Beaufighter A19-202, crashed-celebes 6/12/44
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:31 am
On the 6/12/44 My great Uncle, a navigator in 30sqn. RAAF, was killed when his aircraft, a beaufighter serial number A19-202, piloted by F/Lt A R McPHERSON, crashed into the side of a hill while attacking a motor transport on a road. The crash was witnessed by another beaufighter flying in company. The crash occurred 14miles east of Capr Binta (which i have found no mention of other than in my great uncle's log book, and documents gained from the National Archives, so i assume it now has a different name). The position of the crash is 123.43/E, 00.51/N. The report i have states that the pilot of the other aircraft, Flight Lieutenant G.J Miersch, saw A19-202 begin it's attack on the motor transport, looked away to turn on his reflector sight, and saw a bright flash out of the corner of his eye. He looked back to the target area to see a large fire blazing on the hill-side.
My great uncle's body as recovered, and was in fact moved from it's original location in the Makassar war cemetry, Celebes, to where it is today on Ambon.
I would love to gather more information and i wonder if anything of the crash site remains, if anyone knows anything i would really appreciate replies. I have my great Uncle's complete log book, and other documents from the national archives, as well as a photo of the squadron. (this photo is not labelled and while i assume it is of 30sqn. i suppose it may be of the training units he belonged to before hand.
Hope everyone shares my interest and i would be happy to share any of the information i have gathered with anyone else.
Thanks all,
Nick
My great uncle's body as recovered, and was in fact moved from it's original location in the Makassar war cemetry, Celebes, to where it is today on Ambon.
I would love to gather more information and i wonder if anything of the crash site remains, if anyone knows anything i would really appreciate replies. I have my great Uncle's complete log book, and other documents from the national archives, as well as a photo of the squadron. (this photo is not labelled and while i assume it is of 30sqn. i suppose it may be of the training units he belonged to before hand.
Hope everyone shares my interest and i would be happy to share any of the information i have gathered with anyone else.
Thanks all,
Nick