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| NEIAF No. 18 Squadron   Ed Plenty c1970s |
Pilot 2nd Lt R. L. N. Swane, NEIAF (survived) Co-Pilot 1st Lt A. J. de Wolf, NEIAF (WIA, survived) Bombardier 2nd Lt C. E. Begeman, NEIAF (survived) Radio Sgt Rouvroye, NEIAF 93600 (survived) Gunner Sgt William Charles Donald Moore, RAAF 412029 (survived) Urana, NSW Force Landed March 30, 1943 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-7813. At the factory painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces and U.S. markings. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D Mitchell serial number 41-29713. Purchased by the Netherlands for the Militaire Luchtvaart (ML-KNIL) Army Aviation Corps of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army for use in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) as B-25C Mitchell serial number N5-133. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History In April 1942 at Canberra Airfield (RAAF Fairbairn) repainted in NEIAF markings with serial number N5-133 and the Dutch flag on the rear fuselage and retained the original U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) serial number on both sides of the tails. Assigned to No. 18 Squadron as one of their first five bombers. No known nickname or nose art. This B-25 operated from Batchelor Field near Darwin. Mission History On March 30, 1943 took off from Darwin piloted by 2nd Lt R. L. N. Swane on an armed reconnaissance mission over Kaimana Bay on the southern coast of western New Guinea. After completing the mission, this B-25 turned for home and at approximately 8:35am was intercepted by two A6M Zeros and the the oil line into the starboard engine was damaged, putting the engine out of action. However the both attacking fighters were claimed as shot down by the crew. One was claimed by 2nd Lt Begeman and one by Sgt Moore. Damaged, 2nd Lt Swane attempted to reach Darwin with only the port engine running but the distance was too great and due to a lack of power and fuel loss force landing at Point Jahleel on Melville Island. The landing was made with only slight injuries sustained by 1st Lt de Wolf. The rest of the crew were unhurt. Rescue Afterwards, the entire crew was rescued and returned to duty. Wreckage The wreckage of this aircraft remains in situ where it crash landed. In 1986, former crew member Australian William C. D. Moore visited the crash site with another veteran Ernie Low. References WW2 Nominal Roll - William Charles Donald Moore, 412029 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-29713 "29713 to NEIAF as N5-133. With 18 Sqdn damaged by Zeros and force landed at Melville Island, Australia Mar 30, 1943. 1 injured. Wreck was still there in 1986." B-25 Mitchell in Dutch Service N5-133 is listed as ditched 2/43 incorrectly Australia @ War - Crash of B-25D Mitchell at Point Jahleel, Melville Island, NT Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 30, 2022 |
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