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  Bristol Beaufighter Mark XI Serial Number A19-139  
RAAF
No. 30 Squadron

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RAAF 1995

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Phil Bradley 2001

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Justin Taylan 2003
Pilot  F/O Percy John Coates, 409815 (MIA / KIA) Lake Boga, VIC
Navigator  F/O Charles Hilton Chapple, 421967 (MIA / KIA) Greenethorpe, NSW
Crashed  November 25, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Bristol in the United Kingdom. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Beaufighter serial number A19-139. On July 7, 1943 assigned to 1 AD (1 Air Depot) and reassembled. On September 14, 1943 assigned to No. 30 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On November 25, 1943 took off piloted by F/O Percy John Coates on a mission to attack Japanese barges off the north coast of New Britain near Bangula Bay and Ubili. Over the target, the left engine of this Beaufighter was observed to be smoking, then rolled upside down and crashed into the trees exploding on impact inland from Kimbe.

Wreckage
During 1985, a villager and reported this crash site to a helicopter pilot and geologist working in the area. During October 1995, Brian Bennett Rodney Marden and Tonly Aldred helicoptered to this site ten minutes inland from Kimbe and confirmed the aircraft based off the fuselage serial number.

Brian Bennett adds:
"In 1985, a geologist and helicopter pilot were working in that area, and got a report from a villager about a crash site. They reported it to me, but I had no way to get there. Ten years later, another helicopter pilot asked me if I wanted to go there to investigate it. The three of us, Rodney Marden, Tony Aldred and I went there and found the same villager who had reported it in 1985. We found it, including its Hercules engines, and knew it was a Beaufighter. We found the serial number, and the RAAF came out a few months later and the rest is history."

Recovery of Remains
During late 1995, a RAAF Searcher Team visited the crash and recovered the remains of the crew including both their identity discs.

Memorials
Both crew members were officially declared dead the day of the mission. On November 25, 1995 after the recovery of remains both were permanently buried at Bita Paka War Cemetery. Chapple at H. D. 11. Coates H. D. 10.

Display
A propeller from this aircraft currently forms part of the Sam Remo Club WWII Memorial. The retrieval of this propeller and engine, was done recovered for the memorial. A portions of the aircraft's instrument panel is displayed at the PNG Museum in Port Moresby.  The rudder pedals and armor plated glass are displayed at the Kokopo Museum.

References
ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-139
CWGC - Charles Hilton Chapple
CWGC - Percy John Coates
New Briain Revised September 1998 by W. G. Robertson
The Searchers (1999) mentions this loss
RAAF MIA Beaufighter Discovery by Phil Bradley

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Last Updated
March 18, 2023

Tech Info
Beaufighter

MIA
MIA
2 Missing
Resolved
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