NZDF 1 Squadron

The Wreck of NZ4613

Crashed Bomber on the Lelet Plateau... I recently hiked out to see this WWII bomber which our local villagers told me about. The plane is a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura which was flown by a New Zealand crew.

The following is what I have been able to find out about the history of the plane.

The aircraft was from 1 Squadron based at Emirau. It took part in a six aircraft strike on the Tobai dock area of Simpson harbour (Rabaul) on Jun 9, 1945, after which two of the aircraft seperated from the flight to make leaflet drops for the Far Eastern Liason Office (FELO). One went down the west side of New Ireland, and NZ4613 went down the east. The NZ4613 was hit by Japanese guns at Kimadan. It managed to fly about 7 or 8 miles before it crashed into the side of the Lelet Plateau. The crew and a FELO representative were killed instantly. The wreckage of NZ4613 wasn't found by allied forces until November 1945. The bodies of the crew were buried nearby by the Japanese, and the New Zealanders were later reinterred at Bourail, New Caledonia. When NZ4613 didn't return, a search plane (NZ4609) was sent out the next day to look for the lost bomber. It too was shot down. I'm trying to find some information about crash and location of the search plane (NZ4609), but at this point I don't know anything about it's whereabouts.

The crew of NZ4613 were:

F/O Norman Harold BENTON (NZ428755) age 29 Pilot

F/Sgt James Noel CUNNEEN (NZ432192) age 22 Navigator

F/Sgt Robert Hugh McFarquhar BUCHANAN age 28 Wireless Operator

W/O Christopher Charles William JEFFARES age 25 Air Gunner

F/Sgt James George Gardiner MALLETT age 23 Air Gunner

The FELO rep was an Australian, Sgt Norman Egerton MERFIELD (WX14946) of the AIF, aged 26. Errol notes he is recorded on the Rabaul Memorial at Bita Paka, but has no info on Merfield's burial.

I compiled this information from several sources. One being information taken from Errol Martyn's book: For Your Tomorrow Vol 2: Fates 1943-1998, Volplane Press Christchurch, 1999. Also I received some information from the NZ Air Force Museum Collections Department in Christchurch, New Zealand.