Key Takeaways
- The wreckage of a Beaufort Bomber A9-211, which went missing in 1943 during World War II, has been discovered in the remote mountains of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.
- The discovery has brought closure to the families of the crew members, including Robert Burrowes, whose uncle Tom was a gunner on the plane.
- The crew members, including Tom Burrowes, John Kenny, Arthur John Davies, and Murray Fairbairn, were on their first bombing mission when the plane crashed due to bad weather.
- A small amount of bone fragment, which could be human remains, has been found at the site and will undergo forensic testing.
- The discovery is a significant moment for the Australian Defence Force, which has been working to locate missing war casualties.
Introduction to the Mystery
The story of Tom Burrowes, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) gunner who disappeared during World War II, is one that has been shrouded in mystery for over eight decades. Tom’s nephew, Robert Burrowes, had given up hope of ever knowing what truly happened to his uncle, but a phone call from a genealogist from the Australian Defence Force changed everything. The genealogist was researching the Burrowes family and asked if Robert was related to Thomas Burrowes, which sparked a chain of events that would ultimately lead to the discovery of the wreckage of the Beaufort Bomber A9-211.
The Disappearance of Tom Burrowes
Tom Burrowes was just 16 when he joined the RAAF cadets, but due to having rheumatic fever as a child, he couldn’t become a pilot. Instead, he served as a wireless air gunner in Papua New Guinea. On December 14, 1943, Tom took off on his first bombing mission in a Beaufort Bomber A9-211, one of nine Squadron 100 planes involved in the air attack on the Japanese base at Rabaul. However, the weather was terrible that night, and the mission didn’t go to plan. Only three planes made the target, two bombed alternate targets, and four returned to base without completing the mission. Tragically, one plane did not return to base, and that was the aircraft Tom was on, alongside Flight Sergeants John Kenny, Arthur John Davies, and Murray Fairbairn.
The Discovery of the Wreckage
Years of planning and false starts finally led to the discovery of the wreckage of the Beaufort Bomber A9-211 in October 2023. A team led by Group Captain Grant Kelly had been searching for the missing plane, and after years of searching, they finally found it in the remote mountains of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. The discovery was made possible by a teenager named Willie Flinn, who had stumbled upon the wreck while trekking through the bush in 2022. The team was able to identify the plane by a component plate, a modification plate that identified the aircraft as A9-211.
Emotional Closure for the Families
The discovery of the wreckage has brought emotional closure to the families of the crew members. Robert Burrowes, Tom’s nephew, was overwhelmed with emotion when he heard the news. He felt a complex blend of feelings, including sadness, relief, and gratitude. The discovery has also brought peace of mind to Danielle Baker, the granddaughter of navigator Arthur Davies, who died in the crash. She had always wondered what had happened to her grandfather, and now she has some answers. A small amount of bone fragment, which could be human remains, has been found at the site and will undergo forensic testing.
Reflections on the Discovery
The discovery of the wreckage of the Beaufort Bomber A9-211 is a significant moment for the Australian Defence Force, which has been working to locate missing war casualties. Group Captain Grant Kelly, who led the team that discovered the wreckage, said that every missing plane is a story that is not complete, and when they are able to identify these planes, it completes the story. The discovery has also highlighted the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifices of those who served in World War II. Robert Burrowes reflected on the discovery, saying that it’s not just about his uncle Tom, but about all the crew members who died in the crash. He hopes that the discovery will bring some closure to the families of the crew members and help them to find some peace.