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Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIc Serial Number A19-74

RAAF
No. 30 Squadron

Pilot F/Sgt William Nicholas Pax Cosgrove, 400140 (KIA) Elsternwick, VIC
Navigator F/Sgt Bernard Albert Le Griffon, 3024 (MIA / KIA) Northcote, VIC
Crashed August 11, 1943

Crew History
F/Sgt Cosgrove had played three games with Richmond in the Victorian Football League in 1940. He is the uncle of General Peter Cosgrove (retired Chief of the Australian Defence Force). A19-74 was only a temporary aircraft flown by F/Sgt Cosgrove and F/Sgt Le Griffon as their regular aircraft (Beaufighter A19-111) was undergoing minor repairs at the time.

Aircraft History
Built by Bristol in the UK and assigned RAF Serial Number T5201. On on October 3, 1942 assigned to the RAAF to 2 AP. On November 27, 1942 assigned to 1 Air Depot (1 AD). On December 13, 1942 assigned to 12 Repair Salvage Unit (12 RSU) and four days later assigned to No. 30 Squadron.

On March 24, 1943 damaged by Japanese 14mm machine gun fire into the starboard engine nacelle mission and repaired by 15 ARD from March 27-April 10 then returned to 30 Squadron.

Wartime History
Took off from Vivigani Airfield and soon afterwards, crashed into the sea off Goodenough.

Wreckage
The badly broken up Beaufighter was later spotted lying on a reef in about a meter of water about 2 km offshore and F/Sgt Cosgrove's body was recovered. On September 15, converted to components by 26 RSU.

Memorials
Cosgrove is buried at the Bomana War Cemetery at A3. E. 2. The remains of F/Sgt Le Griffon were never recovered and he is listed at Bomana War Cemetery as having "No Known Grave" on panel 9.

References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information
ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-74

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Last Updated
March 19, 2023

Beaufighter

MIA
2 Missing

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