Port Moresby

The crew was returning to his base in Port Moresby following a reconnaissance mission to locate Japanese ships off Lae. On the return trip, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. The twin engine aircraft crash landed near the Laloki River, in the region of Sogeri, and was damaged beyond repair. All eight occupants were unhurt and rescued.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport in the early morning with a crew of eight and a load of 1,000 pounds of bombs to attack Japanese ships based in the Tonolei Harbor. Upon arrival in the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt John S. Hancock, pilot,
Sgt Robert H. Burns, copilot,
1st Lt James W. Carver, navigator,
Cpl Hiram D. Wilkinson, flight engineer,
Sgt Edward R. Cipriani, radio operator,
Sgt Mac S. Groesbeck, air gunner,
Sgt Raymond A. Maxwell, air gunner,
Cpl Curtis F. Longenberger, air gunner.

The aircraft left Mareeba in Queensland and made a fuel stop at Port Moresby-Seven Mile airfield. It then continued to Rabaul on a mission to attack the Vunakanau Airfield. Upon arrival, the bomber was attacked by 11 Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and crashed, killing all nine crew members.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Earl L. Hageman Jr.,
1st Lt Dale E. Hanson,
2nd Lt Angelo P. Bianco,
2nd Lt Wade H. Lowry,
S/Sgt Michael G. Adamow,
Sgt Thomas H. Jack,
Cpl Frank J. Mehock,
Pfc Thomas W. Wilzbacher,
Sgt Frank W. Plunkett, air gunner.

During the take off run, crew mistakenly retracted the landing gear while the aircraft was still on the ground. Aircraft skidded on runway and came to rest. All occupants survived but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach to Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (36th Squadron):
Sgt Gordon Thomas Beitz,
Sgt John Douglas Dally,
Sgt Alber,
F/Lt Stewart Devine,
LAC Frank Harold Foers.

The crew was involved in a bombing mission over Rabaul. While approaching its target, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG).

The aircraft left 7 Mile Aerodrome in Port Moresby on a bombing mission to Rabaul. While approaching the target, the aircraft was attacked by Japanese fighters. The crew attempted to leave the area but the aircraft eventually crashed in a plantation located in Kabanga, east of Rabaul. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Hugh S. Grundmann, pilot,
1st Lt LeRoy F. Foltz, copilot,
2nd Lt Donald L. Bonham,
2nd Lt Frank M. Burton Jr.,
Pfc William A. Takala,
James T. McHugh, Jr.,
Harry T. Isles,
Kenneth E. Dake,
Robert E. McClure.

The crew left 7 Mile Aerodrome in Port Moresby on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Once the target was reached, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was attacked by enemy fire as well. The captain decided to return to Port Moresby but after 3,5 flying hours, the radio compass failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing on a beach located on Malapla Island. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all ten occupants were rescued.
Crew (19th BG):
Cpt Harry J. Hawthorne, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul J. Scarboro, copilot,
2nd Lt Warren E. Bryant, navigator,
2nd Lt Robert J. Haase, bombardier,
S/Sgt Milton P. Kelm, flight engineer,
Pfc Arnold G. Osborne, radio operator,
Cpl Walter T. Buchanan, air gunner,
Michael R. Andrade, air gunner,
S/Sgt Selm, air gunner,
Cpl Paul K. Harmon, air gunner.

The crew left Townsville on a flight to Port Moresby (7 Mile Aerodrome). About thirty minutes prior to the ETA, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was low. The captain was able to gain height and continued above the cloud layer. Unfortunately, the aircraft christened 'Yankee Clipper' overflew Port Moresby and continued to the north. Due to fuel shortage, all eight occupants decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. While the aircraft crashed and was lost, six crew members were recovered (some of them eight days later) while two others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
Lt Duncan A. Seffern, pilot,
2nd Lt James A. Michael, copilot, †
Sgt Paul L. Ramsey, bombardier,
2nd Lt Carroll W. Casteel, navigator, †
Tom Riley, air gunner,
Sgt Kenneth R. Gundling, radio operator,
Sgt George T. Rickman, flight engineer,
Vern Haugland.

The twin engine aircraft took off from 7-Mile Aerodrome located near Port Moresby, on a solo mission to shadow an enemy cruiser force in the Gulf of Huon. Two hours after take off, while returning to his base, the crew was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and tried to escape. Ten minutes later, the aircraft was shot down and crashed in a dense wooded area located near the village of Popogo, in the region of Buna. The wreckage was sited on February 28, 1943. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
P/O Warren Frank Cowan,
P/O David Reid Taylor,
Sgt Russell Bradburn Polack,
Sgt Lauri Edwin Sheard.