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| RNZAF No. 8 Squadron Former Assignments No. 1 Squadron   MPIU circa Sept-Oct 1945  K. Munday 1986 |
Pilot F/O
Norman H. Benton, 428755 (MIA / KIA, BR) Auckland, NZ Navigator F/Sgt James N. Cunneen, 432192 (MIA / KIA, BR) Wellington, NZ Radio/Gunner F/Sgt Robert H. M. Buchanan, 392012 (MIA / KIA, BR) Southland, NZ Gunner W/O Christopher C. W. Jeffares, 4216543 (MIA / KIA, BR) Taranaki, NZ Gunner F/Sgt James G. G. Mallett, 436918 (MIA / KIA, BR) Taranaki, NZ Observer Sgt Norman E. Merfield, WX14946 AIF (MIA / KIA / BNR) Kojonup, WA Crashed June 9, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed as model 237-27-01 in Burbank. Constructors number 6268. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PV-1 Ventura bureau number 49452. Disassembled and shipped to Oahu then across the Pacific to New Zealand as part of defense aid. Wartime History During April 1944 assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as PV-1 Ventura serial number NZ4613. On April 18, 1944 BoC with Unit 19 and assigned to No. 1 Squadron at Whenuapai Airfield. On August 15, 1944 flown to Guadalcanal. During January 1945 assigned to No. 8 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Tail number 13, last two digits of the serial number. Mission History On June 9, 1945 took off from Emirau Airfield piloted by F/O Norman Harold Benton on a mission to drop propaganda leaflets over New Ireland. Aboard was observer Australian Army Intelligence Corps, Far East Liaison Office (FELO) representative Sgt Norman E. Merfield. When this aircraft failed to return, it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). This aircraft was believed to have been hit by anti-aircraft fire over New Ireland. Search On June 10, 1945 while searching for this plane, PV-1 Ventura NZ4609 crashed on New Ireland killing the entire crew. Wreckage In fact, this Ventura crashed near Kimidan (Kimadan), inland from Lamerika on the north coast of New Ireland. The entire crew was killed in the crash. On September 10, 1945 personnel from RNZAF MPIU [Missing Personnel Investigation Unit] were led by a Japanese Prisoners Of War (POW) to this crash site. They identified the plane and photographed serial number NZ4612 and were shown the nearby graves of the crew. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the Japanese located the crash and buried the remains of the crew nearby. Each grave was marked with a wooden marker with Japanese writitng and planted with flowers. On September 10, 1945 the graves were shown to the RNZAF MPIU. Afterwards, the remains were exhumed and transported to New Caledonia for permanent burial. The remains of observer Sgt Norman E. Merfield were not found and he remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials After the recovery of remains, the recovered crew were buried at Bourail War Cemetery. Benton at 5. 32. Cunneen at 5.33. Buchanan at 5. 34. Jeffares at 5. 36 and Mallett at 5. 35. Merfield was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and is memorialized at Bitapaka War Cemetery (Rabaul War Cemetery) on the Rabaul Memorial, panel 1. References Another source claims this Ventura crashed between Silom and Namatanai. Yet another claims Cape Narum. Navy Serial Number Search Results - PV-1 Ventura 49452 "49452 (MSN 237-6268) to New Zealand Apr 18, 1944 as NZ4613. Shot down Cape Narum, New Ireland, New Guinea Jun 9, 1945. Crashed into a mountain near Kimidam. The aircraft was dispatched on a leaflet dropping mission and failed to return. The wreckage was discovered in November 1945. Wreck still extant 1992." Historical Research Agency (HRA) Photographs of 13 Air Force Operational Locations [13th Air Force photographs taken by RNZAF Missing Personnel Investigation Unit" photograph index page 5 (IRSUM: 00913798) 7795: [Fenced area and wreckage] and 7797: [Crash site on hillside] ADF Serials - PV-1 Ventura NZ4613 WW2 Nominal Roll - Norman Egerton Merfield, WX14946 CWGC - Norman Harold Benton CWGC - James Noel Cunneen CWGC - Robert Hugh MacFarquhar Buchanan CWGC - Christopher Charles William Jeffares CWGC - James George Gardiner Mallett CWGC - Norman Egerton Merfield FindAGrave - James Noel Cunneen (grave photo) FindAGrave - Christopher Charles William Jeffares FindAGrave - Sergeant Norman Egerton Merfield (Rabaul Memorial photo) "For Your Tomorrow Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998: A Record of New Zealanders Who Have Died While Serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services Since 1915 by Errol Martyn's Volplane Press Christchurch, 1999 The Wreck of NZ4613 by Chis Bittner includes photos of the wreck via WayBack Machine Sept 9, 2007 Thanks to K. Munday 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 June 29, 2024 |
 PV-1 Photo Archive  MIA 1 Missing |
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