Condition Today
The wreckage is located in an oil palm
plantation in the Popondetta area, near Soputa. The tail
is broken off and lies behind the main wreckage. It is well
preseved, and used by locals as a 'diving board' into a
nearby stream. The wreckage is will preserved, with nearly
all of the original green and brown camoflage perfectly
preserved. The cockpit and center fuselage areas are destroyed
from the crash, but the wings, tail and engine are in excellent
condition. Photos July 31, 2000.
Pilot William Pedrina
On February 11th 1942 he was involved in
the first mast height attack on enemy shipping of the New
Guinea campaign. Three Hudsons attacked and sunk two
transports
at Gasmata.
Two of the planes were then shot down- 7 crew killed, one
(Lerew) escaped overland. Pedrina's was the only plane to
survive- his gunner shot down one Japanese plane, plus a
probable. On 19th Feb he was jumped over Arawe,
and again shot down one of two planes attacking and got
back badly shot up, but his WO was killed. For a time his
unit flew recon out of Horn
Island plus some evac work from Wau.
Then on 15th December after 3 sorties from Wards
Strip to Soputa he went back despite clouds for a fourth
ammo supply run and was shot down.
History
The plane had constructor's number
1887, and was delivered to RAAF February 9, 1940. Thanks
to Daniel
Leahey of RAAF DB for this data, and Phil
Bradley and John
Douglas for additional information.
Shot Down by AA Fire
Hudson A16-36 was with 1OTU and had
completed three sorties from to Soputa to drop ammunition
to Australian troops fighting in the area. On this supply
run, he was shot down by AA fire over the Drop Zone. The
plane shook violently and went into a steep climb before
crashing. Three of the crew were killed when the plane
crashed.
The rear gunner survived with a broken pelvis and arm.
He was rescued by Australian troops.
Australians Witness the Crash
Keith Taylor, was at the JUMBORA supply
dump with a mate, "Smiler" Sublet, on 14th December
1942 spending the day checking out .303 ammunition to see
if it was serviceable following airdropping. By mid afternoon,
an airdrop was occurring using Hudson aircraft flown over
from Port Moresby to drop their loads. Then there was a
roar and they watched one of the Hudson's crash during
a
circuit. They raced over to help - it took around half
an hour to get there through the jungle - they sang out
as
they approached to get a bearing and got a reply. The plane
had belly landed but the fuselage was rather crushed plus
the front end was on fire. The plane had come down in the
jungle amidst a lot of smashed up timber. There was a crew
member alive in the upper turret- Flt Sgt Callaghan.
Rescue of Gunner Callaghan
There was a lot of ammo on board and
though they could see the bodies of the pilot and navigator
they had no chance to get them. Flt Sgt Callaghan was the
turret gunner Australian troops finally pulled out of the
wreck. after smashing in the perspex. Callaghan went berserk
due to his wounds, and had first tried to smash his way
out with his own revolver resulting in it firing a bullet
up his arm. Then when the rescuers did get a hole made,
his the wounded man's belt caught on on the MG and he ended
up with a shattered pelvis.
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