Gasmata

The airplane departed Vivigani Airfield (Goodenough Island, Mile Bay Province) on an operation to the airport of Gasmata. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed southeast of Awirin Island, south of Gasmata. Lost without trace.
Crew:
F/O David John Forrest, pilot,
F/O Kenneth Gladstone Holmes, observer,
F/Sgt James Henry Hatfield, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Noel Loveday, wireless operator and air gunner.

The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight when he sent a brief mayday message and informed ground that a fire broke out in the cabin. Shortly later, the seaplane crashed into the Solomon Sea, some 50 km south of Gasmata. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (11th Squadron):
W/Cdr Francis Blomfield Chapman, pilot,
Sgt Ronald Noblett Stephens, copilot,
Sgt John Edward Dewhurst, flight engineer,
Lac Robert George Docking, flight engineer,
F/O John Trevor David Todd, navigator,
F/O Stanley Alfred Deacon, radio operator,
Lac Colin Neville Anderson, armourer,
F/O Malcolm Bradshaw, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Lloyd George Stanley, wireless operator and air gunner.

The airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Gasmata. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was eventually found 66 years later, in May 2008. Some bullet holes were noted in the tail.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O Graham Ian Gibson, pilot,
P/O Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, copilot,
Sgt Arthur Edward Quail,
Sgt Barton Irving Coutie.