| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | NEA0164 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Place made | Australia: Queensland, North Queensland, Cairns |
| Date made | c 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Two RAAF Intelligence Officers, 255538 Flying Officer (FO) Harold Peter Moschetti (left) and ...
Description
Two RAAF Intelligence Officers, 255538 Flying Officer (FO) Harold Peter Moschetti (left) and 255266 FO Stuart Patrick King, examine aerial photographs of the Japanese-held Kahili airstrip on Bougainville Island through a stereoscope. FO Moschetti, was a musical director at the Tivoli theatre in Melbourne before enlisting in the RAAF, and FO Stuart, a solicitor from Ararat, Victoria. FO King was posted to No 20 Squadron as an Intelligence Officer and was killed when A24-25, a Catalina from No 11 Squadron, is presumed to have crashed in the sea on 28 February 1943. A24-25 failed to return from an anti-submarine patrol off Cairns to protect a convoy and left the convoy at dusk to return to Cairns. A garbled message was received at 2251 hours EAST which contained the words "Force land". There was no further news from the aircraft. RAAF Guards reported that an aircraft had been seen circling Fitzroy Island. An aircraft rounded Cape Grafton and disappeared in a north easterly direction. A three day search for the aircraft was unsuccessful. It was believed that the Catalina may have crashed into the sea north east of Green Island.
The crew of A24-25 were as follows:
Captain, 140 Wing Commander John (Jack) William Daniell, 2nd Pilot, 250281 Squadron Leader Eric Hamilton Barkley, Navigator, 406672 Flying Officer (FO) Lewis (Lou) Melvin Dunham, 1st Engineer, 408861 Sergeant Norman Notley Moore, 2nd Engineer, 2437 Corporal (Cpl) John Corbett Stain, (No 20 Squadron), 1st W/T Operator, 402703 Sergeant (Sgt) Allen Richard Eather, 2nd W/T Operator, 415378 Sgt Alexander Eric John Elsbury, Rigger, 5778 Sgt John Daniel O'Grady, Armourer 13970 Cpl Douglas Giffen Shaw Russell, Supernumerary, 22692 Sgt Keith Arnold Watson and Supernumerary, 255266 FO Stuart Patrick King (Intelligence Officer No 20 Squadron)