RAAF Beaufort, crew discovered after nearly 80 years

Rewritten by ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Images supplied

In 1943, RAAF Beaufort A9-186 and its crew of four disappeared into the waters of New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
For almost 80 years, the 100 Squadron aircraft turned grave for its crew remained buried out of sight and knowledge.
Now, closure is at hand after Royal Australian Air Force Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman confirmed the identification.

A9-186 went missing on September 5, 1943, south of Gasmata, on the southern coast of New Britian.
It was discovered in 2020 during a mission funded by mining magnate Andrew Forrest and an Ocean Ecology Pty Ltd dive team.
Forrest was leading the search for his uncle, Flying Officer David Forrest, who was lost during a mission to Gasmata, also onboard a 100 Squadron Beaufort.
In February 2022, Dr Forrest’s team returned to the crash site to identify the aircraft, supported by two members of the RAAF Directorate of Historical Unrecovered War Casualties (HUWC).

The wreck site was located in 43 metres of water. Specialist divers worked on an aircraft that had been extensively damaged by fire and covered in layers of sediment and marine growth.
The aircraft identity plate and cockpit lever recovered from the site will return to Australia under a permit granted by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery.

THE CREW
• Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins: Born in Gatton, Queensland, he was a teacher before he enlisted in Brisbane in March 1941; he was 28 at the time;
• Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg: Born in Brisbane, Qld, he worked as a fruit grower and enlisted in Brisbane in March 1941. He was 34 at the time;
• Flight Sergeant Albert Beckett: Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he was a carpenter’s apprentice before he enlisted in Tasmania in November 1941. He was 22 at the time
• Flight Sergeant Gordon Lewis Hamilton: Born in Brisbane, Queensland, he was a baker’s assistant before he enlisted in Brisbane in July 1941. He was 26 at the time.

Air Marshal Chipman said small amounts of bone material recovered during the identification mission were analysed by anthropologists and DNA specialists.
“The RAAF’s HUWC team collated the evidence and a Defence Identification Board identified the remains as those of Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins and Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg,” Air Marshal Chipman said.
“Unfortunately, it’s with a heavy heart we can confirm that no remains of the other two crew members, Flight Sergeant Albert Beckett and Flight Sergeant Gordon Lewis Hamilton, were recovered.
“We will continue to strive to find, recover and identify our missing service personnel as part of our commitment to honouring their service and sacrifice for our nation.”
Dr Forrest said the sacrifices those young men and women made must never be forgotten.
“They had their entire lives ahead of them yet were prepared to risk it all to defend our country and our way of life,” he said.

Air Marshal Chipman said that no further recovery was planned for a crash site that he described as “challenging”.
“A memorial service for the families of all four crew was planned for April 26 at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland,” he said.
“Thank you to all those involved in this significant mission. It is especially heart-warming for the families of the four aviators involved to finally know what happened and learn of their final resting place.”