|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| RAAF No. 30 Squadron Former Assignments 1 AD 5 AD |
Pilot F/O Harold Maurice Woodroffe, 407542 (MIA / KIA) Wagga Wagga, NSW Observer F/Sgt John Livingstone Brooks, 43250 (MIA / KIA) Wollongong, NSW Crashed September 5, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Bristol in the United Kingdom. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number T4997. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Beaufighter Mark Ic serial number A19-33. On May 11, 1942 assigned to 1 Air Depot (1 AD). On February 28, 1942 assigned to 5 Air Depot (5 AD) to repair fractures from firing the 20mm cannons. On March 3, 1942 assigned to No. 30 Squadron with fuselage code "Q" painted in white forward of the roundel. Returned to No. 30 Squadron after repairs on May 29, 1942. Mission History On September 5, 1943 took off piloted by F/O Harold Maurice Woodroffe as one of two Beaufighters on a low level strafing mission against Cape Gloucester Airfield. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire in the right engine. Departing the target area, Beaufighter A19-33 was seen by the accompanying aircraft trailing a long intermittent plume of smoke from the right engine. After reaching Borgen Bay, the plane turned inland and crashed into the jungle with a large fire seen burning in the undergrowth. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage During December 1946, a RAAF Searcher Team was on New Britain but due to a typographic error with the serial number and confused it with Beaufighter A19-133 that crash further to the west and was found and never specificallly searched for this Beaufighter. During September 2007, this crash was visited by the RAAF Searcher Team including Greg Williams looking for remains of the crew. They found the burned crash site, but failed to locate any remains of the crew. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Both are memorialized at Bita Paka War Cemetery on the Rabaul Memorial. Woodroffe on panel 34. Brooks on panel 35. References ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-33 RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua and New Guinea page 1 "#5 | 05.34-148.34 | New Britain Borgen Bay | RAAF Beaufighter A19-33 | Believed to be in jungle south of Borgen Bay (Not recovered)" CWGC - Harold Maurice Woodroffe CWGC - John Livingstone Brooks RAAF Searcher Team Report by S/L Rundle Beaufighters In The Pacific (2005) page 108 ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-33 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 22, 2025 |
 Beaufighter  MIA 2 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
