Crash Lake Myola No 2 Png November 1942., Stinson Reliant or another aircraft

[PeterMurray]

My question relates to a crashed aircraft at Lake Myola No 2 PNG November 1942.
At the Australian War Memorial the photo (AWM P02423.014, copy of image attached) shows an inverted twin engine aircraft (Ford Trimotor) and a bogged single engine aircraft in the foreground. The AWM has attributed the date incorrectly to the photo. ADF-serials and RAAF records show the impressed Ford Trimotor from 33 SQN crashed at Myola on 24 Nov 1942. So the photo is that day or later.
However the AWM states the bogged aircraft in the right of the photo as a Stinson Reliant aircraft.
Because of its dual struts it can only be a "Straight Wing" Reliant. The last Stinson Reliant with straight wings was the SR6 (1935).

If the date for this photo is late 1942, is it possible:
a. the USAAF operated Stinson Reliants in PNG in 1942, or
b. this was an civilian aircraft impressed into service, and if so which service.

Is anyone able to help in relation to this puzzle

regards
Peter

This post has been edited by PeterMurray on May 12 2008, 03:45 PM

Attached Image

[Wynnum]

Peter,
I think the photo shows a USAAF O-49 Stinson Vigilant. The RAAF had access to two of these, 41-18959 and 41-19050, in the period Dec42-Feb43 mostly flown by W Off Dangerfield on duty for RAAF 15RSU. Some ops to Myola etc are recorded in 33 Sqn ORB.
Cheers, Wynnum.

[PeterMurray]

Hi Wynnum,

Thanks for such a prompt and detailed reply. Going on your info it appears that the aircraft type maybe incorrectly recorded as well as the date. Would this be the guy who possibly flew the aircraft:
DANGERFIELD, JOSEPH HENRY
Service Number 24970
Date of Birth 23 Apr 1911
Place of Birth BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND
Date of Enlistment 28 Feb 1941
Locality on Enlistment TOWNSVILLE
Date of Discharge 29 Nov 1945
Rank Warrant Officer

It leads me to try and work out a movement of aircraft into and out of Myola No 2 during the period August to Dec 1942, or at least the types that landed at Myola. There were very heavy rains from mid October to early November which hampered aircraft movements, so there are not too many movement days during the period.

I wonder if USAAF crewed aircraft landed at Myola.
At the RAAF site I note that 33 SQN flew Tiger Moths into Myola No 2.
A Lockheed Hudson is reported in the 25 Brigade war diaries as landing at Myola.

Are you aware if 33 SQN's unit history for that period is available online, like the ground force war diaries are available at the AWM?

thanks and regards
Peter

This post has been edited by PeterMurray on May 19 2008, 01:27 PM

[Wynnum]

Peter,

Can't help on Dangerfield.
33 Sqn ORB is at Aust Archives Control Symbol 63. Start from the back.
I'm at wbg@bigpond.com pls let me know how you are progressing.
You might want to do a study on Gerry Pentland - amazing chap.

Cheers, Wynnum.

This post has been edited by Wynnum on May 19 2008, 07:52 PM

[PeterMurray]

Hi Wynnum,

Thanks for your advice. It's a pity the details of 33SQN from mid 1942 to 31 Dec42 don't appear to exist in the archives. I will contact you directly about Gerry Pentland. Just to close the loop, I discovered the following in the archives regarding Dangerfield. It appears there may have been two Stinson incidents at Myola.

Control symbol 163/100/330
DANGERFIELD Collins Lancelot - Warrant Officer);
Service Number - 37520;
File type - Casualty - Repatriation;
Aircraft - Vultee 118959;
Place - Myola, Papua New Guinea;
Date - 4 December 1942

regards
Peter

[Brendan Cowan]

It's been a while since we we last discussed the 33 Sqn O-49A's but I'm putting a page together on what we know of them.

I'll publish that soon and see if anyone can shed any more light.

Cheers

Brendan

Attached Image

[Brendan Cowan]

Here is our new page on this type:

Vultee Stinson Vigilant http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a64.htm

We could do with more details on this type including the reasons that the A64 serial range was allocated at at all!

Anyway, this is a little bit of what we know so far about these aircraft in RAAF sevice.

Cheers

Brendan

[Warhawk]

Found the other half of the pic(sic) after an exhaustive search

So the ID of this Crash is( Ripped gear below, or is it the rescue of parts of the other?): OA-49 41-19050 :blink:

Still with USAAF cockade

Best
Gordy

Attached Image

[Brendan Cowan]

Great Stuff Gordy!

I'll add that to the page.

Cheers

BC

[Warhawk]

Okay,..after a bit of USAAF searching. Without any reference looking to what's on this site per LC-1s(O-49s)

L-1C 41-18958Assembled at CAC Fisherman Island following delivery in 12th August 1942 ex USA on SS Egbert Benson*. Tfred to RAAF 33 Sqn 13/11/42. Crashed Chestnut Bay , south east of Port Moresby 14/11/42. Salvaged by 15RSU Dec 42.

LC-1 41-18959 Assembled at CAC Fisherman Island following delivery in August 1942 ex USA. Ship unknown.Tfred to RAAF 33 Sqn 13/11/42. Crashed on landing at Myola Lake NG 24/11/42. Repaired insitu by 26/01/43 at Myola Lake by 15RSU and flown to Berry Strip on 26/01/43. Was on strength with 33 Sqn RAAF as far as Feb 1943. Thereafter,..NFDs till I look up the USAAF IR Card.

LC-1 41-19050 Assembled at CAC Fisherman Island following delivery in 12th August 1942 ex USA on SS Egbert Benson*. Reported with 33 Sqn RAAF 10/11/42. Tfred to 15RSU during Jan 43. With 15RSU between 11-29/01/43 making 12 trips between Myola Lakes and Berry Strip when salvaging parts from 41-18959 as pictured above. Was on strength with 33 Sqn RAAF as far as Feb 1943. Thereafter,..NFDs till I look up the USAAF IR Card.

In all three cases, the parent unit was the 22 TCs (USAAF) at Archerfield from Delivery to November 1942

* This ship also carried 6 P-43s (later tfred to RAAF) and 8 F4 Lightnings ( including some RAAF)
P-43s 41-31495/497/499/500 &41-6692 and 41-6707
F4s 41-2098/2130/2137/2139/2140/2156/2177 for USAAF 8thRS/41-2158 and 41-2159 (RAAF Pair)

Best
Gordy ( Slow walking and talkin researcher) :blink:

[Brendan Cowan]

Well Done Gordy,

I'll include that in the next page edit.

Sadly with the ammount of travel I'm doing with work, I'm miles behind on page updates.

Never mind, we'll get there!

Cheers


BC