Wing Commander Keith M. Rundle, OBE
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Searcher Team

Background
Keith Manson Rundle was born on March 20, 1913 in Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. On July 26, 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and during World War II was assigned to the RAAF Casualty Section in Melbourne.

RAAF Searcher Team
In the immediate postwar years, Rundle ran the RAAF Searcher Team locating missing aircraft and Australian personnel. His explorations led to the discovery and investigation of many aircraft wrecks and recovery of their crew members including U.S. aircraft and personnel.

During 1945-1947, Rundle was most active, conducting searches in Australia, Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) and the Territory of Papua and Territory of New Guinea today Papua New Guinea (PNG). Long afterwards, Rundle remained active in wreck investigations whenever his services were needed by the RAAF, or when a new wreck was reported.

Rundle was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1950 and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1965. On May 24, 1967 he retired with the rank of Wing Commander.

Crash Sites Investigated
Below is an incomplete list of aircraft wrecks and other sites located or visited by Rundle.

RAAF Aircraft
Anson LT294  remains recovered in 1965
Beaufighter A19-1  visited 1946
Wirraway A20-492  wreckage found by Rundle 1946 or 1947
Vengeance A27-276  wreckage investigated by Rundle June 1946
Hudson A16-101  located 1946
Hudson A16-91  located March 20, 1946

RAF Aircraft
C-47B Dakota KN 344  visited postwar

American Aircraft
P-47D "Fascinatin' Phil" 42-75291  visited postwar, remains recovered
B-25C "Aurora" 41-1279  visited 1945, recovered remains of Hamilton
B-25G Mitchell 42-64846  visited 1946 (?)
B-17E 41-2643  visited 1946
B-17E "Texas #6" 41-9207  visited March 12, 1946
B-17E "Why Don't We Do This More Often" 41-2429  visited March 35, 1946
B-25C Mitchell 41-12491  visited December 1946
F-7B Liberator 44-40422  visited 1947, two unidentified bodies recovered
B-24J Liberator 44-41258  visited June 27, 1947
A-20G Havoc 43-9180  visited June 1947
B-25D "The Wolf Pack" 41-30099  visited 1948
A-20G Havoc 42-86618  visited February 1948, two unidentified bodies recovered
B-25C "Algernon IV" 41-12485  visited January 1957, recovered six sets of remains
B-25D 41-30532  visited 1961 during a joint Australian Administration , RAAF Searcher Team and US Army recovery team

Mass Graves
Matupi Island  May - June 1947, 1950

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - Keith Manson Rundle
Search in the "Never Never"  film includes RAAF party was led by Group Captain Keith Rundle
The Searchers includes references and photos of Rundle
The London Gazette - MBE Notification
The London Gazette - OBE Notification
RAAF Searcher Team S/Ldr Rundle report, August 12, 1946
Report by S/Ldr Rundle No. 58(c) Babo Area, 6-1947
Report by S/Ldr Rundle on United States Liberator Aircraft Recovered Kasar, Senindara River, Babo Area
Thanks to SQNLDR Greg Williams, Daniel Leahy and Bruce Hoy for additional information

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