Lt. David R. Marsh
Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU)

Background
David Roger Marsh was born on December 28, 1921 in Sydney, New South Wales in Australia.

Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific War, assigned to Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) based at Abau Island off the southern coast of New Guinea with the rank of Warrant Officer (WO). In the early months of the Pacific War, Marsh met rescued Allied airmen that transited via Abau Island bound for Port Moresby. On May 27, 1942 he was enlisted in the Australian Army with service number P473 at Port Moresby.

On September 5, 1942 when three crashed Japanese D3A1 Val dive bombers were spotted on the beach at Doba (Deba) bordering Table Bay, Marsh was tasked to investigate and departed by launch with Lt. Bilston, four Royal Papuan Constabularies, a boat driver and a cook. Later they visited the crash sites of the three dive bombers: D3A1 Val 3110, D3A1 Val 3114 and D3A1 Val 3287 then moved inland in to find the six downed airmen. On the second day of the pursuit, they located the Japanese and fired on them, ordering them to surrender. Instead the Japanese fired back with their machine guns and fled into the hills. Giving chase, the Royal Papuan Constabularies killed three of the Japanese while exchanging gun fire.


During December 1942, Marsh searched for C-47 "Flying Dutchman" after several survivors walked to safety but was unable to locate the crash site.

Postwar
On February 4, 1946 discharged from ANGAU with the rank of Lieutenant. Afterwards, continued to serve as a Patrol Officer (Kiap) in New Guinea.

On September 2, 1961 a team from U.S. Army led by Lt. Joseph Wheeler with Sergeant Henry Paolillo guided by Australian Patrol Officer (Kiap) David Marsh trekked to the aircraft crash sites reported during the search for Piaggio P.166 "Mount Clarence" VH-PAU. The team located the crash of B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2505 crashed on Mount Obree (Mt. Obree). The team incorrectly concluded the crew bailed out and survived.

References
WW2 Nominal Roll - David Roger Marsh, P473
ANGAU War Diary May 1944 Appendix A pages 5-6
"US Graves Registration Service Wrecked Transport - "Flying Dutchman"
(Page 5) "1. In a report from the Assistant District Officer ANGAU at Rigo, dated 18 Dec 42, the names of 4 survivors of a transport was wrecked on a mountain behind Mount Brown on 10 Nov 1942, were given - Sgt Holleman, Pte August, Pte Moeley, Cpl Kershner"
(Page 6) "12. Two ANGAU ground parties were sent in search of the Flying Dutchman, one part under Lt. ETHEL and one under Lieut. MARSH which included US personnel. Further information is being sought from the AO TUFI and you will be advised when this is at hand."
John Douglas adds:
"I talked to David Marsh. In April 1942 he was at Abau as a WO with ANGAU, Chased the Japanese Val crews at Table Bay, Rescued Bender twice [Mullins Harbor and again as Bender tramped over the ranges after he crashed near Kokoda] went hunting for the C-47 Flying Dutchman crew several times, rescued a P-39 pilot in the same area [near Imri] plus several others too. He's just started taping his memoirs, he's done 5 days last week talking to his old colonial typist from 1946. His memory is as clear as a bell."
Thanks to David Marsh for additional information

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