Catalina find helps fill blank in family puzzle
A SUNKEN plane from World War II off the coast of Cairns has allowed Bill Atkinson the chance to add another piece to his family history puzzle.
Mr Atkinson barely knew his father Richard, who flew planes during the war, and was shot down by the Germans over Askvoll, Norway.
So he was over the moon when, following media reports last week, he realised his father had spent time flying the illfated RAAF Number 11 Squadron Catalina A24-25 in the months before it crashed 56km south of Cairns on February 28, 1943, killing 11 personnel.
Mr Atkinson, who lives on the Gold Coast, said he was “amazed” after he was able to match the aircraft’s identifying numbers with those recorded in his father’s log book.
“The only reason he wasn’t flying it (when it crashed) was because he was on his honeymoon,” Mr Atkinson said.
Adding to his amazement, Mr Atkinson realised his father had also been in charge of the recovery effort following the crash, and had the unenviable task of sending condolence letters to the families of the 11 servicemen killed.
Three days into his honeymoon on the Atherton Tableland, Richard wrote, “... it was complicated by losing my old bus (the Catalina) with 11 on board.
“I had to organise the search and finalised Saturday morning writing letters of condolence, not the best thing to do on one’s wedding day.
“I am fairly hardened to that sort of thing now.”
The wreckage was first discovered 56km south of Cairns in 35m of water by Cairns diver Kevin Coombs in 2013, but weather and planning challenges delayed the final dives to complete the investigation.
The Court of Inquiry recorded the plane crashed at sea while attempting to land after running out of fuel.
There were no witnesses and no sightings of wreckage or crew during subsequent searches.
No remains of the crewmen have ever been recovered.
The air force intends
to leave the aircraft where it lies as a mark of respect.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in consultation with the air force has declared the site a Maritime Cultural Heritage Special Management Area in order to protect it.
A Royal
Australian
Air Force spokeswoman eswoman urged other people with family connections to the Catalina to follow Mr Atkinson’s lead.
“We’ve done research to identify families but when people have common surnames it’s hard,” she said.
“We’re encouraging descendants to come forward.”
A memoriali l service to the crewmen will be held in Cairns early next year.
Any relatives of the Catalina crew members who have not yet been contacted by the air force are encouraged to email RAAF.PA@defence .gov.au