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| U.S. Army Auxiliary Ketch  Carfax-Foster 1942–1943 |
Ship History The Hilda Norling was an auxiliary ketch with two masts owned by J. Norling of Port Welshpool, VIC. Wartime History On September 3, 1942 assigned to the U.S. Army, Small Ships Section. Services of Supply, Southwest Pacific Area (USA SOS SWPA) with code S-62. The Hilda Norling retained her civilian crew and operated in New Guinea. On December 6, 1942 while transit between Oro Bay bound for Porlock Harbor under the command of skipper Norm Oddy was attacked by Japanese planes off Sebaga village near the mouth of the Sebaga River and damaged and beached to prevent it from sinking. Aboard, Chief Engineer George K. Smith and the Cook George B. Brooks killed and other crew members wounded. The damage to the ship was turned onto the beach to allow the rest of the crew to escape. The damaged sustained included damage to the anchor wench, wrecked deck house and galley stove was disabled and mast splintered and tanks holed but the main engine. Afterwards, the ship was stripped for usable parts with most equipment removed. Later in the month, Merlinga skippered by Allen Reynolds and towed the damaged vessel to Milne Bay arriving January 20, 1943. The vessel was inspected by Ralph Andrews and advised it was not seaworthy and should only be towed to Townsville. Although the ship was deemed as expendable, Andrews opted to find essential items including a compass from a life raft and sailed the vessel at 4 knots before arriving at Port Moresby during an air raid. Without escort, sailed by dead reckoning to Thursday Island then to Cairns where the crew were hospitalized and the ship underwent permanent repairs. Afterwards, returned to duty and operated from Oro Bay. Sinking History On December 24, 1943 caught fire, exploded and sank at Tufi. Memorials Smith and Brooks were officially declared dead on December 6, 1942. Both are commemorated at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) on the Commemorative Roll. References AWM The auxiliary ketch Hilda Norling (S-62) P04853.046 FindAGrave - George Kenneth Smith FindAGrave - George Barry Brooks Radio Adelaide "Isabel Andrews, Widow of WW2 Small Ships Veteran Ralph Andrews: Remembering Ralph" August 12, 2019 [audio interview] Contribute
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