The wreckage of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beaufort aircraft, which was lost while on an operational mission during World War 2, has been located in the Baining Mountains of New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The discovery of the wreck of 100 Squadron Beaufort A9-211 brings to an end 82 years of uncertainty about the final resting place of the four Australian crew members who went missing with the aircraft on December 14, 1943.

The crew of Beaufort A9-211 were pilot Flight Sergeant John Eardley Kenny, navigator Flight Sergeant Arthur John Davies and wireless operator/gunners Flight Sergeants Thomas Burrowes and Murray Fairbairn.

Director-General of History and Heritage – Air Force, Air Commodore Robert Lawson, said: “We pay our respects to the crew of Beaufort A9-211, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia.”

“The identification of this aircraft is significant and offers an opportunity to provide closure to families.”

Beaufort A9-211 and its crew from 100 Squadron were participating in a night-time mission against the enemy in Rabaul on December 14, 1943. Other crews involved in the mission reported adverse weather conditions in the area, and when Beaufort A9-211 did not return to its base, it was reported missing. 

RAAF searches in PNG after the war were unsuccessful in locating the aircraft or crew, and eventually the crew were presumed to have been killed in action. 

In 2021, images of wreckage believed to be from a World War 2 aircraft were provided to Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force (HUWC–AF). Following detailed research and review, HUWC–AF positively confirmed the images, including a picture of the Beaufort control yoke, were of the wreckage of a RAAF Beaufort aircraft.

'The identification of this aircraft is significant and offers an opportunity to provide closure to families.'

Further research by the team determined the wreckage could be one of three missing Beaufort aircraft believed lost in New Britain around that time. 

In October, an Air Force investigation team was formed and travelled to the site, including relevant specialists and a field officer from the National Museum and Art Gallery of PNG. Support from a local expedition company and local villages were crucial in conducting the investigation at the site in remote PNG. 

The team’s investigation was able to identify the wreckage as Beaufort A9-211 from manufacturer’s plates from the aircraft that were located at the site. 

“The wreckage was dispersed over more than 200 square metres, in thick vegetation and on a steep slope near the top of a mountain range,” the investigation team leader and Director of HUWC–AF, Group Captain Grant Kelly, said. 

“However, discovering the manufacturer’s plates enabled us to confirm which aircraft it was and, more importantly, identify the crew members who had been on board.”

Other artefacts located at the site included aircraft controls and instrumentation, components of armament including machine gun ammunition and components of parachute harnesses.

The investigation included a systematic search of all accessible areas of the site for human remains and personal items. A small amount of fragmented material requires further analysis to determine its origin. No further activity will occur at the crash site. 

The families of the crew have been notified and preliminary discussions are currently under way for commemorative activities.