28 JANUARY 1944
CRASH OF A B-25G MITCHELL
AFTER LEAVING TOWNSVILLE

visits since 29 December 2000

Chris Guest from Richmond, Virginia, USA passed on the following information on this crash as follows:-

My wifes great-uncle, Charles Donald Plageman, was with the 823rd squadron, 38th Bomb Group. He disappeared when he went with a crew to pick up a new B-25G in Townsville, Australia. He had flown 29 missions at the time he was killed.

This is the report filed on his flight :

B25G-1, number 42-64881 was received from the 4th Air Depot Group, Townsville for transfer to 38th Bomb Group. Took off from Garbutt Field, Townsville for Durand Field, Port Moresby at 11:30 January 28,1944. Plane never reached destination. A radio check of all fields in Australia and New Guinea within range failed to reveal 881's whereabouts. Radio message requesting crew and passenger list was sent to Base Operations, Garbutt Field, was received and answered, but message was garbled. Another radio message was sent requesting written crew and passenger list to be sent Safe Hand Courier, answer not yet received. Rescue Service, Advance Echelon Fifth Air Force, APO 929 was immediately notified. Extent of Rescue Service search unknown. Aircraft of 38th Bomb Group made intensive search of sea and coast with 100 miles range of Port Moresby. Aircraft of 38th Bomb Group enroute to Townsville for modification reported sighting possible wreckage 97 miles south of Port Moresby. Other aircraft of 38th Group made intensive search of this area. While searching this area, plane 42-64810 is also missing. Search for both planes continuing.

If anyone knows ANYTHING about this, PLEASE e-mail me.

Thanks, Chris Guest

REFERENCE BOOK

"Diary of WWII - North Queensland"
Complied by Peter Nielsen

SOURCE:-   Aircraft Crash Sites - Australia

Crash:         No. 22

Position:     19.15 - 146.46

Department of Aviation Chart No:       3219

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

This page first produced 23 January 1999

This page last updated 06 April 2002