Lost Hero. ....posted out of context items wil

[herosrest]

Occasionally, l google a topic of interest and browse obscure results for unusual context or trivia.
lt can pass a quiet evening.

l ran into a little mystery.
A tale of a hero and his loss.

l've come back to it a couple of times, determined to learn more and failed to progress.
My entire interest in this topic is web generated.
l would not know what l know about this Air Force pilot but for the web.

The guys story is incredible.
There is an odd aspect to the tale.
Is any one interested in trying to find the 'next step'.


l could maybe just throw in the prime links that revealed what l have learned and hope maybe another 'connects' to aspects of it.

[j.m@talk]

Nahh


Just go see a doctor

[herosrest]

Nah, could be a larf.

Just want to prep a few active minds for those lazy idle moments that crop up.

Could be fun and actually is interesting in a minor way.

[zybch]

Lazy minds? I hope you're not referring to sysopt members. Now go away, I can't be bothered with your hero stuff, too much like hard work!

[herosrest]

Lazy moments for idle minds.

Anyway, It's about this Airforce Pilot.
During the initial response to Japanese aggression in the pacific during 1942, this guy and his Fighter squadron were shipped across the Pacific to Australia and on then to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. They fought the Japanes crack fighter groups based at Rabaul, Lae and Salamaua.

This was a desperate time with Australia terrified of invasion and her Army, Navy and Airforce commited to the european war.
America stepped in and took the strain.

[herosrest]

So basically fresh out of peacetime America this squadron ships halfway across the globe without adequate supply or planning or resources and go up against the cream of the enemys Naval Air Force who are blowing away everything before them.


These guys do well, losses are heavy, conditions are terrible but they fight and keep on fighting until virtually no aircraft remain to them and they are spent. The unit is returned to Australia to recover and re equip and the pilot who interests me is lost on a local mission in the outback and never heard of again.

There are extensive military records of the period available now on line. Google something like' 'New Guinea' 1942 p-39' and voila. The period in time April to June.

[herosrest]

final part.

http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozcrashes/qld134.htm

The pilot - Lt. Paul G. Brown

http://www.warbirdforum.com/zerodun2.htm

http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/8pursuit.htm

http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ronqld.htm




There is a fascinating tale buried in and beyond these links.

[zybch]

Australia is a bloody big place, its only a couple of hundred thou sq miles smaller than the US, and things easily can get lost, especially if you remember that unlike the US, only the coastal areas are populated to any great degree. Huge, country sized chunks are uninhabitable desert so its not surppprising that people have gotten lost and have never been seen ever again.

Perhaps he was taken by a dingo.

[herosrest]

Yup. A lot of planes went missing there during that period.
Whole flights, A squadron even ran out of fuel after getting lost.

Over the decades since the aircraft have been found.

[herosrest]

Ah, well.
l would like to know if the plane and pilot were ever recovered but my search skills just aren't up to it.

ho hum.

[herosrest]

Ho hum - no input?

[j.m@talk]

Jonny 5 ......... INPUT ............

[mireland]

I haven't read this thread..so no need for me to comment..oh man..I think I just contradicted....

[herosrest]

Ho hum - no input?

[j.m@talk]

Australia is a bloody big place,

How comes Australians don't keep goin' missin then ?