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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| RAAF No. 2 Squadron Former Assignments 3 AD 14 ARD NEIAF No. 18 Squadron |
Crew F/Lt Edward Melville White, 402097 (MIA / KIA) Croydon, NSW Crew F/O Alban Keith Morrell, 7246 (MIA / KIA) Northam, WA Crew Sgt Bernard Michael O'Brien, 431510 (MIA / KIA) Carnegie, VIC Crew F/Sgt Roderick Alister MacGregor, 433732 (MIA / KIA) Tamworth, NSW Crew Cpl William Joseph Carlyle Maxwell, 34759 (MIA / KIA) Howlong, NSW Crew LAC Ian Stanley Coleman, 140811 (MIA / KIA) Leabrook, SA Crew LAC Bayard Antony Marshall, 73231 (MIA / KIA) Collaroy, NSW Crew LAC Victor Allen Morgan, 88726 (MIA / KIA) Waratah, Tasmana MIA August 14, 1945 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 100-20611. At the factory painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces and U.S. markings. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-25 Mitchell 42-87258. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History In Australia, assigned to the Netherlands for the Militaire Luchtvaart (ML-KNIL) Army Aviation Corps of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) as B-25D Mitchell serial number N5-174. During the brief period assigned to the Dutch it is unlikely this B-25 flew combat missions with No. 18 Squadron. On September 2, 1944 assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as B-25D-25 Mitchell A47-37 at 3 Air Depot (3 AD). On January 29, 1945 to 14 ARD. On March 22, 1945 assigned to No. 2 Squadron with code KO-V and later stripped to a bare aluminum finish. Mission History On August 14, 1945 took off from Hughes Airfield piloted by F/Lt Edward M. White as one of six B-25s led by F/Lt Edward M. White on a flight via Mokmer Drome on Biak, then onward via Morotai bound for Sepinggang Airfield. After take off from Hughes Airfield this B-25 failed to communicate and was presumed lost en route to Biak. Last seen approaching New Guinea and was observed turning away at 3,000' and disappearing into clouds. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search When this B-25 failed to land at Mokmer Drome on Biak. No trace was found despite an intensive 3 day search. Apparently post-war searches in the area by RAAF Searcher Team lead by F/Lt O'Shea could not be adequately carried out. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission and all were listed on the Lae Memorial. White and Morrell on panel 6. O'Brien, MacGregor, Morgan and Coleman, Maxwell on panel 7. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-25 Mitchell 42-87258 "87258 to NEIAF as N5-174, later to RAAF as A47-37. Lost en route to Biak 8/14/1945." ADF Serials - Mitchell A47-37 lists wreckage as found in Dutch New Guinea CWGC - Edward Melville White CWGC - Alban Keith Morrell CWGC - Bernard Michael O'Brien CWGC - Roderick Alister MacGregor CWGC - William Joseph Carlyle Maxwell CWGC - Ian Stanley Coleman CWGC - Bayard Antony Marshall CWGC - Victor Allen Morgan Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 3, 2021 |
 B-25  MIA 8 Missing |
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