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| RAAF No. 30 Squadron  RAAF 1943  Wild November 15, 2000 |
Pilot F/L Derrick Robert Stone, 3406 (MIA / KIA, BR) Kingsville, VIC Navigator F/O Edward Burford Morris-Hadwell, 1433 (MIA / KIA, BR) Ballarat, VIC Crashed October 12, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Bristol in the United Kingdom. Disassembled and shipped to Australia. Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Beaufighter Mark VIc serial number A19-97. Wartime History Assigned to No. 30 Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On October 12, 1943 took off from Dobodura piloted by F/L Derrick R. Stone with navigator F/O Edward B. Morris-Hadwell as one of twelve Beaufighters on a low level strafing mission against Tobera Airfield on the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain south of Rabaul. The formation arrived over the target without any fighter escort and were intercepted by Zeros. This Beaufighter was last seen two miles east of Tobera Airfield, climbing away after the attack, and was never seen again. Reportedly, Stone turned back to help another Beaufighter in the formation by engaging a Japanese fighter. When this plane failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, the unescorted Beaufighters were intercepted by nineteen Zeros, possibly a mixed formation of A6M Zeros from 204 Kōkūtai (204 Air Group) plus an attached four plane flight from 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group). The Zeros claimed to disrupt the unescorted planes and force them to withdraw and claimed a "new type B-26" shot down, likely this Beaufort. Wreckage This Beaufighter crashed in a plantation near Ganai, roughly 40km southeast of Rabaul. Afterwards, Japanese personnel visited the crash site and buried the remains of the crew at the site. By 2000, the crash site consisted of both engines, the main spar and other small pieces of wreckage. During November 2000, Brian Bennett took one of the relatives to the crash site. On November 10, 2000 relatives of the crew visited the crash site with representatives from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), ahead of the funeral the next day. Recovery of Remains During 2000, a RAAF Searcher Team visited the crash site and recovered some of the remains of the crew that were buried at the site. During October 2000, another RAAF Searcher Team returned to the crash site and recovered more remains of the crew. Later, the remains were identified as Stone and Morris-Hadwell. Memorials Officially, both Stone and Morris-Hadwell were declared dead the day of the mission. Stone was mentioned in despatches (MID). Both were memorialized at Bita Paka War Cemetery on the Rabaul Memorial on panel 34. Both are also memorialized at Australian War Memorial (AWM) on panel 102. On November 11, 2000 Stone and Morris-Hadwell were buried with full military honors at Bita Paka War Cemetery. Stone at H. D. 12. Morris-Hadwell at H. D. 13. In attendance were Stone's relatives including his daughter born a few days after his death and two grandsons. Morris-Hadwell's relatives including two nieces and a nephew. Also in attendance was George Robertson, a veteran from No. 30 Squadron who served with Stone and Morris-Hadwell. References ADF Serials - Beaufighter A19-97 RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua and New Guinea page 1 "#9 | 04.24-152.17 | New Britain Tobera | RAAF Beaufighter A19-97 | Last seen in vicinity Tobera - not recovered" WW2 Nominal Roll - Derrick Robert Stone, 3406 WW2 Nominal Roll - Edward Burford Morris-Hadwell, 1433 AWM Honours and Awards - Derrick Robert Stone, Mention In Despatches CWGC - Derrick Robert Stone CWGC - Edward Burford Morris-Hadwell FindAGrave - Derrick Robert Stone (Rabaul Memorial photo) FindAGrave - Flight Lieutenant Derrick Robert Stone (grave photo) FindAGrave - Derrick Robert Stone (AWM) FindAGrave - Flying Officer Edward Burford Morris-Hadwell (Rabaul Memorial photo) FindAGrave - Flying Officer Edward Burford Morris-Hadwell (grave photo) FindAGrave - Edward Burford Morris-Hadwell (AWM) ADF News Release "Military Funeral For World War II Airmen" November 15, 2000 South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 451 "Due to a late takeoff (dust conditions caused by previous B-25 takeoffs), a dozen Beaufighters arrived over Tobera (Rabaul No. 3) without a P-38 escort. They encountered a reported nineteen Japanese fighters, possibly a mixed formation from 204 Air with a four-plane flight of 201 Air attached. The Beaufighters aborted their strafing attack and hastily withdrew, harassed by Japanese fighters. Eventually one Beaufighter was lost. It was probably the “new type B-26” claimed by Air Group 204." Thanks to Brian Bennett for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 12, 2025 |
 Beaufighter  MIA 2 Missing Resolved |
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