USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS
Former Assignment
13th BS
c1943
Pilot Captain Robert D. Chatt
Pilot (force landing) 2nd Lt. Charles Howe 'Chuck'
Force Landed April 16, 1943
Aircraft History
Ferried to Australia in January 1943. Initially assigned to the 13th BS at Charters Towers. Then, to 90th BS and pilot Robert Chatt and nicknamed "Chatter Box". This aircraft was flown extensivly during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and for practice strafing and bombing runs against the Moresby Wreck (SS Pruth).
Mission History
Took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby at 9:00am to test the bomber's engines after a repair, and failed to return.
The pilot had feathered the engine to be tested at low altitude and hit a tree, then force landed the bomber down in a swamp at the base of a hill.
Force landed in the Veimauri swamp, west of Port Moresby, and the crew safely walked to 30 Mile (Rogers Drome). They were met by local villagers and taken to neary Australians with a radio, and returned to Durand the next day.
References
Forty of the Fifth pages 62 - 68
B-25
9.04
146.52
