A Beaufort of 100 Squadron (A9-626) and other aircraft on patrol in 1945. Picture: Department of Defence
The identity of a WWII RAAF twin-engine bomber found sunken in PNG waters has now been positively confirmed.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) says the aircraft was first discovered late last year in the waters off Gasmata, PNG, by mining magnate Dr Andrew Forrest and a team from Ocean Ecology.
A Bristol Beaufort bomber of RAAF 100 Squadron (serial number A9-374) was reported missing in 1943 when it failed to return from a mission. There were four crew onboard.
In a statement, RAAF Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell confirmed the identification, made during a follow-up diving expedition to the site earlier this year.
“The wreckage of A9-374 is dispersed over a large area in approximately 16 metres of water, which meant positively identifying the remains of the aircraft after 80 years took considerable time, effort and teamwork,” Air Marshal Chappell said.
“The mission involved the use of specialist divers and maritime archaeologists who worked on a complex site, featuring heavily damaged wreckage that was covered in layers of sediment and marine growth.”
He says it is “especially comforting” for the families of the lost crew to know what had happened; a commemorative service is planned for this month at RAAF Base Point Cook, Victoria.
The discovery was the second made by Dr Forrest and Ocean Ecology team as they search for Dr Forrest’s uncle, Flying Officer David Forrest, who was lost near Gasmata while piloting a RAAF Beaufort.
The crew of Beaufort A9-374 were:
- Flight Lieutenant Roy Herbert Woollacott from 100SQN. Born in Burra, South Australia, he worked as a builder contractor then enlisted in Adelaide in June 1940. He was 33 years old when he died.
- Flight Sergeant William Theodore Pedler from No 2 Air Ambulance Unit (on loan to 100SQN). Born in Blyth, South Australia, he was a farmer and grazier before he enlisted in Adelaide in July 1941. He was 21 years old when he died;
- Flight Sergeant James Albert Sugg from 100SQN. Born in Wagin, Western Australia, he was a school teacher before he enlisted in Adelaide in March 1941. He was 24 years old when he was died;
- Flight Sergeant Harley Joseph Williams from 100SQN. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he worked as a spare parts salesman before his enlistment in Hobart in October 1941. He was 20 years old when he died.
“No further recovery is planned for this challenging crash site but we continue to strive to account for all our missing service personnel as part of our commitment to honouring their service and sacrifice for our nation” Air Marshal Chappell said.
The location and identification of A9-374 was the second to be made in the Gasmata area.
Beaufort A9-186 was located and identified in 2022.
The remains of two crew recovered during that investigation were farewelled by their families during a memorial service at RAAF Amberley Queensland last April before they will be buried at the Bita Paka War Cemetery near Rabaul in November.
