Operation: Strike against Rabaul, New Britain

Date: 15th December 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 100 Squadron RAAF, 9th Operational Group

Type: Beaufort

Serial: A9-211

Code: QH:?

Base: Vivigani Strip, Goodenough Island

Location: Lost without trace

Pilot: Flt Sgt. John Eardley Kenny 415663 RAAF Age 21. MiA

Nav/B: Flt Sgt. John Arthur Davies 427446 RAAF Age 30. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Thomas ‘Tom’ Burrowes 409504 RAAF Age 20. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Murray Fairbairn 409528 RAAF Age 25. MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 15th December 1943 Beaufort A9-211 took off at 21:55 hrs, accompanied by eight (8) other Beauforts from the squadron on a strike mission against Rabaul, New Britain. This was the crew’s first operational mission.

No further communication was received from nor sighting was observed of A9-211 after departure from the Vivigani Strip. Other crews stated that very bad weather was encountered on the journey and many aircraft returned without locating their targets.

On Saturday 13th December 2025, PNG correspondent, Marian Faa, posted a report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) entitled “An Australian warplane disappeared 82 years ago. Now, it's been found”.

A crashed aircraft had been discovered by a teenager whilst trekking through the bush on the remote mountains of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, which was confirmed to be Beaufort A9-211.

Burial details:

Above: The Lae Memorial (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC))

Above: Extract from Lae Memorial Panel 7 for Flt Sgts (Courtesy of Alanna Clifton)

Flt Sgt. John Eardley Kenny. Lae Memorial, Panel 7. Born on the 22nd January 1922 in Perth, Western Australia. Son of Patrick John and Beatrice Amy Kenny, of Victoria Park, Western Australia.

Flt Sgt. John Arthur Davies. Lae Memorial, Panel 7. Born on the 21st June 1913 in Newport, South Wales, United Kingdom. Son of George and Annie Maria Davies. Husband of Jennie Davies of Cottesloe, Western Australia.

Flt Sgt. Thomas ‘Tom’ Burrowes. Lae Memorial, Panel 7. Born on the 29th March 1923 in South Melbourne, Victoria. Son of Archibald John and Alice Burrowes of Middle Park, Victoria, Australia.

Flt Sgt. Murray Fairbairn. Lae Memorial, Panel 7. Born on the 20th December 1917 in Lindhurst, Victoria. Son of John Stanley and Lily Jane Fairbairn of Frankston, Victoria, Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families with many thanks to Alanna Clifton for the excellent Lae Cemetery images (Jun 2026).

Other sources listed below:

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