News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: WW II Remains Recovered

Date: March 19, 2001

"WWII bodies recovered
By BRENDAN NICHOLSON Sunday 18 March 2001

The remains of a young Melbourne flyer, Flying Officer Geoffrey Wells, was among those of four Australian airmen who died 57 years ago fighting the Japanese in New Guinea. The remains were in the wreckage of their Bristol Beaufort bomber, found on the ocean floor near Kawa Island, 80 kilometres west of PNG's Trobriand Group.

The aircraft, from the RAAF's Number 8 Squadron, made a torpedo attack on enemy shipping near Rabaul on November 15, 1943. Other squadron members last saw it at the southern end of St George's channel heading back to its base at Vivigani, on Goodenough Island.

A search was carried out when the aircraft did not return, but only a fuel tank was found and the men were reported missing in action.

The wreckage was found last year by PNG-based Australian skindiving instructor Rod Pearce, who reported the discovery to the RAAF. The wreckage will be left in place as a memorial to the men.

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Scott said yesterday those who died were the pilot, Flight Sergeant Jack Woodgate, navigator Flight Sergeant Stewart Drakes and wireless operator/air gunners Flight Sergeant Byron Maclean and Flying Officer Wells.

The airmen are listed on the Monument to the Missing at Rabaul's Bita Paka War Cemetery.

They will be buried with full military honors at Bita Paka in May and the RAAF will help family members attend the funeral at Rabaul.



Mr Scott said families of Flight Sergeant Woodgate, Flying Officer Wells and Flight Sergeant Maclean had been told of the discovery but the RAAF had been unable to locate any members of Flight Sergeant Drakes' family.

Anyone with information that might help find them should contact Warrant Officer Greg Williams at air force headquarters on 02 6265 1027 during working hours."