The formation hit the Maikoor River 18 miles from the mouth and went down the river sweeping from side to side. Entering the Bay, the pilots saw floatplanes in a line from Taberfane to about 1/2 mile south, which were straffed and burnt. Further damage was inflicted on patrol supplies and store houses and after ten minutes on target the flight left. It was then that Beaufighter A19-60 was noticed missing.

Postwar Searches
In 1946 F/Lt O'Shea of the RAAF Searcher Party reported:
Native states that in Aug or Sept 43 Aust aircraft crashed in dense jungle SE of Taberfane - Japs searched for wreckage but could not find it. Possibly Beaufighter A19-60 or Beaufighter A19-118 - No definate news obtained for either
of these aircraft.

Memorials
All crew members are listed on the Ambon Memorial as having "No Known Grave" on column 8.

References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information
ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-60

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018