Pilot  2nd Lt Thomas Harbaugh Roberts, O-794504 (MIA / KIA)
Crashed  January 12, 1944
MACR  2287

Pilot History
Author Phil Bradley adds:
"I found out about "Tommy" Roberts when his brother Ted put a notice in the Australian newspapers asking for information about his brother's resting place. This led me to contacting his brother and then later visiting him in California. From Ted, I obtained the relevant documents relating to Tommy's loss as well as the story of his fascinating background. Tommy left home during the depression years and like many before him headed west. He ended up in Colorado, working on a ranch as a hunter's guide, and started to build a cabin. When the war came, his best hunting mate, David Hutchison talked him into joining the Air Corps and he trained in Colorado. Tommy was sent out to the Pacific in November 1943 as a trained P-38 pilot but was told he would have to wait for a plane. This didn't suit the young hunter, he wanted to fight the enemy.

Colonel David "Photo" Hutchison was one of General Kenney's top airmen in the Pacific and worked particularly closely with the Australians. He arranged for Tommy to be attached to the Australian 2/16th Battalion up on Shaggy Ridge. He fought alongside the Aussies and took part in the pivotal battle for the Pimple. When he returned to Port Moresby he was retrained as a fighter pilot on a P-39 and went missing on a solo fight, possibly on his way back to Shaggy Ridge to fly over his Aussie mates."

Mission History
Took off from Durand Drome near Port Moresby at 10:32 for a local flight, and never returned. It is possible that he was enroute to Shaggy Ridge to drop candy and cigarette to the Aussies on the ground.

Remains Located
Reportedly, post war, the wreck was located and remains buried at the site by Australian soldiers. The exact location of the wreck is not noted in their report.

Memorial
Roberts name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial.

References
Forty of the Fifth, by Michael Claringbould
Robert's photo at Australian War Memorial, picture 062342
After the Battle Magazine 135 "The Tommy Roberts Story"
Thanks to Phil Bradley, John Douglas for additional information.

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