Defence Magazine

On 18 September 1945, just after the end of World War II in the Pacific, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Dakota departed Moratai in the Molucca Island group. Later on that morning, the aircraft crashed into the Jayawijaya Range, below Puncak Jaya. There were no known survivors. The aircraft's manifest indicated that there were 28 passengers on board. However, it is now known that a 29th passenger, Lieutenant (LT) Alun Jones of the Australian Army, boarded the aircraft in Moratai for an early return to Australia.

The wreckage remained lost until an American missionary pilot, Jerry Reeder, located it in 1967. Recovery operations were mounted in 1970 and 1999. In 2001, due to the efforts of mining company PT Freeport Indonesia staff, the RAAF became aware that there was still a significant quantity of skeletal remains at the site. This led to the mounting of Exercise DAKOTA RECOVERY in May this year.

With the assistance of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) and the Air Force Attaché in Jakarta, Exercise DAKOTA RECOVERY was designed to make a final repatriation of the skeletal remains. The support of PT Freeport Indonesia was vital to the success of the Exercise.

Among the bodies identified was that of LT Jones, confirming his presence on the aircraft and enabling his Service record to be finalised.

By any measure, Exercise DAKOTA RECOVERY was an outstanding success and is a tribute to the level of cooperation between the RAAF and TNI-AU, and the support of PT Freeport Indonesia. Further, it graphically demonstrates the value that the Air Force places on its people.

On a Clear Day in 1945

By Squadron Leader Jennifer Dowling

Air Force Nurses receiving Aeromedical Evacuation training during WWII

On a clear day flying in a Dakota could be an enjoyable task in the tropics. But on 18 September 1945, on what was expected to be an uneventful aeromedical evacuation flight from Morotai to Townsville, the weather appears to have closed in.

Dakota A61-65, VH-CUT, of No. 38 Squadron left Biak for Horn Island, via Merauke en route to Townsville but the aircraft crashed into ragged ranges at 4270 metres near Puncak Jaya in the Jayawijaya Range. Twenty-nine lives were lost.

On board were five flight crew, 17 Army patients, two Army soldiers and three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircrew returning home, and two Medical Aeromedical Evacuation Transport Unit staff - Sister Marie Craig (Drummoyne, New South Wales) and Sergeant Francis Blackmore (Hindmarsh, South Australia).

This is the story of Medical Aeromedical Evacuation Unit (MAETU) and that fateful day.

Nursing Sister Marie Eileen Craig, RAAF Nursing Service (RAAFNS), joined the RAAF in 1943. Sister Craig completed her four years of general nursing training at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney in 1942 and midwifery at Crown Street Women's Hospital in 1943, just prior to joining the RAAFNS.

Sister Craig's first posting was to No. 3 RAAF Hospital in Concord, New South Wales (NSW). From there, nine months later, she moved to No. 1 RAAF Hospital in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Back at No. 3 RAAF Hospital (now located at Richmond), Sister Craig volunteered for the newly established MAETU. Following two weeks training at Laverton, Sister Craig was posted to No. 2 MAETU at Watsonia in April 1945 and onto Morotai in May 1945. Morotai is located to the northeast of Halmahera Island in the Moluccas, about half way between the southern tip of the Philippines and the northwestern tip of Indonesian Papua.

Loading patients on to a Dakota for Aeromedical Evacuation during WWII

Sergeant Blackmore joined the RAAF in September 1941 as a Nursing Orderly. After completing the eight-week No. 24 Nursing Orderly course at No. 6 Hospital Laverton, Sergeant Blackmore was posted to numerous medical facilities including Barmera, Renmark, Nhill and Wagga Wagga. He joined No. 2 MAETU in April 1945, completing the same MAETU training course as Sister Craig. He was posted to Moratai in July 1945.

Intensive training for nurses and medical orderlies selected for the MAETU began in February 1944. Tests in altitude and physical fatigue, and instruction in water survival skills indicate the demanding and dangerous nature of this assignment. On board the Douglas DC47 aircraft used for this work, the RAAFNS Sister and Medical Orderly (later to become Medical Assistant) were responsible for the loading, positioning and medical care of each patient during the flight.

The MAETU staff flew about 72 hours a month and these flights transported wounded men from forward battle areas back to base hospitals in New Guinea and then onto Australia if required. Sister Craig was one of two RAAF nurses who lost their lives while serving in MAETUs; the other was Sister Verdun Sheah from 1 MAETU based at Nadzab, Papua New Guinea. Known as the 'Nightingales in New Guinea', MAETU nurses and medical orderlies also participated in the repatriation of Prisoners of War from Singapore.

On the morning of 18 September 1945, the dawn was still, hot and humid - a typical Morotai morning. Stretchers and walking patients were loaded and at 0645 hours the aircraft took off for Biak. Sister Craig was looking forward to three days leave on arrival in Brisbane to visit her family in Sydney and Sergeant Blackmore was returning to his wife and son in Adelaide. Arriving at Biak at 1000 hours, the aircraft refuelled and 45 mins later left for Horn Island, via Merauke. The weather report was for clear weather.

Air Force Nursing Sisters and Dakota during WWII

Normally, aircraft would fly directly south, following the Geelvink track over Japen Island, cross the Gooses Neck and turn left and track coastal over Frederik Hendrik Island to Merauke and onto Horn Island for refuelling before continuing to either Higgins Field on Cape York or onto Townsville. On this day, the pilot decided to fly the direct route over the Jayawijaya Ranges, with peaks nearly 5000 metres high. Consequently, when the aircraft went down it remained undiscovered for the next 23 years, as the search parties only explored the Geelvink track.

There have been three authorised RAAF recovery trips, the first two only lasting a short time due to the extreme cold, hypoxia and changeable weather including rain, snow and high winds. The last trip, in June 2005, was better supported and the team recovered most of what was left from previous trips. After the first trip in 1970, the remains recovered were buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Bomana in Port Moresby and there will be another ceremony later this year to finally put to rest the last remains recovered.

Rest in Peace, Lest we Forget.

SQNLDR Jennifer Dowling is proud to be a RAAF Nurse, and having recently retired from full time duty, will continue her interest in RAAF Medical History.

Photos courtesy of RAAF Ground Negative Library

Defence

Air Force

Recovering Dakota

In May this year Exercise DAKOTA RECOVERY, a joint exercise between the Royal Australian Air Force and the Indonesian Air Force, was mounted to recover remains and personal effects from Dakota A65-61 which crashed in the Papua highlands on 18 September 1945.

On a Clear Day in 1945