Hudson Bomber Crash Giru QLD
 

Does anyone know of or where i can get any information about the two Hudson bombers that collided near Giru QLD?

I'll bet Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra will have some research material stored away. Regular contributor here on Pprune, Frisbee Fairing is a walking encyclopedia.

Just had a fire warning on my ears. Aye Ess, you're too kind.

These two Hudsons collided near Giru on 24 May 1942 and crashed into dense mangroves.

A16-191 (c/n 6356)
A16-194 (c/n 6359)

Both a/c were from 32 Sqn.

Hope that helps.
Rgds

RAAF Serial A16-191, Constructors No 6356, USAF Serial 41-23539, RAF Serial BW677, Delivered 05/04/42
Rec USAAF as RA-29 30/12/41.Defence Aid consigned ex USAAF 23/01/42. Rec 2AD 05/04/42. Issued 2AD ex 1AD 19/04/42. Issued 6Sqn RAAF 25/04/42. Arrived Townsville ex 2AD Richmond 09/05/42.Issued 32Sqn RAAF 11/05/42. Accident 24/05/42 Collided with A16-194 near Giru, QLD and crashed into dense mangrove swamps 24/05/42. Its two 100 lb AS Bombs exploded on impact. Crew Sgt M W Cooper Serv#416146 (Pilot), Sgt H T Gillam Serv#401689 (2nd Pilot), Sgt J A Herman Serv#407713 (WAG) and P/O John L Jewell Serv#406656 AG, were all killed. Airframe located in dense mangroves, and no retrieval of bodies undertaken on advice of MO. Other aircraft, A16-194 crashed between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek, Giru. One member of this A16-194 crew was killed, Sgt Lance Badman Serv#41641. SOC31/07/42.

RAAF Serial A16-194, Constructors No 6359, USAF Serial 41-23542, RAF Serial BW680, Delivered 05/04/42
Rec USAAF as RA-29 30/12/41.Defence Aid consigned ex USAAF 22/01/42. Rec 2AD 05/04/42.Allocated 6 Sqn RAAF 06/04/42. Rec 6 Sqn RAAF 27/04/42. Issued 32 Sqn RAAF 11/05/42. Accident 24/05/42 when A16-194 collided with A16-191 near Giru, QLD and crashed between Barrattas and Barramundi Creek. The aircraft cut a 100m long path through the mangroves before coming to rest on a saltpan. The wings and other parts of the aircraft were torn from the fuselage.Crew P/O L Haliday, un-injured, two member of crew was slightly injured, but Sgt Lancel Badman Serv#41641 was killed. SOC 31/07/42.

Were the aircraft ever recovered?

Story of this tragedy on Peter Dunn's "Oz at War" site.
Crash site very difficult to access. Sid Beck of Townsville... The Beck Collection, of war artifacts, now at Mareeba.. visited the site many years ago.... has a few items, I believe. The wreckage was just left to the salty, tropical, coastal environment so mother nature could do its usual. It would be easier now to access that salt pan with a Robbie. No doubt some bits remain.
With the floods and tides of 70 years, anything would be very badly corroded.

Quote:

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no retrieval of bodies undertaken on advice of MO

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Hopefully the Aussies (and Yanks) re-visited this decision sometime later considering the extraordinary efforts that JPAC have done over the years.

Why the Yanks? RAAF aircraft operating in Australia, presumably the MO might have been from the squadron.

Edited to add 24 May 1942 - Collision of two Hudsons bombers near Giru, QLD Includes photos of wreckage in recent times. Explains why MO made the recommendation he did,
Read into that little in the way of remains to be found, and those that were, impossible to identify.

Correction
 

Sargent Lance Badman survived the Hudson crash at Giru. He went on to be a soldier settler at Wrattonbully in SA, and died on July 4th 2012 aged 97 years. I married one of his 3 daughters.

Hudson Bomber Crash Giru Qld
 

Thank you Philiplange for the update, good news that he survived, and commiserations on his recent passing.

The info has been passed to the source of my post, so that the record can be suitably amended.