Keith Manson Rundle was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on March 20, 1913. He enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force on July 26, 1940. During the Second World War, Rundle worked with the RAAF Casualty Section, based in Melbourne.
In the immediate post-war years, Rundle ran the RAAF Searcher Team locating missing aircraft in what is now Papua New Guinea. Although his primary mission was to search for Australian crews, his explorations led to the discovery and investigation of many American aircraft wrecks, and recovery of their crew members.
During 1945-1947, Rundle was most active, conducting searches in Australia and present day Papua New Guinea (PNG). Long afterwards, Rundle remained active in wreck investigations whenever his services were needed by the RAAF, or when a new wreck was reported.
Rundle was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1950 and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1965. He was discharged from the RAAF on May 24, 1967, with the rank of Wing Commander.
Sites Investigated
Below is an incomplete list of aircraft wrecks and other sites located or visited by Rundle.
RAAF Aircraft
Anson LT294 remains recovered in 1965
Beaufighter A19-1 visited 1946
Wirraway A20-492 wreckage found by Rundle 1946 or 1947
Vengeance A27-276 wreckage investigated by Rundle June 1946
Hudson A16-101 located 1946
Hudson A16-91 located March 20, 1946
RAF Aircraft
C-47B Dakota KN 344 visited postwar
American Aircraft
P-47D "Fascinatin' Phil" 42-75291 visited postwar, remains recovered
B-25C "Aurora" 41-1279 visited 1945, recovered remains of Hamilton
B-25G Mitchell 42-64846 visited 1946 (?)
B-17E 41-2643 visited 1946
B-17E "Texas #6" 41-9207 visited March 12, 1946
B-17E "Why Don't We Do This More Often" 41-2429 visited March 35, 1946
B-25C Mitchell 41-12491 visited December 1946
F-7B Liberator 44-40422 visited 1947, two unidentified bodies recovered
B-24J Liberator 44-41258 visited June 27, 1947
A-20G Havoc 43-9180 visited June 1947
B-25D "The Wolf Pack" 41-30099 visited 1948
A-20G Havoc 42-86618 visited February 1948, two unidentified bodies recovered
B-25C "Algernon IV" 41-12485 visited January 1957, recovered six sets of remains
Mass Graves
Matupi Island May - June 1947, 1950
References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Keith Manson Rundle
Search in the "Never Never" film includes RAAF party was led by Group Captain Keith Rundle
The Searchers includes references and photos of Rundle
The London Gazette - MBE Notification
The London Gazette - OBE Notification
RAAF Searcher Team S/Ldr Rundle report, August 12, 1946
Report by S/Ldr Rundle No. 58(c) Babo Area, 6-1947
Report by S/Ldr Rundle on United States Liberator Aircraft Recovered Kasar, Senindara River, Babo Area
Thanks to SQNLDR Greg Williams, Daniel Leahy and Bruce Hoy for additional information
