| Accession Number | P02423.048 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Maker |
Hobson, Arthur Francis |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance sort through the wreckage of ...
Description
Soputa, Papua, 1942-11-27. Staff members of 2/4th Field Ambulance sort through the wreckage of tented hospital wards at the unit's Main Dressing Station (MDS) in the aftermath of an attack by thirteen Japanese Zero aircraft. The Zeros, attacking in three waves, had strafed and bombed the MDS, killing two Medical Officers (MOs), NX473 Major Ian Firth Vickery and VX14704 Major Hew Fancourt Graham McDonald, and five of the unit's seven cooks. At the same time, the Japanese aircraft attacked 7th Division Headquarters and the US Army's 126 Combat Clearing Station which were located nearby. In all, 22 men were killed and more than 50 wounded. The attack on the MDS occurred in spite of the fact that a large Red Cross sign had been spread out on the ground to indicate to enemy aircraft that it was a medical unit. (Donor A. Hobson)