USAAF
5th AF
312th BG
388th BS
Pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph Gibbons
Gunner Orville Rhodes
Force
Landed April 16, 1944 'Black Sunday'
Mission History
Took off from Guasp Airfield to attack Hollandia. On the way back front
the target, this aircraft had been lagging behind due to an erratic
engine, using up extra fuel. When Gibbons reached a weather front, he
circled
a clearing and force landed there when his left engine gave out. In
the crash, the right engine was torn from its mount and both
crew slightly wounded, and camped near the wreck.
Rescue
The next day, they were spotted by P-38s searching
for downed planes and an L-5 of the 25th Liaison Squadron "Guinea Short Lines" dispatched. Australian soldiers attempted to reach
the
site, but encountered retreating Japanese, and a landing
strip was attempted to be burned in the nearby grass. Four days after
the crash,
an L-5 piloted by T/Sgt Allen Lockwood landed at the crude
strip, but was unable to take off until the following day due to the
wet
ground and rough strip. Five days after the crash,
Gibbons was rescued, and the following day the L-5 returned
to collect his gunner.
Wreckage
The crash was located near Wabusarik, not far from
the crash of another Black Sunday victim, the A-20G "Hell'N Pelican II" 42-86786.
Salvage
In
1984, the RAAF attempted to recover the left engine in October
1984, but lost its left when it was cut loose from
the sling. The remained of the aircraft was salvaged in 1985
by the RAAF.
References
Black
Sunday, by Michael Claringbould.
A-20
