Milne Bay

The twin engine airplane crashed into the sea off Cape Vogel and was damaged beyond repair. All four crew members reached the shore safely.

The airplane departed Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport in the early morning with a crew of eight and a load of 1,000 pounds of bombs to attack Japanese ships based in the Tonolei Harbor. Approaching the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to base. But the airplane failed to arrive and was lost without trace. On 24 February 1999, a hunter found the wreckage on the top of a ridge located about 8 hours walk from the villages of Nigila and Gopai, Milne Bay Province.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt John S. Hancock, pilot,
Sgt Robert H. Burns, copilot,
1st Lt James W. Carver, navigator,
Cpl Hiram D. Wilkinson, flight engineer,
Sgt Edward R. Cipriani, radio operator,
Sgt Mac S. Groesbeck, air gunner,
Sgt Raymond A. Maxwell, air gunner,
Cpl Curtis F. Longenberger, air gunner.

The twin engine airplane departed Gurney Airfield at 0730LT on a reconnaissance mission east of Milne Bay. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the Gurney - Alotau area. No trace of the airplane nor the crew was found.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O D. L. Gorringe,
F/O G. D. Hum,
Sgt C. L. McCready,
Sgt J. C. McAuliffe.

The airplane departed 7 Mile Aerodrome in Port Moresby on an operation to Rabaul. Approaching the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was attacked by enemy fire as well. The captain decided to return to Port Moresby but after a flight of 3,5 hours, the radio compass failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing on a beach located on Malapla Island. While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all 10 occupants escaped unhurt.
Crew (19th BG):
Cpt Harry J. Hawthorne, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul J. Scarboro, copilot,
2nd Lt Warren E. Bryant, navigator,
2nd Lt Robert J. Haase, bombardier,
S/Sgt Milton P. Kelm, flight engineer,
Pfc Arnold G. Osborne, radio operator,
Cpl Walter T. Buchanan, air gunner,
Michael R. Andrade, air gunner,
S/Sgt Selm, air gunner,
Cpl Paul K. Harmon, air gunner.

The twin engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Deboyne Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Samuel T. Cleveland,
1st Lt Thomas C. Domville,
Sgt John W. Evans,
1st Lt Herman E. Knauer,
S/Sgt Frank Ostroff,
Cpt Richard Royster Royall Jr.,
Cpl Stanley A. Zajewski.

While performing a maritime patrol flight off PNG, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Misima Island. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Godfrey Ellard Hemsworth, pilot,
Sgt Jack Ronald Counter, pilot,
P/O Leopold Guy McClintock, observer,
Sgt John Percy William Bandy, wireless operator,
LAC Norman Robert Banvill, mechanic,
Cpl Colin Marsden, flight engineer,
LAC Kenneth John Arnott, flight engineer,
LAC Eric Dorman, rigger,
LAC Erwin Bruce Brown, armourer.

While on a flight from Rabaul to New Guinea, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing on an Island located in the Trobriand archipelago. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, overturned and came to rest upside down. Two crew members were killed while all five other occupants were injured.

While overflying the Solomon Sea, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed few miles off Trobriand Islands. A crew member was killed (S/Sgt Sam K. Bourne) while all seven other occupants were rescued.