The Green Island Tragedy - who was there?

[Dave Homewood]

Several publications list the names of those who were killed on the sad day of the Green Island Tragedy, when eight RNZAF Corsairs and their pilots were lost on the 15th of January 1945. But I cannot find a list of those involved who survived. Does anyone have a definitive list at all please?

Those killed were:
No. 14 Squadron, RNZAF
F/Lt Frank Keefe
F/Lt Bruce Hay
F/O Albert Saward
F/Sgt Ian Munro
F/Sgt John McArthur

No. 16 Squadron, RNZAF
F/Lt Tom Johnson
F/O Grevall Randall
F/Sgt Ron Albrecht

Of those who were there I know of only these:
No. 2 (BR) Squadron, RNZAF
W/O Ron Lindsey - Ventura pilot
F/Sgt White - PV-1 crew
F/Sgt Marchant - PV-1 crew
F/Sgt Sutton - PV-1 crew
F/Sgt Ingram - PV-1 crew

No. 16 Squadron, RNZAF survivors
W/O Bryan Cox
Paul Green
Rip Rieper (returned to base with engine trouble early)

Who were the other pilots involved in the No. 14 or 16 Squadron Corsairs and the Catalina crew?

[chinapilot]

One of Bryan Cox's books has the list. Why not call him?

[Dave Homewood]

Ah, you're correct. I was looking at Too Young To Die but Cats Have Only Nine Lives has a little more information.

The other pilots were:
No. 14 Squadron
Sgt Don Walther

No. 16 Squadron
P/O "Tiger" Lyons
F/O Norm Reeve

Bryan's book states that there were fifteen pilots flying on that mission and he was the last of them. The names above come to just 14 Corsair piltos so it seems I am still missing one. I don't think he was including the Ventura pilot as he was still alive at the time when Bryan wrote Cats Have Only Nine Lives.

The reason I asked is a Corsair pilot who I interviewed last week told me he was on that mission and told me all about it. However he was not in either No's 14 or 16 Squadrons, and his logbook which I photographed shows he was at Ardmore on that day. So I wanted to see exactly who was and who wasn't involved. I don't know why he said what he did, whether he was talking about another event or what.

[chinapilot]

. So I wanted to see exactly who was and who wasn't involved. I don't know why he said what he did, whether he was talking about another event or what.

Dave, a few years ago I was doing some research into the USAAF in China in WWII. I was able to visit and correspond with many of the veterans.

Sometimes, the pilot and co-pilot would have completely different recollections of the same mission and some claimed to be on a particular mission when the records clearly indicated they were not...

Think Bryan is still around, he's a great guy and would probably love a phone call to talk about it.

[Dave Homewood]

Bryan is still around indeed, he has recently moved back to NZ from Australia after living there for a few years. I'm awaiting an email update on his new address.

[angelsonefive]

Dave, the correct spelling of the name of the 16 Squadron F/O is Greville Randell.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks, and to also correct myself, Bryan has not yet moved back to NZ but is about to.

[Luther Moore]

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