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| RAAF No. 100 Squadron  RAAF January 1945  Bryant Allen 1972 |
Pilot FLTLT Edward Manton Christensen, 406599 (KIA, BR) Northam, WA Navigator FLTSGT Bennie Edward Buckner, 435588 (KIA, BR) Toombul, QLD WAG FLGOFF Leslie Charles Cooke, 41317 (KIA, BR) Bondi, NSW WAG FSgt John Clayton Chivas, 439351 (survived) Sydney, NSW Passenger LAC Kenneth Stanley Gay, 53950 (KIA, BR) South Ballarat, VIC Crashed January 23, 1945 at 10:20am 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-H in white. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 23, 1945 at 9:34am took off from Tadji Airfield piloted by F/L Edward M. Christensen on a bombing mission against Amuli Nanu East (Amuli village). Over the target area at 10:20am, this aircraft collided with Beaufort A9-626 causing both aircraft to crash. This Beaufort crashed near Yaurang killing the entire crew on impact with the execption of Chivas who survived with only burns. Officially written off February 1, 1945. Fates of the Crew Chivas was rescued by local villagers. He was later rescued by an Australian Army patrol and returned to duty. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the four crew killed in the crash recovered by local villagers and buried. Postwar, the remains were transported to Lae for permenant burial. Wreckage This Beaufort crashed into a forested area near Yaurang. The wreckage of this Beaufort remains in situ in a forested area near Yaurang. During 1972, the crash site was visited and photographed by Bryant Allen. The tail section, one engine and wreckage remained at that time. Bryant Allen recalls: "I have photographs of the wreckage of this aircraft taken in 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. The other one [Beaufort A9-626] crashed near Emul village. One crew member [John Clayton Chivas] survived the Yaurang crash and was rescued by villagers, once they could convince him they were not going to kill him." 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 crew was buried at Lae War Cemetery. Christensen at TT. A. 3. Buckner at TT. D. 10. Cooke at TT. B. 14. Gay at TT. A. 1. 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) "627 F/L Christensen 0934 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." WW2 Nominal Roll - John Clayton Chivas ADF Serials - Beaufort A9-627 CWGC - Edward Manton Christensen CWGC - Bennie Edward Buckner CWGC - Leslie Charles Cooke CWGC - Kenneth Stanley Gay The Final Campaigns by Gavin Long page 290 The Pacific War in Papua New Guinea (2006) "Remembering the war in the Sepik" by Dr. Bryant Allen WW2 Fatalities in RAAF Beaufort Operational Squadrons and Support Units, 2002 Thanks to Bryant Allen and Daniel Leahy 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 February 14, 2024 |
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