Balikpapan

The aircraft departed Surabaya-Juanda Airport in the evening bound for Balikpapan. While in cruising altitude, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed into the Java Sea. SAR were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 26 occupants was found. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.

Thew aircraft failed to return from flight to Biak. There was no communication from the aircraft and it was not located despite a 3 day intensive search. As Dean Norman notes "After the successful landings at Balikpapan, Borneo by the Allied forces Sepinggang airfield was soon ready to take Allied aircraft and was also to become the new home to 2nd Squadron. 2 Squadron's move from Hughes airstrip began on this day when a flight of six Mitchell's, led by F/Lt Neil Sharpe, departed for Sepinggang airfield and were to fly via Biak and Pitu. During the approach to the New Guinea coast on the first leg the formation encountered low cloud and F/Lt Sharpe descended to 3,000 feet. He also noted that F/Lt White turn away, to the right before disappearing behind cloud. F/Lt Sharpe then dropped to 1,000 feet and radioed the formation that he was going to fly below the cloud and upon reaching the coast would orbit and wait for the remaining aircraft. Arriving over the coast F/Lt Sharpe realized that two aircraft, which had broken formation were no longer with them. Arriving at Mokmer, Biak one of the missing aircraft soon landed but A47-37 was not seen again. Despite a search for the aircraft and crew it was many years later that the wreckage would be located in Dutch New Guinea (PNG). The war ended the very next day".
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Edward M. White,
F/O A. K. Morrell,
F/Sgt B. M. O'Brien,
F/Sgt R. A. MacGregor,
Cpl W. J. C. Maxwell,
LAC I. S. Coleman,
LAC B. A. Marshall,
LAC V. A. Morgan.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

The aircraft was involved in a reconnaissance and photographic mission over Indonesia. While approaching the Balikpapan area, the bomber was hit by enemy fire and crashed in flames. It appears that nine crew were killed instantly while three others were taken PoW and died later.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Kenneth John Hanson, pilot,
W/O Alfred Cook, copilot,
Sgt Arnold Alexander Lockyer,
P/O George Grey Lindley,
F/Sgt William James Maxwell,
F/Sgt Stephen Patrick Cloake,
F/O John James Oliver Hume,
F/Sgt Frank Grainer Vincent Hutton,
F/Sgt John Victor Orgill,
F/Sgt Brendan Michael Heslin,
F/Sgt Charles Neville Nichol,
Cpl John R. Waite.

While approaching Balikpapan, the four engine aircraft was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire (probably from a Japanese Navy ship parked in the Balikpapan harbor) and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was found several hours later and all 12 occupants have been killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
S/Ldr John Robert Walter Redman,
F/Lt Victor Skinnerrex,
W/O Harold Allan Gooding,
F/Sgt Leslie Rogers,
F/Sgt James Ogilvie Ross Vickers,
P/O Martin Allan Burrows,
F/Sgt Ronald Michael Cornelius,
F/Sgt Frederick Leslie Rollings,
F/Sgt Patrick Fraser Stanley,
F/Sgt Roy Tapper,
F/Sgt Harold Shadforth 1.

While approaching Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and crashed into enemy territory. All 14 crew members were killed.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt R. McD. Beattie, pilot,
F/Lt A. M. Andrews, copilot,
Cpl R. W. V. Robinson, flight engineer,
F/Lt H. Stroud, navigator,
F/Lt T. Hockings, navigator,
F/Lt D. W. Willett, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt D. G. Featherstone, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. R. Sapwell, air gunner,
F/Sgt L. W. Devereux, air gunner,
F/Sgt A. J. Hogg, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt K. Patten, air gunner,
F/Lt K. R. Harrison,
Cpt H. W. Spry,
W/O F. B. Emanuel.

While flying off Balikpapan, the heavy bomber was shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire from a Navy ship. The aircraft went out of control and dove into the sea. Seven crew members were able to bail out and survived while four others were killed.
Crew (21st Squadron):
G/C McLean, †
F/Lt Roy, †
W/O Bardwell, †
Sgt Martin, †
F/Sgt A. J. Stuart 6.