Dad was working in the Burns Philp office in Salamaua when war broke out. He then became part of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, a 480 strong force of untrained civilians who comprised the only armed force standing against the Japanese from January til May '42 when the Kanga Force arrived at Wau. He later went to the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit. Served in New Guinea from the day it started to the day it ended, save for two weeks in '43 when he came home and married. Mum also worked in the Salamaua office at the time and was evacuated to Australia.
Brother KIA Vietnam 6th July 69 9RAR
Self Vietnam 70-71 RANHFV
Father in Law and Mum's Brother both 2/10 Battalion at Milne Bay and Shaggy Ridge.
Bushy - for info from the manual - Beaufighter (Merlins)
At take off power safety speed 160 mph IAS
ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT
Prop full coarse (no feathering available)
On one engine at a weight of 20,400 lbs height can be maintained at cruising boost and rpm and rudder control is adequate down to about 125 mph IAS. For continuous flight on one engine speed should be about 140 mph IAS
The difficulties they may have had may be due to inability to reduce drag by way of coarse pitch perhaps eg loss of oil, siezed engine.