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DAP Beaufort Mark VIII Serial Number A9-626 Code QH-?

RAAF
No. 100 Squadron

Pilot  FLGOFF Hugh Sterling Barton, 413104 (KIA, BR) Double Bay, NSW
Navigator  FLGOFF Richard Basil Webb, 434067 (KIA, BR) Cairns, QLD
WAG  FLTSGT Kenneth Arthur Pontt, 442362 (KIA, BR) Pyap, SA
WAG  FLTSGT Kenneth Davis, 431015 (KIA, BR) Main Ridge, VIC
Passenger  LAC Loris Charles Epps, 57891 8 Squadron (KIA, BR) Footscray, VIC
Crashed January 23, 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 A9-626.

Wartime History
Assigned to No. 100 Squadron with code QH-? (single letter unknown). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On January 23, 1945 at 9:35am took off from Tadji Airfield at 9:35am piloted by F/O Hugh S. Barton on a bombing mission against Amuli Nanu East (Amuli village). Over the target area at 10:20am, this aircraft accidentally collided with Beaufort A9-627 causing both aircraft to crash. This Beaufort crashed near Emul village killing the entire crew on impact. Officially written off February 1, 1945.

Recovery of Remains
After the crash, the remains of the five crew were recovered by local villagers and buried. Postwar, the remains were transported to Lae for permenant burial.

Wreckage
This Beaufort crashed near Emul.

Bryant Allen visited one of the Beaufort crash sites during 1972:
"On January 23, 1945 two Beaufort bombers A9-626 and A9-627 operating from Tadji, collided while attacking Japanese positions near Balif. One of these aircraft [Beaufort A9-627] turned back to the west and crashed near Yaurang, about 5 km west of Dreikikir. Beaufort A9-626 crashed near Emul village."

Memorials
The four crew killed in the crash were officially declared dead the day of the mission. On January 28, 1945 a commemoration church service for the lost crews in the in No. 100 Squadron chapel at Tadji Airfield. The service was attended by No. 100 Squadron personnel plus many personnel from other units. The five crew were buried at Lae War Cemetery. Barton at LL. A. 5. Webb at HH. C. 11. Pontt at TT. A. 14. Davis at TT. C. 3. Loris Charles Epps TT. C. 4.

References
NAA "Operations Record Book (ORB) RAAF No. 100 Squadron" (NAA: A9186, 123 page 403, 411)
(Page 403) "23 [January 1945] Beauforts A9-626 and A9-627 collided in mid-air over target Amuli village. Both aircraft completely destroyed. F/Sgt Chivas only survivor, rescued by Army patrols, suffering only from burns, not seriously injured. Casualties were F/Lt. E. M. Christensen, F/O L. Cooke, F/O H. S. Barton, F/O R/ B/ Webb, F/Sgts Buclner B, F/Sgt Pontt K., F/Sgt Davis K. (100 Sqdn) and LAC Epps (8 Sqdn) also LAC Gay K (100 Sqdn).
28 [January 1945] Commemoration church service held in unit chaple [sic chapel] for squadron members lost in aircraft 23/Jan/45. Service was attended by personnel from neighbouring units and large number of squadron personnel."
(Page 411) "626 F/O Barton 0935 1020 Contact recce Kubriuat area. Completed. Bomb Amuli Nanu East 453032. 6 Beauforts dropped 180x4 inc, 12 x 40 GP, 20 x 250 GP, 12 x 500 MC. A9-627, A9-626 collided and crashed over target area. 6400 x .303 ammo., 56 signal cartridges, 4 illuminating cart. 2 aluminum sea markers, 2 smoke puffs, 4 marine distress signals, 8 flame floats. Lost in crashed aircraft."
CWGC - Hugh Sterling Barton
CWGC - Richard Basil Webb
CWGC - Kenneth Arthur Pontt
CWGC - Kenneth Davis
CWGC - Loris Charles Epps
The Final Campaigns by Gavin Long page 290
ADF Serials - Beaufort A9-626
WW2 Fatalities in RAAF Beaufort Operational Squadrons and Support Units, 2002
Thanks to Bryant Allen and Daniel Leahy for additional information

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Last Updated
February 14, 2024

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