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| RAAF No. 22 Squadron  RAAF 1942   Phil Bradley 1998  Daniel Leahy 2005  Daniel Leahy 2006 |
Pilot F/Lt Herbert James Bullmore, 402045 (KIA, BR) Double Bay, NSW Crew Sgt John William McKay, 405492 (KIA, BR) Mt. Isa, QLD Crew Sgt Ian Cameron Stodart, 413801 (KIA, BR) Greenwich, NSW Crashed November 29, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 2750. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number AL369. At the factory, painted in RAF markings and camouflage. No known U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) serial number was allocated. This Boston was one of twenty-two allocated to the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) and over painted with the markings of the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy). Disassembled and shipped overseas bound for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). After the fall of Java while still in transit, diverted to Australia. Wartime History During March 1942, delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as DB-7B Boston Mark III serial number A28-20. Assigned to No. 22 Squadron with code W. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 29, 1942 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby pilot F/Lt Herbert J. Bullmore armed with fragmentation bombs on a bombing mission over Gona. Over the target, the bombs struck the fuselage and caused the plane to explode over the Gona area. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). After the loss of this aircraft, the use of fragmentation bombs was stopped to prevent further accidents. In fact, this Boston crashed near Australian Army 2/16 Infantry Battalion "Cha Force" positions to the west of Gona was in full view of Japanese defenders at Gona. The Australians observed the body of the pilot thrown out of the crashed plane and landed in the sea. Recovery of Remains In the early evening, a party of volunteers under the command of Lt. Allan C. Haddy, WX3636 recovered the remains of the two crew from the tail wreckage. Lt. Haddy swam out and recovered the body of the pilot. All three were buried together at Gona. Later, all three were exhumed and transported to Port Moresby for permanent burial Memorials All three crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Bullmore is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at plot C6, row A, grave 5. He is also memorialized at Australian War Memorial (AWM) on panel 101. McKay is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at plot C6, row A, grave 22. He is also memorialized at Australian War Memorial (AWM) on panel 101. Stodart is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at plot C5, row F, grave 8. He is also memorialized at Australian War Memorial (AWM) on panel 101. Wreckage This aircraft crashed near Gona. The crash site has two radial engines and one of the outer wings with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) roundel is visible on the underside. By the late 1990s, rectangular pieces were cut out of the upper surface of the wing. Sabretache "The loss of RAAF Boston A28-20, Gona, Papua, November 1942 by Daniel Leahy Vol LXII, No. 2, June 2021, page 38 [PDF]: "...the fragmentary nature of this wreck, which had been spread over a wide area, suggests that the aircraft in question exploded in mid-air, falling to the earth in pieces. This, along with the types of engines and undercarriage found; the RAAF roundel; parts suggesting that the aircraft was made in the United States; and the location of the site matching the previously documented historical description, all indicate that the wreckage is in fact what remained of RAAF Boston A28-20. No other American-made twin-engine RAAF aircraft were lost in the immediate vicinity." References WW2 Nominal Roll - Herbert James Bullmore, 402045 WW2 Nominal Roll - John William McKay, 405492 WW2 Nominal Roll - Ian Cameron Stodart, 413801 Boston in service with Royal Australian Air Force ADF Serials - Boston A28-20 AWM Australian Army 2/16 Infantry Battalion November-December 1942 (AWM52 8/3/16) (PDF page 79 of 130) Map: Trace of Gona Area Disposns [Dispositions] Night 29-30 Nov 42 Trace No. 1 (PDF page 91 of 130) "Nov. 29 - An allied plane crashed among Cha force posns [positions], the 3 occupants [of the plane] were killed. The pilot had been thrown into the sea but his body was recovered almost immediately. Pilot's name was Sgt [sic F/Lt] J. Bullmore. The rear gunner and operator were jammed in the tail portion of the plane which had fallen within full view of the enemy on the Gona River bank. A party of volunteers under comd [command] Lieut Haddy recovered the these bodies during the evening, Haddy swam out and brought the pilot's body a shore. All three airmen were buried together. The names of the two others were:- 405492 Sgt. J.W. McKay and 413801 Sgt J.C. Stoddart." CWGC - Herbert James Bullmore FindAGrave - Flight Lieutenant Herbert James “Jim” Bullmore (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Herbert James Bullmore (AWM photo) CWGC - John William McKay FindAGrave - Sergeant John William McKay (grave photo) FindAGrave - John William McKay (AWM) CWGC - Ian Cameron Stodart FindAGrave - Sergeant Ian Cameron Stodart (grave photo) FindAGrave - Ian Cameron Stodart (AWM) Wings of Destiny (2008) page 168-170 Sabretache "The loss of RAAF Boston A28-20, Gona, Papua, November 1942 by Daniel Leahy Vol LXII, No. 2, June 2021, pages 32-40 [PDF] (Page 38) "...the fragmentary nature of this wreck, which had been spread over a wide area, suggests that the aircraft in question exploded in mid-air, falling to the earth in pieces. This, along with the types of engines and undercarriage found; the RAAF roundel; parts suggesting that the aircraft was made in the United States; and the location of the site matching the previously documented historical description, all indicate that the wreckage is in fact what remained of RAAF Boston A28-20. No other American-made twin-engine RAAF aircraft were lost in the immediate vicinity." Academia.edu The loss of RAAF Boston A28-20, Gona, Papua, November 1942 by Daniel Leahy Vol LXII, No. 2, June 2021, pages 32-40 Thanks to Daniel Leahy, Phil Bradley and Edward Rogers for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 12, 2025 |
 Boston  Map Nov 29, 1942  Photo Archive |
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