Captain S/L Geoff Hemsworth
2nd Pilot Sgt Jack Coulter
Navigator F/O Leo McClintock
Engineer Clp Col Marsden
Asst Engineer LAC Ken Arnott
Radio LAC Norman Banville
Asst Radio Sgt Jack Bandy
Rigger LAC Eric Dorman
Armor LAC Erwin Brown
Shot Down May 6, 1942
Pilot History
Hemsworth had flown a raid over Rabaul on the night of February 3-4 and his Catalina was heavily damaged—possibly by FPO/1C Hiroyoshi Nishizawa, who was flying a A5M4 Claude (a few of them teamed up with the searchlight crews) and claimed a Catalina that night. Hemsworth did an amazing job of getting the plane back to Port Moresby on one engine. The total event lasted more than 24 hours including a night water landing off Salamaua.
Aircraft History
Constructors Number 386. RCAF Serial Number 9735. Delivered March 10, 1942. 20 Sqn April 4, 1942.
Mission History
Reported they had spotted two destroyers, and were attacked by enemy aircraft. Shot down off Misima Island on a daylight reconnaissance mission, no survivors, listed as MIA.
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Last Updated
October 6, 2009
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