RNZAF Douglas Dauntless NZ5037 Wreckage Photos

[Dave Homewood]

The following photos and caption were posted to the RNZAF Past And Present Facebook group by Charles Joe, who used to be the Padre at RNZAF Base Auckland in the 1980's and 90's. Amazing photos, very sad. Padre Joe has given me permission to repost them here.

"Sorting through old slides and came across these. They were taken on Exercise Tropic Venture Espirito Santo, Papua New Guinea. NZ Wings 1988 reported on it ……. It’s a RNZAF SBD-5 Dauntless (NZ5037) that went missing in February 1944. The RNZAF operated 68 of them between 1943 and 1944. An extensive search at the time of the disappearance failed to locate it or the crew. However, locals were aware of the crash site and guided a RNZAF team, working in advance group to the wreckage. The team was told that the body of one of the crew was found and buried and the tracks followed of the other but with no success. The two crew were; Flying Officer Alex Moore and Flight Sergeant John Munro.
The wreckage, still showed the RNZAF yellow-ringed roundels. The Dauntless was a single engine dive-bomber attached to No. 25 Squadron RNZAF. It was recovered from its jungle crash site by RNZAF Iroquois and flown to Whenuapai, Base Auckland. Was to be delivered to the RNZAF Museum.
One of the photos includes; Warrant Officer Joe Glen, a Melanesian pastor, Padre Charles Joe and Wing Commander Gordan Wood."

[johnnyfalcon]

Damn...

[camtech]

In the first photo, centre right at the back, is Smokey Dawson, latterly of the Air Force Museum and doyen of the Catalina restoration, both at Whenuapai and at the museum.

[ZacYates]

I'm rather late to the party but this is a sobering series of images, belated thanks to Padre Joe for allowing them to be shared.

I've visited the museum twice but not seen the Dauntless exhibit. Is it currently displayed?

[gibbo]

Sept 3, 2023 8:41:33 GMT 12 ZacYates said:

I'm rather late to the party but this is a sobering series of images, belated thanks to Padre Joe for allowing them to be shared.

I've visited the museum twice but not seen the Dauntless exhibit. Is it currently displayed?

I was at the RNZAF meseum 2 weeks ago & no sign of the Dauntless on display nor in the restoration workshop, nor the reserve hangar.  I did ask the tour guide about 'the display of the crashed plane' (he was ex-Army so I figured I shouldn't be too specific about the type)... he knew nothing about it.  In fact I haven't seen it there on the last 2 times prior to my recent visit so it must be something close to 20 years ago I last saw it on display.  I hope they haven't sucumbed to woke-ness & hidden it away... or worse!

When I did see it (just the once) I was captivated by it as it was such a unique type of display... I remember I spent 10-15 minutes eyeballing it.

[bobajob]

The first photograph shows fourth from the right Oz Burton, Helicopter crewman,

[Antonio]

Found this on the AFM site:

Link:  NZ5037


PR1574
Group of No. 25 Squadron air crew at RNZAF Station, Seagrove.

Sixth man from the left is Flying Officer Alexander Moore, who died in Dauntless NZ5037 on 11 February 1944.                                                                           The remains of this aircraft are now at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

[Antonio]

And these shots:

Link:  FG-1D and/or SBD for RNZAF museum?




Thanks Peter

[tbf2504]

The Wing Commander in the top picture is Gordon Wood, CO 3 Squadron at the time

[Dave Homewood]

As mentioned in the quote in the original post.

[tbf2504]

Dave, was the spelling of his christian name in the top post "Gordan" vs Gordon

[Dave Homewood]

Yes, I quoted what Padre Joe wrote. He got the spelling wrong.

[curtiss]

The Flt Lt in the first two photos is Bruce McLean - engineering officer.