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| USAAF 5th AF 374th TCG 21st TCS |
Pilot 2nd Lt William A. O'Neill, USAAF, 22nd Air Base Group (KIA, BR) CA Crew Sgt Rolfe M. Smith (KIA / BR) MN Passenger F/Lt Duncan Matheson, RAAF 2161 (KIA / BR) Brisbane, QLD Passenger LAC James Emanuel Skillen, RAAF 2669 (KIA / BR) Baulkham Hills, NSW Crashed May 25, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas as a DC-2-243. Constructors Number 2062. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-39 serial number 38-505. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 374th Troop Carrier Group (374th TCG), 21st Troop Carrier Squadron (21st TCS). Australian call sign VH-CCA. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 25, 1942 took off from Alice Springs Airfield piloted by Lt William A. O'Neill on a flight bound for Batchelor Field and crashed shortly after take off killing everyone aboard. According to F/Lt Matheson's Casualty File: "The pilot of the aircraft had planned to take off at 0100 hrs on Monday 25th May, but owing to bad weather and visibility, he postponed his start till 0340 hrs. The machine eventually took off at 0355 hrs and banked away to the north-east of the drome. At 0357 hrs the machine crashed and immediately burst into flames. The cased incendiary ammunition which was being transported to Batchelor, exploded and continued exploding for approximately three hours after the crash, thus making it impossible to attempt any salvage. On impact with the ground the cargo and passengers were flung forward to the nose of the machine and it was from that position that the bodies were recovered. The bodies were burnt beyond recognition with one exception, Sgt Rolfe M Smith, USAFIA. The identification discs of No 2669 LAC Skillen were found in the wreckage, but no trace of identity discs for F/Lt D Matheson could be found. A field service cap belonging to F/Lt D Matheson was found approximately 20 yards from the machine. All other items of equipment and clothing carried by the above RAAF personnel were destroyed by fire". Memorials The entire crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission. O'Neill is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section E, site 728. Matheson is buried at Alice Springs Cemetery at plot M, row A, gave 4. Skillen is buried at Alice Springs Cemetery at plot M, row A, gave 5. Smith is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at plot C BLO, 4426. He also has a memorial marker at Ono United Methodist Church Cemetery in Salem, WI. References F/Lt Duncan Matheson's RAAF Casualty File (NAA: A705, 163/44/143) USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-39 38-505 "505 (MSN 2062) delivered May 15, 1939. (21st TCS, 374th TCG) crashed NE of Alice Springs, Australia May 25, 1942. All 4 crew killed. This plane was noted at Nichols Field, Philippines Aug 5, 1941 and may have been one which escaped from Mindanao in early 1942." Australia at War - Crash of a Douglas C-39 North East of Alice Springs on 25 May 1942 FindAGrave - William Alexander O'Neill (grave photos) FindAGrave - Rolfe Maxwell Smith (grave photo) FindAGrave - Rolfe Maxwell Smith (memorial marker) CWGC - Duncan Matheson FindAGrave - Duncan Matheson (grave photos) CWGC - James Emanuel Skillen FindAGrave - James Emmanuel “J.E” Skillen (grave photos) Thanks to 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
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