - Ian Douglas Vaughan Ralfe World War II Nominal Roll - Allan Bernard Liedl World War II Nominal Roll - Richard Murray Howard World War II Nominal Roll - Harold Francis Jones Royal Australian Air Force History Summary Page references to A24-34 by Michael Moskow "Evasion and Escape From New Britain" M.I.A. Over Rabaul South Pacific (1986) pages 94, 115 "When I first entered the Rabaul Prisoner of War camp, there was a PBY Catalina pilot named Todd from New Zealand [sic, Australian] who had an unexploded projectile inbedded in his hip. How we felt sorry for the poor man yet there was nothing that we could do for him and the Japs were afraid to try and remove the projectile for fear it would explode [sic, likely part of the flare or wound from ditching]. As far as I can remember, I never heard the poor man beg the Japs for anything or for any help. I told him that if the Japs let me, I would try to remove it, but after thinking it over I was really too scared to try. He finally wasted away and had poison set in and he passed away after going into a coma for three days." The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida page 94 (Rabaul's Military Prisoners - Kraehe), 95 (Rabaul's Military Prisoners - Murphy, Pocknee), 96 (Rabaul's Military Prisoners - Woolley) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 19, 2023 |
 PBY
 POW 6 Prisoner 4 Executed 1 Died  S 10 40 E 152 29 |
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