Operation: Ferry Flight

Date: 4th April 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit No: 25 Squadron, RNZAF

Type: SBD-5 Dauntless

Serial: #28452

Code: 176 (Temporary)

Base: Piva Airfield, Bougainville

Location: Tanga Islands, NE of New Ireland

Pilot: Fg Off. Leslie Alexander McLellan-Symonds 401314 RNZAF Age 33. PoW */Died

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above: Fg Off. Leslie A. McLellan-Symonds (No attribution found)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 4th April 1944 Fg Off. McLellan-Symonds took off from Guadalcanal at 14:00 hrs leading two (2) other SBD-5 Dauntless’ on a ferry flight bound for Piva South Airfield on Bougainville island. En Route the flight experienced radio difficulties and became lost in deteriorating weather.

Fg Off. McLellan-Symonds failed to arrive at the Piva South Airfield and was presumed to have ditched, whilst the other two (2) aircraft landed safely. A radio message was received from ‘176’ declaring that it was about to ditch a 100 yards off what was possibly Malendok Island, which was the main island of the Tanga Islands, about 80 miles NE of Rabaul.

After the Japanese were defeated on New Britain an investigation was instigated by the 18th Australian War Graves Unit to determine the fate of the PoWs that were thought to have been held on New Britain.

It was determined that Fg Off. McLellan-Symonds had been captured by the Japanese and held at the Tanoura Mountain PoW camp.

In a testimonial by 1st Lt. Jose L. Holguin he described a prisoner known to him as ‘Simmons’ arrived at the Tunnel Hill PoW Camp in April 1944. He was suffering from a wound to his left thigh. 1st Lt. Holguin and other PoWs provided some First Aid with bandages torn from shirts.

No medical attention was provided by the Japanese and as a consequence his condition deteriorated. He became delirious and was unaware of his surroundings and his condition. He would crawl toward the looked door of their cell and say "Hurry, we will be late, the car is waiting and everything is all set".

After repeated requests by 1st Lt. Holguin and other PoWs to provide some treatment for him finally the Japanese Chief Medical Orderly OYAMADA looked at ‘Simmons’ and stated that he need blood transfusion and an operation to remove a bullet which was embedded in his thigh. However, he said that without orders from Doctor FUSHITA or Col. KIKUCHI that was not possible.

FUSHITA was Capt. (Rikugun-taisa) (Dr.) Shigeo FUSHITA, the doctor at the 6th Field Kempeitai Headquarters (HQ) in Rabaul;

KIKUCHI was Col. (Rikugun-Taisa) Satoru KIKUCHI, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 6th Field Kempeitai Headquarters (HQ) in Rabaul.

‘Simmons’ died on 25th May 1944, which 1st Lt. Holguin attributed to a lack of proper medical attention or treatment which he should have received and which developed into blood poisoning (Toxaemia), thereby resulting in his death.

On the 29th December 1945, the 18th Australian War Graves Unit recovered the remains of twelve (12) Allied personnel which were found in graves located approximately 50 yards south of the Tunnel Hill PoW Camp.

Fg Off. McLellan-Symonds was one of those identified from the translation of the cross on the graves and Japanese Military Police records.

The identities of the other eleven (11) graves were:

1st Lt. Hugh L. Cornelius O-14783 USMC - TBF-1 47596
1st Lt. Thomas B. Fessenger O-663706 USAAF;
1st Lt. John J. Fitzgerald O-26468 USMC - F4U-1A 55927
1st Lt. Billy D. Hanks O-737083 USAAF;
1st Lt. Charles C. Lamphier O-11933 USMC - F4U-1 02577
1st Lt. Robert W. Sherman O-24763 USMC - TBF-1C 24340
Lt (Jg) James A. Warren O-156661 USN - F6F-3 25801
S/Sgt. John J. Gillis Jr. 20610868 USAAF;
Sqn Ldr. John E. Todd 271707 RAAF;
Flt Sgt. Harry B. Dawkins 280791 RAAF;
WO. Norman N. Vickers 413232 RNZAF.

Burial details:

Above: Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery (Courtesy of the TWGPP)

Above: Grave marker for Fg Off. Leslie A. McLellan-Symonds (Courtesy of the TWGPP)

Fg Off. Leslie Alexander McLellan-Symonds. Recovered and laid to rest at the Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, 8.18, New Caledonia. Born on the 13th January 1911 in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand. Son of Alexander John Cheyne (deceased in 1916) and Mary Jane (née Flaus) McLellan-Symonds. Husband of Alice Molyneuex Grace (née Darling) McLellan-Symonds of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

His father, Rifleman Alexander John Cheyne McLellan 23/614 served with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion, 3rd Company in WW1. He was KiA on the 16th September 1916 at the Somme and is remembered on the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial in France.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the Pilot and his relatives (Mar 2026).

Thanks to The War Graves Photographic Project (TWGPP) for their great work.

Other sources listed below:

References(s):

Investigation File: NAA: NAA 336/1/1955 Part 7

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