Committal service in Papua New Guinea for two aviators of RAAF Beaufort A9-186

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has conducted a committal service at the Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, for the remains of two aviators of No. 100 Squadron Beaufort A9-186, who lost their lives during a mission in Papua New Guinea in September 1943.

Family representatives of the two aviators, along with Australian and Papua New Guinean dignitaries, attended the service held yesterday morning. 

The two aviators were Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins (pilot) and Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg (navigator).

“Through this service, we honour the ultimate sacrifice of the crew of Beaufort A9-186, and specifically Warrant Officers Wiggins and Grigg,” said Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds AM.

“We also pay our respects to their families and hope this service will bring them closure after eight decades.

“Events such as this help to strengthen long-standing and deep-rooted ties between the vibrant nations of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“It is special to be in this beautiful place which the wartime losses of our two countries has made sacred.”  

The wreckage of Beaufort A9-186 was found in 43 metres of water, 1.4 kilometres southwest of Gasmata airfield, in late 2020.

The aircraft and remains of Warrant Officers Wiggins and Grigg were positively identified following investigations undertaken in February 2022. The remains of the two other crew members on board, Flight Sergeant Albert Beckett and Flight Sergeant Gordon Lewis Hamilton, could not be recovered.

The identification and recovery missions of Beaufort A9-186 were sponsored by Dr Andrew Forrest from the Minderoo Foundation. The initial discovery of A9-186 was made by an Ocean Ecology Pty Ltd dive team working for Dr Forrest, as part of an ongoing search for his uncle, who was lost during a mission to Gasmata while piloting a similar RAAF Beaufort aircraft.

The recovery missions had the full support of all levels of the PNG Government.

No further recovery is planned from the crash site.

Media note

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