Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Hello,

Seeking details of the death of VX136033 T/Capt Francis Edgar WILLIAMS ANGAU (Australian Govt. Anthropologist). Williams was killed on 12-05-1943 in an aircraft crash in the Owen Stanley Range, New Guinea. l have adequate bio detail on Williams.

There were a couple of 374th TCG Dakota losses on this date, but Williams is not mentioned in the casualty lists (Have details of these losses).

Mr Stuart Markell BROWN (Australian), a civil engineer of the Dept. of Main Roads, on loan to the Allied Forces, was also killed in an aircraft crash on this day, and in this area. Possibly connected.

Any help appreciated.

Col.

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Was the crash date Dec. 5th or May 12th?

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

The crash date was, 12th May, 1943. As on the AWM Roll of Honour.

ANGAU = Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit.

Col.

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

In an online page of the book "An Anthropologist in Papua. The Photography of F.E. Williams, 1922-1939" (Young, Young, Clark) it is written that Williams was killed in "terrible flying weather", in an "aircraft collision" and 22 miles S. of Kokoda.
No further details about other casualties and/or type of transport.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Hello,

I know of the publication you mention. Like a lot of others, the information is either wrong, or incomplete.

l have managed to locate the ANGAU Report on the discovery of the lost aircraft:

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/rec...-1-10-1-11.pdf

See: pp.22, 27-8 & 147-8 of 255

PacificWrecks.com, identifies the 347thTCG/21stTCS C-47-DL Dakota as; 41-18661. I'm not so sure. The 347thTCG (33rdTCS), also lost Dakota 41-18651 on 12 May, 1943. There seems little doubt that the aircraft was Nose (No.) 76.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraf.../41-18661.html

This needs a lot more work! l'll pop over to PacificWrecks.com, and let them know the latest.

Thanks for your help,

Col.

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Col.,

Perhaps the name of Lt Keefer on one of the pages is a lead? Report indeed says C-47 "76".
On a website I found that a 6th TCS (also) had crashed on 12 May 1943 "in the pass". This one other than the 21st TCS C-47 identified as 41-18661 by pacificwrecks.

Also a news report of 1943 with some further details about William's mission ("Treachery in New Guinea") and what seem to be more correct spellings of names.
See:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/48912821
Regards,

Leendert

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Lt Keefer to be identified as 1st Lt Richard A. Keefer, O-355082, date of death 12 May 1943, buried on 16 August 1945 at Manson park, Ipswich, Queensland, but now at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, CA.

Report also speaks of Col. Brewer, mentioned on the Pacific Wrecks website as victim of 41-18661.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Lt Keefer was US Army, 218th Field Artillery Battalion, 41st Infantry Division, which mainly fought on New Guinea.
Col. John H. Brewer was also US Army and was with the Signal Corps.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Hello,

I had some details, but not the full names of some of the service personnel, for which l thank you.

The two civilian engineers were: Australian, Stewart Markell BROWN, and US-born, Roger W PARKHURST, both attached to the Allied Works Council.

The tenth victim was Capt Williams' unnamed Cook Boy, who was buried in the Native Cemetery, Kokoda, on 12 July, 1943.

I believe the following crew were involved in the loss of Nose No."76":

12 May 1943
33rd TCS
C-47-DL 41-18651

En route from Dobodura to Port Moresby. Aircraft crashed in the Owen Stanley Range, possibly in the region of Kokoda; cause was bad weather. All on board were killed.

Crew:
Pilot - (?)1st Lt Walter B THOMPSON
Co-Pilot - T-185797 Flt Off. Robert P RANGES
Aerial Eng. - 17002832 T/Sgt Darrell D LOY
Radio Op. - (?) T/Sgt Willis CHEEK
Asst. Radio Op. - 15102603 Sgt Elwood H WOLFSBERGER

See:
Allied Air Transport Operations South West Pacific Area in WWII:Volume Two - 1943 Year of Expansion and Consolidation.
Kelly,Robert H.
n.p.,:Author,2006.
pp.51, 67, 71 & 400.

l have no record of a 6th TCS accident/incident on 12 May, 1943.

Col.

Re: Death of VX136033 T/Capt. Francis Edgar Williams.
 

Probably T Sgt Willis Cheeks (7022296) from Pennsylvania.

Regards,

Leendert