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| RAAF No. 100 Squadron   Justin Taylan 2003 |
Pilot W/O Cedric Ernest Hall, 427321 (KIA, BR) Mount Lawley, WA Navigator F/O Arthur William Orman, 433001 (KIA, BR) Tamworth, NSW W/AG F/Sgt John Albert Chellew, 433893 (KIA, BR) Young, NSW W/AG F/Sgt William Henry Halyard, 439585 (KIA, BR) Kogarah, NSW Crashed September 3, 1945 Aircraft History Built by the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne. Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Beaufort Mark VIII serial number A9-622. Wartime History Assigned to No. 100 Squadron with code QH-? (single letter unknown). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On September 3, 1945 took off from Tadji Airfield piloted W/O Cedric Ernest Hall on a mission to drop surrender leaflets over suspected Japanese positions west of Wewak but crashed near Matapau. The entire crew was killed on impact. Recovery of Remains The next day, local people discovered the crash site. On September 7, 1945 RAAF personnel from 100 Squadron arrived at the crash site and the remains of the crew were buried near the crash site. Funeral services were conducted by Methodist Chaplain Simpson and Church Of England Chaplin Clark. Afterwards, the remains of the crew were exhumed and transported to Lae for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the entire crew was buried at Lae War Cemetery. Orman at GG. C. 7. Chellew at GG. C. 6. Hall at GG. B. 6. Halyard at DD. D. 15. Wreckage This Beaufort remains in situ. During 2000, parts including the complete tail fin and rudder were recovered by Robert Greinert / HARS and exported to Australia. Reportedly, these pieces were used in the Australian War Memorial (AWM) restoration of Beaufort A9-557. Justin Taylan visited the site in 2003: "Locals recall that the plane crashed in bad weather. The crash was discovered the following day, when a local women found her dog at the site, that found the remains of one of the crew members." References WW2 Nominal Roll - Arthur William Orman WW2 Nominal Roll - John Albert Chellew WW2 Nominal Roll - Cedric Ernest Hall WW2 Nominal Roll - William Henry Halyard NAA Operations Record Book (ORB) Number 100 Squadron - March 13, 1945 (NAA: A9186, 123 page 486) (Page 486) "3/9 [September 3, 1945] Whilst carrying out a leaflet dropping mission aircraft A9-622 crashed at Matapau and the following personnel were killed: W/O Hall, C. E. (Pil.) F/O. A.W. Orman (Nav.) F/S Chellew J. A. F/S Halyard W. H. (W.A.G.S) Aircraft complete write-off. 7/9 [September 7, 1945] Members killed on 3/9/45 in A9-622 were buried at Matapau, Chaplain Simpson (Meth.) and Chaplain Clark (C. of E.) conducting burial services." ADF Serials - Beaufort A9-622 CWGC - Arthur William Orman CWGC - John Albert Chellew CWGC - Cedric Ernest Hall CWGC - William Henry Halyard Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 14, 2024 |
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