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  DB-7B Boston Mark III Serial Number A28-20 Code W
RAAF
No. 22 Squadron

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RAAF 1942

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Phil Bradley
1998

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Daniel Leahy
2005

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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

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Last Updated
September 12, 2025

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