| Place | Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Dutch New Guinea, Noemfoor Island |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | OG1555 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Harrison, John Thomas |
| Place made | Netherlands East Indies: Dutch New Guinea, Noemfoor Island |
| Date made | c August 1944 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal portrait of 407132 Flight Lieutenant K. B. I. (Brian) Smith (left) and 410186 Warrant ...
Description
Informal portrait of 407132 Flight Lieutenant K. B. I. (Brian) Smith (left) and 410186 Warrant Officer (WO) Peter Waters of No. 80 (Kittyhawk) Squadron RAAF enjoying a cigarette and a drink. WO Waters, along with 411448 Flying Officer F. L. Hann; 434344 Flt Sgt L. N. King and 434265 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) R. W. Parry were reported missing on 13 January 1945, whilst engaged ferrying Kittyhawks from Noemfoor to Morotai. Neither Flt Sgt Parry, nor his aircraft was ever found. The other three pilots went off course, missing their destination and being forced to land on the Japanese-held Talaud Islands. Captured by the Japanese and made prisoners of war (POW) they were executed on 23 March 1945. Following a war crimes trial in 1945-46 seven Japanese officers were sentenced to death for complicity in the murders of the three men.