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| RAAF No. 22 Squadron  RAAF February 1944 |
Pilot WCdr William Edwin Townsend, O358 (survived) Hawthorn, VIC Gunner F/O David Mackinnon McClymont, 405491 (survived) Inverell, NSW Crashed November 3, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Delivered to the U.S. Army as A-20C-10-DO Havoc serial number 42-33211. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia arriving in September 1943. Wartime History During October 1943 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Boston A28-29. Assigned to No. 22 Squadron code unknown. No known nose art or nickname. This aircraft flew at least three combat missions prior to crashing. Mission History On November 3, 1943 took off from Vivigani Airfield piloted by WCdr William Edwin Townsend leading five A-20s from No. 22 Squadron with Beaufighters and P-40 Kittyhawks for a strike on Palmalmal (Malmal) near Jacquinot Bay. This bomber was leading the Bostons, and was observed to make a normal level attack as the formation went over the target in line abreast formation, meeting moderate anti-aircraft from light and medium guns. After dropping its bombs, this Boston fell back in formation and swung away emitting brown smoke. Damaged, the Boston ditched into ditched into Jacquinot Bay near Sali. The plane landed atop a coral reef with the outer wings and upper fuselage above water roughly 50' from shore, but the crew were not seen at the crash. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the crew In fact, both crew survived the crash and fled minutes before the Japanese arrived. Hiding in the jungle, they were assisted by a local named Golpak. Later, they were contacted by Australian coastwatcher Skinner and later taken to Major Robert's base on New Britain to await rescue. On February 5, 1944 rescued by USS Gato (SS-212) that surfaced in Open Bay. The aviators were rescued in two groups: the first four American and the second group Townsend, McClymont and Fred Hargesheimer. 70,000 to One (1947) by Gordon Manuel: "We had gone out about fifty yards when one of the sailors spotted a signal from shore. It was dark now, but we could see a flashlight signaling. They turned the boat back to shore and rowed in the direction of the light. Three men were waiting for us - three men I had never seen before. They had been with Captain Stokey. They introduced themselves as Wing Commander Townsend, Flight Officer McClamont and Fred Hagershimer. The first two had been flying an A-20. When they had come down 'to do a bit of strafing' (as the Wing Commander expressed it) they had been shot down." Wreckage This A-20 is underwater at a depth of 5-8m off Baien atop a coral reef. Later, wave action pushed the wreckage off the reef towards shore. Two unexploded bombs from the plane remain atop the reef. The rest of the plane is on the other side of the reef. Rod Pearce dove this wreck December 17, 2009 "The A-20 is in dirty water with visibilty of only 3 meters due to swells. The plane is covered with coral and the only part you can easily see is the cockpit. The tail section is broken off and might be further down the reef. The bombs are atop the reef, one behind the other." Display The throttle controls from the wreckage was recovered and is displayed at Australian War Memorial (AWM) in the aircraft hall. Memorials Townsend remained in the RAAF and was promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal and retired in 1969. McClymont passed away on September 10, 1998. He is buried at The New South Wales Garden of Remembrance in Rookwood, NSW. References Boston in service with Royal Australian Air Force ADF Serials - Boston A28-29 WW2 Nominal Roll - William Edwin Townsend, O358 WW2 Nominal Roll - David Mackinnon McClymont, 405491 No. 22 Squadron Loss Report November 4, 1943 E&E Report No. 39 - William Edwin Townsend pages 1 - 6 plus appendix 1-4 E&E Report No. 36 - David M. McClymont page 1-5 plus appendix 70,000 to One (1947) by Gordon Manuel Hostages to Freedom (1995) pages 238-239 Wings of Destiny (2008) pages 276-277 (Townsend arrival September 1943), 287-288 (Townsend C.O. September 28, 1943), 367 (Townsend loss), 397 (footnote 1), 416 (index Townsend) FindAGrave - David M McClymont Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 22, 2024 |
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