Mission History
On December 28, 1943 took off 2nd Lt. Herman J. Bissonnette on a mission and crashed into Idlers Bay off Roku to the west of Port Moresby.  According to locals, the pilot was severely wounded in the crash and rescued by locals, but died immediately afterwards.

Wreckage
Over the decades, most of the wreck has been scrapped, only the engine, and larger pieces still remain, in shallow water.

Justin Taylan reports:
"During 2003, I snorkeled over this wreck. Only the engine and propeller hub were still there, plus a few other bits of wreckage."

Memorials
Bissonnette was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-47 Thunderbolt (Miscellaneous)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herman J. Bissonnette
FindAGrave - 2Lt Herman J Bissonnette (tablets of the missing)

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Last Updated
December 28, 2018