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| RNZAF 25 Squadron   1944 via Aliastar Pearce |
Pilot Pilot Officer Geoffrey Haughton Cray, 4213648 (MIA / KIA) Napier, NZ Gunner F/SGT Frank Desmond Bell, 413244 (MIA / KIA) Woolston, NZ MIA April 17, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 5526. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) bureau number 36898. Disassembled and shipped across the Pacific to New Zealand as part of defense aid. Wartime History On February 24, 1944 assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Douglas Dauntless serial number NZ5050. Reassembled by 25 Servicing Unit. This aircraft was ferried from Espiritu Santo to Piva North Airfield on Bougainville. On March 24, 1944 assigned to 25 Squadron. Nicknamed "Prune's Progrss" on the left side of the fuselage in block letters. On the right side of the cockpit was the 25 Squadron motif a diving bird with their motto "Kia Kaha" Māori language meaning "Stay Strong". Mission History On April 17, 1944 took off from Piva Airfield piloted by Pilot Officer Geoffrey H. Cray as one of eleven SBDs on a bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Over the target, the formation experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire and this aircraft was shot down. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Both are memorialized at Bourail War Cemetery on the Bourail Memorial on panel 5. Relatives Alisdair Pearce (nephew): "My own belief that the plane that was referenced in the NZ Operations Room Log is not No.5050 after all (this new thinking is based on information sourced from a US intelligence report which came in after my NZ report was sourced. It states that a Dumbo did fly the area as stated in the Ops Room Log (25 Squadron), but unlike the NZ report, the U.S. report states that they did pick up a crew from TBF Avenger 25541 piloted by Lt Lee - which leads me to believe that the plane that went down in the water was never in fact No. 5050 to begin with). Source: U.S. COMAIRSOLS STRIKE COMMAND SBD INTELLGENCE and TBF INTELLIGENCE for Strike 17 April 1944. There is a possibility this aircraft actually crashed near Tobera Airfield in a ravine from interviews with former squadron mates." References 25 Squadron Operations Room Log: April 17, 1944: "SBD Operations advised that all aircraft had returned from strike with the exception of one of ours 5050. SBD operations asked AACS to signal Green Island and inquire whether 5050 had landed there. Flight control were asked whether any information had been received regarding 5050. They said that this aircraft had not landed at Green Island and that a Dumbo had searched for two hours in the vicinity of a position given to them by a Major Todd without result. An aircraft gave this position over the radio intending to make a water landing." COMAIRSOLS STRIKE COMMAND SBD INTELLGENCE and TBF INTELLIGENCE for Strike 17 April 1944 CWGC - Geoffrey Haughton Cray CWGC - Frank Desmond Bell ADF Serials / NZ Serials - Douglas Dauntless NZ5050 Kiwi Aircraft Images - Douglas Dauntless NZ5050 Thanks to Alisdair Pearce 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 27, 2022 |
 SBD MIA 2 Missing |
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