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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| RAAF No. 43 Squadron Former Assignments No. 11 Squadron No. 20 Squadron  AWM 1943 |
Crew F/O Francis Kirby Robinson, RAAF 402544 (MIA / KIA, BR) Newcastle, NSW Crew F/Sgt Donald George Abbey, RAAF 410135 (MIA / KIA, BR) Box Hill, VIC Crew F/Sgt Douglas George Hoffman, RAAF 207799 (MIA / KIA) Brookvale, NSW Crew F/Sgt Brian Kenneth Winterbon, RAAF 429254 (MIA / KIA, BR) Towradgi, NSW Crew Sgt Arthur Maurice Belshaw, RAAF 67878 (MIA / KIA, BR) Riverstone, NSW Crew W/O Robert Alfred Swan, RAAF 404221 (MIA / KIA, BR) Annerley, QLD Crew Sgt Norman Donald Woodhouse, RAAF 18994 (MIA / KIA, BR) Preston, VIC Crew Sgt Kenneth Evenett Thompson, RAAF 9167 (MIA / KIA, BR) South Melbourne, VIC Crew Sgt William David Reece, RAAF 18984 (MIA / KIA) Rockdale, NSW Crashed April 21, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego. Constructors Number 1258. Assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) PBY-5 Catalina bureau number 08334. Ferried overseas to Australia. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Catalina serial number A24-53. On May 26, 1943 assigned to 11 Squadron with code FJ-B. On September 9, 1943 assigned to No. 43 Squadron with code OX-J. On November 28, 1943 assigned to No. 20 Squadron. On December 23, 1943 reassigned to No. 43 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On April 21, 1944 took off on a mine laying mission over Balikpapan Harbor off Balikpapan. Over the target, other aircraft reported an explosion and fire near the entrance to Balikpapan Harbor. The entire crew died in the crash. Two of the crew: Hoffman and Reece are believed to have gone down with the aircraft and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains After the crash, the Japanese recovered the remains of the seven crew from the wreckage. The bodies were brought to a Dutch Prisoner Of War (POW) named Van Kringlen who buried them in the Dutch Civil Cemetery. The Japanese stated they believed other bodies were still in the wreckage when it sank. Postwar, the remains of the seven crew were positively identified and transported to Labuan Island for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Two of the crew remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA): Hoffman and Reece and are commemorated at Labuan War Cemetery on the Labuan Memorial, panel 32. The seven recovered crew members are buried at Labuan War Cemetery. Robinson at 5. B. 8. Abbey at 5. B. 6. Winterbon at 5. B. 5. Belshaw at 5. B. 9. Swan at 5. B. 10. Woodhouse at 5. B. 12. Thompson at 5. B. 11. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBY-5 Catalina 08334 "08334 (MSN 1258) to RAAF as A24-53. Failed to return 4/21/1944 from Balikpapan." RAAF Casualty Card - Catalina A24-53 ADF Serials - Catalina A24-53 CWGC - Francis Kirby Robinson CWGC - Donald George Abbey CWGC - Douglas George Hoffman CWGC - Brian Kenneth Winterbon CWGC - Arthur Maurice Belshaw CWGC - Robert Alfred Swan CWGC - Norman Donald Woodhouse CWGC - Kenneth Evenett Thompson CWGC - William David Reece Thanks to Daniel Leahy for his assistance with this profile Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 12, 2024 |
 PBY  MIA 2 Missing |
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