World War II aircraft located in Papua New Guinea

After 82 years, the wreckage of a Royal Australian Air Force Beaufort aircraft lost during a World War II mission has been located in the rugged Baining Mountains of East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.

This discovery ends more than eight decades of uncertainty for families of the Australian crew who disappeared with the aircraft.

The crew of Beaufort A9-211 were:

• Pilot: Flight Sergeant (FSGT) John Eardley Kenny
• Navigator: FSGT Arthur John Davies
• Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: FSGT Thomas Burrowes
• Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: FSGT Murray Fairbairn

On 14 December 1943, Beaufort A9-211 from No.100 Squadron was undertaking a night mission when it reportedly encountered adverse weather conditions. Tragically, the aircraft never returned to base and was declared missing. 

In 2021, Air Force was alerted to wreckage located in the Baining Mountains. Following extensive research and analysis, the wreckage was formally identified as Beaufort A9-211. 

The Australian Government remains committed to the recovery, identification and burial of all personnel who died while serving – no matter how many years may pass.

Over the past decade, Air Force has identified seven missing aircraft, recovered remains of two aviators and accounted for 41 aviators deemed missing in action from World War II.

The search continues for the more than 3,140 missing aviators with no known grave, involving over 1,000 missing aircraft from World War II and the Korean War.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh:

“This aircraft discovery is significant and offers the chance to provide closure to families who have long wondered about the final resting place of loved ones.

“The Australian Government is committed to honouring the service and sacrifice of Australian military personnel from all theatres of war. 

“It is a measure of who we are as a nation that we continue to strive to find, recover and identify our missing service personnel.

"We are grateful for the support and assistance provided by authorities in Papua New Guinea throughout this process, particularly the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery, without which the investigation could not have taken place.”

MEDIA NOTE:

Media can access imagery at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20253678