WORLD WAR 2 ACCIDENT KILLS 59 AND INJURES OVER 100 - Port Moresby Airfield - 7 Sep 1943
The following statements were extracted from the War Diary of the 2/33 Infantry Battalion, AIF. (Held in AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA, ACT) REPORT OF COURT OF INQUIRY ON ACCIDENT INVOLVING DEATH AND INJURIES TO PERSONNEL OF2/33 AUST INF BN AND 2/33 AND 158 AUST GENERAL TRANSPORT COMPANY.
1. On the morning of the 7 Sep 1943 a number of trucks containing personnel of 2/33 Aust Inf Bn were marshalled at 7 Aust Division Marshalling area for emplaning of troops. Among these were eighteen (18) trucks marked with emplaning aerial numbers - M132 to M149 inclusive, containing personnel of 2/33 Inf Bn. The drivers of the trucks were members of 2/33 and 158 Gen Tpt Coys. These trucks were in the area ear-marked for Marshalling for DURANDS aerodrome. The trucks had been marshalled in this area preparatory to moving to Assembly Area for emplaning on DURANDS drome. The emplaning was part of an operational move by 25 Aust Inf Bde to an operational area. At approx 0420 hrs on 7 Sep 1943 a Liberator Bomber with eleven (11) personnel of US Army Air Force took off from JACKSON'S Aerodrome. The Bomber was loaded with 4 x 500lb bombs and 2800 gallons of petrol. The plane was noticed by several personnel in the Marshalling Area to be flying very low when suddenly the port wing apparently tipped one of the branches of a tree, the hit the tree and crashed. These trees are on the downward slope of a small ridge. Immediatly following the crash two (2) loud explosions occured and parts of the plane flew in all direections. In addition to this petrol was sprayed over a large area and extensive fires occurred. Several witnesses gave evidence that on of the engines on the Bomber was on fire prior to the crash, but the Court is of the opinion that what they saw was a flame from the super-charger. Five trucks, Nos M145 to M149 inclusive, caught fire and were hit by the flying wreckage of the aeroplane. Personnel in these five trucks were either killed outright of injured. The total number of Australian personnel killed outright were fifteen (15). In addition Forty-four (44) have since died of their injuries. Ninety-two (92) were injured and admitted to hospital and present indications are that most of these will recover. In addition all Eleven (11) member of the crew of the Liberator were killed. The crash immediatly detonated three of the bombs, two distinct explosion taking place, and the fourth bomb not exploding. Immediatly after the crash and explosion attempts were made to get near the immediate vicinity of the crash to extricate injured and dead but it was impossible to do so owing to the fierce blaze. A number of injured with their clothes and equipment on fire got through the blaze themselves and were given what assistance and first-aid that was possible in that area. Capt SEDDON took prompt steps to call medical assistance and ambulances, a large number of both of which was on the spot in a very short time. All injured were immediately taken either to the 2/5 Aust General Hospital or the 2/9 Aust General Hospital with exception of two (2) who were taken to 2/5 Aust Field Ambulance and two (2) men were taken to a US Hospital, the latter not being in a fit condition to be moved. Prompt action was also taken by Capt SEDDON to obtain fire-fighting equipment which was on the scene in a short time. Ammunition continued to explode and the fierce blaze continued for a period of about one (1) hour, and the earliest moment, having due regard to consideration of reasonable safety, The reamaining bodies, all of whom were dead, and the majority of whom were mutilated and charred as the render recognition impossible, were extracated from the trucks and the area immediatlely surrounding them and placed in another truck. All possible steps were taken to find any evidence to enable recognition of the bodies. The best count of bodies, possible under the circumstances, was made on the spot. Eleven (11) men were extracated early in the morning but it was not possible to extracate a further five (5) owing to the continuance of fires, until later on in the morning. All these bodies were sent to the 2/5 aust General Hospital and arrangments made by the hospital for an accurate count of the mutilated bodies. All possible attempts were made to gather further information which might lead to the identification of any of the bodies.
IDENTITY of AUSTRALIAN SERVICEMEN KILLED.
The servicemen listed below were killed instantly or died from Burns and Injuries received on Tuesday, 7 Sep 1943.
*This letter was received from John Nixon's father with regards to the above serviceman's estate. The letter appears on his Pay File - Series J1193/2 held in National Archives of Australia (Brisbane).
QUOTE - Dear Sir, Referring to the items on this list, there is nothing mentioned that Mrs NIXON or myself cares to have. Please do not send anything at all. My son had a 10 pound gold wrist watch but taking into consideration that the black adder burnt him and eighty of the balance of Don Company under a laod of bombs and 2000 gallons of petrol. I do expect to see the watch. I went to a lot of trouble to get the fact conserning this business; but as the hush hush held sway I had to go into the battle field and amongst the boys who loaded the guns to get what I was after and got it. Signed - M.A. NIXON. UNQUOTE.
18. PRESTON, Hartley Roy, Pte, NX96055; 2/33 Inf Bn. 19. QUINN, James Desmond, Pte, NX88065; 2/33 Inf Bn. 20. REID, Robert Michael, Pte, SX27897; 2/33 Inf Bn. 22. REINKE, Jack Richard, WO2, QX1585; 2/33 Inf Bn. 22. SHIELS, Roy Alexander, Pte, QX34862; 2/33 Inf Bn. 23. SIMMONDS, George Charles, Pte, QX3124; 2/33 Inf Bn. 24. SLADE, Basil Henry, Pte, NX37382; 2/33 Inf Bn. 25. SMALLEY, Edward Joseph, Pte, NX39846; 2/33 Inf Bn. 26. SMITH, Cecil Harold Bede, Pte, NX141881; 2/33 inf Bn. 27. SMITH, Francis Ronald, Pte, QX3854; 2/33 Inf Bn. 28. SMITH, William, Pte, NX97042; 2/33 Inf Bn. 29. SPEAR, John Sidney, Pte, NX50797; 2/33 Inf Bn. 30. STEW, Arthur William, Pte, DX115; 2/33 Inf Bn. 31. SWIFT, David Victor, Pte, SX18977; 2/33 Inf Bn. 32. TARANTO, Joseph Vincent, Dvr, NX154261; 158 Gen Tpt Coy. 33. WARD, Charles Lenard, Pte, WX13761; 2/33 Inf Bn. 34. WEBSTER, Charles James, Pte, NX147563; 2/33 Inf Bn. 35. WHITTLE, Ivan Ernest, Pte, NX97110; 2/33 Inf Bn. 36. WILSON, Joseph, Pte, VX77454; 2/33 Inf Bn. 37. WORKMAN, Robert John, Pte, NX18491; 2/33 Inf Bn. DIED OF BURNS AND INJURIES - Wednesday, 8 Sep 1943 -
38. BRESSINGTON, Frederick Russell, Pte, NX80121; 2/33 Inf Bn. 39. DEVENPORT, Rex Lamington, Pte, NX 80187; 2/33 Inf Bn. 40. GAMBRILL, Allan Wesley, Pte, NX98776; 2/33 Inf Bn. 41. KEARINES, Victor William, Dvr, NX154265, 158 General Transport Company, AASC. 42. KEYS, Malcolm Vincent, A/Cpl; NX37163; 2/33 Inf Bn. 43. LEWIS, Fredric Walter, L/Cpl, SX17755, 2/33 Inf Bn. 44. MYERS, Alfred Collins, Pte, NX95896, 2/33 Inf Bn. 45. O'REGAN, Frederick Timothy, Pte, NX46658, 2/33 Inf Bn. 46. PEARSON, Rupert William Maitland, L/Cpl, NX8932, 2/33 Inf Bn. 47. RICE, Hilary Joseph, Pte, NX81833, 2/33 Inf Bn. 48. RICHARDSON, John Robert, Pte, VX90974, 2/33 Inf Bn. 49. ROBERTS, Phillip, Pte, VX68750, Cook attached to 2/33 Inf Bn. 50. STANTON, Bruce, Pte, NX50334, 2/33 Inf Bn. 51. WESTON, Frederick Frank, A/Cpl, NX15257, 2/33 Inf Bn. DIED OF BURNS AND INJURIES - Thursday, 9 Sep 1943 -
DIED OF BURNS AND INJURIES - Friday, 17 Sep 1942 -
58. WARD, Reginald, L/Cpl, NX47747, 2/33 Inf Bn.
DIED OF BURNS AND INJURIES - Saturday, 18 Sep 1942 -
59. THOMPSON, John Charles, Pte, NX37094, 2/33 Inf Bn.
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