Fragment of Japanese bomber shot down by Wing Commander C Caldwell : Sergeant A J R Arnott, Australian Army Medical Corps

Misshapen fragment of 2 mm thick alloy. The piece appears to be made from a high tensile, temperature resistant superalloy (similar to Inconel) commonly found in the vicinity of the engine cowling. There is some heat discolouring consistent with this. The fragment bears evidence of a double row of rivets of the smaller Japanese size, consistent with a location adjacent to the engine, and the edges bear evidence of high speed impact - there are a series of stress fractures along all edges. The part has also been distorted by a crash and and there are markings and indentations where other fixtures have been impacted into the skin.

Fragment of Japanese bomber shot down near Darwin in June 1943 and attributed to Wing Commander Clive 'Killer" Caldwell. The precise date of the downing of this bomber is unclear - probably 20, 28 or 30 June 1943. This alloy fragment, most likely associated with the bomber's engine/exhaust fittings due to its high tensile and temperature resistant properties, was recovered from the crash site by VX121156 Sergeant Arthur John Rolla Arnott, from Richmond, Victoria, who served with 12 Australian Field Ambulance and was dispatched to the crash site to check for survivors. Sergeant Arnott, who enlisted on 2 September 1942, was discharged on 8 May 1944.