| Accession Number | P03901.008 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Place made | New Guinea1: Papua New Guinea, Papua, Milne Bay |
| Date made | 24 February 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
One of the Milne Bay locals in the lakatois (outrigger canoes) in which he and others rescued the ...
Description
One of the Milne Bay locals in the lakatois (outrigger canoes) in which he and others rescued the crew of Lockheed Hudson A16-245 after they were forced to ditch the aircraft in Milne Bay approximately 60 kilometres from base when poor weather delayed their return long enough for the fuel to run out. The Hudson was ditched by pilot 415152 Flt Lt Ray Kelly approximately 360 metres off the northern shore of Milne Bay in 15-20 metres of water. After 15 minutes in the water, the four crew members were pulled into lakatois by locals who had witnessed the crash and eventually picked up by a US PT Boat from the nearby PT base at Kona Kope, and taken to the Asheville class patrol gunboat USS Tulsa, which returned them to Turnbull Field the following day.