| Place | Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Halmahera Island |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | OG3679 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white |
| Physical description | Black & white |
| Maker |
Harrison, John Thomas |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
GALELA BAY, HALMAHERA ISLANDS, NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. 1945-12-01. ON THE FORESHORE, SQUADRON ...
Description
GALELA BAY, HALMAHERA ISLANDS, NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. 1945-12-01. ON THE FORESHORE, SQUADRON LEADER MARTIN KRIEWALDT OF ADELAIDE, SA (RIGHT), AND FLIGHT LIEUTENANT E. B. SCRIBNER OF SYDNEY, NSW (LEFT), CHECK THE TAILPIECE OF A CRASHED RAAF AIRCRAFT FOR IDENTIFICATION MARKS. WITH THEM IS THE HEAD POLICE BOY WHO LED THE PARTY TO THE SPOT. ABOUT 150 RAAF AIR CREW WERE LISTED AS CASUALTIES, AND ABOUT 50 AUSTRALIAN AIRCRAFT WERE LOST, OVER THE CELEBES, HALMAHERAS, AMBON, CERAM AND NEW GUINEA. IN 1944-12, THIS KITTYHAWK AIRCRAFT FLOWN BY FLIGHT SERGEANT J. LENNARD OF NO. 80 SQUADRON RAAF WAS ENGAGED IN AN ATTACK ON BALELA AIRSTRIP. AFTER BEING HIT BY ANTI AIRCRAFT (A/A), LENNARD WAS ABLE TO FORCE LAND ON THE BEACH AND, OBVIOUSLY WOUNDED, WAS SEEN ON THE MAINPLANE. UNDER AIR COVER, A CATALINA AIRCRAFT AND A PT (PATROL VESSEL) BOAT WERE ABLE TO RECOVER THE BODY BUT LENNARD BY THEN HAD DIED FROM WOUNDS.