Officials have confirmed the identities of an Australian bomber and the remains of two air crew members more than 80 years after they crashed in flames off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The Beaufort bomber A9-186 was discovered in Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest's ongoing search for his uncle Flying Officer David Forrest, who had been missing in action since 1943, as stated by the Royal Australian Air Force.
David Forrest, 22, was piloting a Beaufort bomber in a night raid against a Japanese air strip near the village of Gasmata on the south coast of the island of New Britain in May 1943 when he and his entire four-member crew went missing in action. A9-186 was shot down by anti-aircraft guns during a morning attack on the same airstrip four months later. Both aircraft were from Number 100 Squadron based at Gurney airfield at Milne Bay on the main island of New Guinea. Forrest's bomber was A9-188.
A9-186 was found off the New Britain coast in 43 meters (141 feet) of water in 2020, but identification took 50 dives, according to search expedition leader Steve Burnell. The challenging environment, including saltwater crocodiles and low visibility, made the identification process difficult. The wreckage was identified by an aircraft identity plate that was only legible due to being buried in mud, reducing corrosion.
DNA testing of bone fragments confirmed the remains of Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins, 28, and Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg, 34. The search for the remains of the rest of the air crew, Flight Sgt. Albert Beckett, 22, and Flight Sgt. Gordon Lewis Hamilton, 26, has been abandoned. A memorial service for their families is scheduled to be held at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland state on April 26.
Andrew Forrest expressed gratitude that the families of the crew of A9-186 now have some degree of closure. He remains hopeful in the search for his late Uncle David and his fellow crew, emphasizing the commitment to continue until they are found. Only two RAAF Beaufort bombers remain unaccounted for in the New Britain region, and the team is currently examining wreckage that could be one of them.
