Archive Report: Allied Forces

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07.05.1944 No. 17 Squadron (RNZAF) P-40N Warhawk NZ3188 F/O. Broadbent

Operation: Bombing and strafing

Date: 07th May 1944 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 17 Squadron RNZAF

Type: P-40N Warhawk

Serial: NZ3188

Code: B

Base: Torokina Field, Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Location: Bank of Oamai river, Aku Village, Bougainville

Pilot: F/O. Stanley Broadbent NZ/417011 RNZAF Age 26. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

This loss has been brought to our attention by Major (Ret'd) Ian D. Martyn who was serving as a Patrol Commander with the Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) during operations on Bougainville in 1999. They cleaned the fuselage to reveal the serial number of the aircraft - subsequent research established that this was indeed the Warhawk flown by F/O. Broadbent in May 1944!

Above - approximate area of loss. Ian Martyn supplied further detailed maps showing location.

Above: as described - does anyone recognise the other pilot on the right? (courtesy Rick Hicks)

Taking off at 12:05 hrs with two others to carry out a bombing and strafing "mission/run/operation?") in the South West region of Bougainville.

After the bombing run the aircraft was seen to roll over and dive into the ground during a strafing attack at 13:20 hrs.

Anecdotal note: The aircraft's weapons were stripped from the aircraft by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) during the civil war (1988-1998) and re-purposed as fixed weapons in defensive positions for use by the BRA against their enemy.

Above as described (courtesy Ian Martyn - shown in the photo)

Burial details:

At the time the pilot was buried by natives near to the crash site - later reinterred as described below.

F/O. Stanley Broadbent. Port Moresby War Cemetery (Bomana). Grave C8.A.8. Born on the 09th July 1917 at Palmerston North, the son of Hilton Broadbent, and of Florence Broadbent (née Watson), of Dannevirke, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand and husband of Margaret Josephine 'Peggy' Broadbent (née Whitfield), of Dannevirke. A total of 1273 flying hours logged. Prior to enlisting studied as an accountant.

Ian Martyn runs the wonderful Medals Reunited New Zealand website - pay them a visit.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Major (Ret) Ian D. Martyn for details and Rick Hicks, great nephew of the pilot. The research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Weekly News of New Zealand, Grave photograph courtesy Dave Barlow, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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