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| RAAF No. 22 Squadron Former Assignments NEIAF  Douglas Lyon 1996  Daniel Leahy 2000   Peter Flahavin 2004 |
Pilot FLGOFF Harry Rowell, 411191 (survived) Trafalgar, VIC Gunner FSGT Douglas Frederick Lyon, 420018 (survived) Summer Hill, NSW Gunner Harry Jamieson (survived) Force Landed September 12, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 3839. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number AL907. At the factory, painted in RAF insignia and camouflage. No known U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) serial number was allocated. This Boston was one of twenty-two from the RAF production 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 A28-8. Assigned to No. 22 Squadron code DU-J. Nicknamed "Jessica". Also known as "J is for Jessica" for the last letter of the tail code and nickname. The nose bombardier position was painted over and four fixed .303 machine guns installed inside the nose for strafing. Later, this Boston and DB-7 Boston A28-9 were field modified to add two .303 machine to the tail. This aircraft flew 56 combat missions before it was damaged and written off. Mission History On September 12, 1943 took off from Vivigani Airfield on Goodenough Island piloted by FLGOFF Harry Rowell as one of four Bostons on a mission against Gasmata on New Britain. The formation was led by DB-7B "Spirit of Sport" A28-15 pilot F/L Harry Dawkins with DB-7B "Indoor Sport" A28-16 pilot FSgt Eric G. T. Riley and DB-7B A28-7 pilot F/O Peter Gunson. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire in the cockpit and knocked out the hydraulic system. Damaged, this Boston managed to return but only the left landing gear locked into place. Rowell ordered his crew to bail out, but they requested to stay aboard and crash land at Vivigani Airfield. After circling to use up as much fuel as possible, belly landed wheels up and slid until coming to rest 150 yards off the runway. None of the crew were injured in the landing. A large crowd watched the landing including recently arrived U.S. Army personnel. Afterwards, a photograph was taken of Rowell in the crashed plane with Charles Learmonth alongside. After the crash, crew cheif W/O "Peggy" O'Neill removed the control yoke and presented it to Rowell as a gift. The mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" by the Squadron for their heavy losses. Wreckage Afterwards, this Boston was written off and converted to components with the engines, outer wings, tail fin and rudder removed for use as spare parts. This Boston remained in situ at Vivigani Airfield. In the early 1970s, Charles Darby noted the original paintwork including the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) markings with "Kon Marine" and three rows of bomb markings. Salvage In September 1984, The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) planned a training exercise "Operation Venture One" to salvage an A-20 wreck as a training exercise, using a CH-47 Chinook from No. 12 Squadron to recover A-20G "Hell'N Pelican II" 42-86786. As this plane was the only salvagable RAAF Boston in Papua New Guinea, former pilot Harold advocated for it to be recovered. In 1987, this Boston was recovered from Vivigani Airfield by RAAF Chinook and flown to Madang where it was loaded aboard HMAS Tobruk and shipped to Sydney. When it arrived former crew members Harold Rowell, Black Harry Craig and David Duncan were invited to a dinner aboard the vessel. Restoration Afterwards, shipped to RAAF Amberley for restoration. Rowell was asked to provide the original control yoke for a copy to be made. Between 1983–1996 the Boston was restored to static condition and painted in the markings of A28-8. On September 12, 1986 the restored plane was unveiled at RAAF Amberley, on the 35th anniversary of the forced landing with veterans from No. 22 Squadron in attendence. Display Afterwards, the Boston was moved to Royal Australian Air Force Museum Point Cook (RAAF Museum Point Cook) for pubic display. In 1996, crew member Douglas Lyon visited the restoration to see his former aircraft. An oil painting of "J is for Jessica" and display is part of the RAAF Association in Bull Creek. References WW2 Nominal Roll - Harry Rowell, 411191 WW2 Nominal Roll - Douglas Frederick Lyon, 420018 Boston in service with Royal Australian Air Force ADF Serials - Boston A28-8 Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) page 46 Wings of Destiny (2008) by Charles Page pages 9, 18, 155, 160, 174, 184, 204-205, 247-248, 259, 276, 277-280 (September 12, 1943 crash landing), 369 (recovery and restoration), 370 (photo), 407 (Index Boston A28-8), 410 (index Jessica) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 21, 2024 |
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