Operation: Barge sweep

Date: 20th September 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 30 (City of Sale) Squadron RAAF, 77 Wing, 1st Tactical Air Force

Type: Beaufighter X

Serial: A19-209

Code: LY:?

Base: Kamiri Strip, Noemfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea

Location: Northern shore of the Maccluer Gulf, Dutch New Guinea

Pilot: Flt Lt. Albert James ‘Bart’ Moody 404896 RAAF Age 24. PoW/Murdered

Navigator: Flt Sgt. Allan Graham Aitcheson 432654 RAAF Age 22. PoW/Murdered

Above left to right: Flt Lt. Albert J. ‘Bart’ Moody, Flt Sgt. Allan G. Aitcheson (Courtesy of their service records)

Note: Beaufighter A19-209 was previously RAF aircraft Ser No. NE587.

REASON FOR LOSS:

On 20th September 1944, two (2) Beaufighters from 30 Sqn were detailed to conduct a barge sweep along the east coast of Ceram finishing at Sebakor Bay on the southern coast of Dutch New Guinea.

The two aircraft took off from Kamiri Strip at 07:10 hrs. The flight leader, Flt Lt. Beer and his navigator Fg Off. Fielding was flying Beaufighter A19-202. Flt Lt. Moody and his navigator, Flt Sgt. Aitcheson were flying Beaufighter A19-209.

The sweep was completed without opposition and ten (10) minutes after setting course to return to base, at about 12:40 hrs, Flt Lt. Moody called up the flight leader, saying “I am experiencing some difficulty, instrument readings appear normal but I cannot maintain height, I will have to land”.

At that moment Flt Lt. Beer was immediately above Flt Lt. Moody’s aircraft and upon completing a 360^o turn, saw that A19-209 was on the ground and had begun to burn. Several runs were made over the burning aircraft but saw no sign of survivors. He considered that providing no injuries had been sustained, the crew would have had sufficient time to leave the aircraft.

Having insufficient fuel to remain any longer, Flt Lt. Beer was compelled to set course for base, giving out the position of the crash by radio. Other aircraft from the squadron flew to the spot and circled searching the area for an hour, but could not see either Flt Lt. Moody or Flt Sgt. Aitcheson and subsequently they also returned to base. Flt Lt. Moody or Flt Sgt. Aitcheson were posted MiA.

On the 11th September 1945 Flt Lt. Eric Clarence Beer 253615 RAAF was the captain of Dakota A65-56, VH-CIJ which crashed, after suffering engine trouble, into the sea off Milne Bay between the Gibara and Gumini Rivers. He and his crew of two (2), along with sixteen (16) passengers comprising thirteen (13) RAAF, one (1) RAN and two (2) AIF personnel perished.

Fg Off. John Mervyn Fielding 429942 RAAF survived the war and was discharged from the RAAF on the 26th March 1945.

It was later established that they had successfully crash-landed on the northern shore of the Maccluer Gulf, Dutch New Guinea. They had been given shelter by friendly natives from the village of Arandai which is a few miles inland from the shore at Lat/Long 02 09S, 133 00E.

They stayed for some time with the people of this village, though exactly for how long could not be ascertained as the majority of natives, although having a clear memory of facts were vague in the matter of dates and times.

They were betrayed by a native collaborator and were taken to Steenkool (Bintuni) which is between Arandai and Idore and were handed over to the Japanese who took them to Idore the location of the Japanese HQ in the Dutch New Guinea which was situated on the narrow isthmus between the head of the Maccluer Gulf and Geelvink (Bintoeni) Bay.

On the 24th June 1947 the bodies of Flt Lt. Moody and Flt Sgt. Aitcheson were discovered by an RAAF search party buried in separate graves at Idore.

The fates of Flt Lt. Moody and Flt Sgt. Aitcheson were determined at a Military Tribunal convened at Manus, between the 29th June and the 11th July 1950. Six (6) former personnel from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) were charged on three (3) counts.

The following four (4) served with the 2nd Japanese Army:

Lt Gen. (Rikugun-CHūjō) TESHIMA Fasataro, General Officer Commanding (GOC);
Lt Col. (Rikugun-Chūsa) RYOKAI Tsugio, Staff Officer Intelligence;
Maj. (Rikugun-Shōsa) KITAMURA Yoshihiro, Medical Officer;
2nd Lt. (Rikugun-Shōi) TAURA Sadao, Medical Officer.

The following two (2) served with the 10th Kempeitai (Military Police):

Maj. (Rikugun-Shōsa) KITAMURA Jiichi, Senior Executive Officer;
Sgt Maj. (Sōchō) SHIRAKAWA Mitsugi.

Note: The Japanese word Rikugun preceding a rank indicates that it relates to the Army. The Kempeitai functioned much like the German Gestapo in WW2.

First Count:

On the first count all six (6) of the accused were charged with committing a war crime that is to say murder in that they at Idore in Dutch New Guinea in or about November 1944 murdered two (2) Australian PoWs, namely Flt Lt. A.J. Moody and Sgt. A.G. Aitcheson both of the RAAF.

Second Count:

On the second count KITAMURA Yoshihiro and TAURA were charged with committing a war crime that is to say mutilation of the dead in that they at Idore in Dutch New Guinea in or about November 1944 mutilated the dead bodies of two (2) Australian PoWs, namely Flt Lt. A.J. Moody and Sgt. A.G. Aitcheson both of the RAAF.

Third Count:

On the third count TESHIMA Fasatoro was charged with committing a war crime that is to say a violation of the laws and usages of war in that he at Idore in Dutch New Guinea in or about November 1944 being commander of armed forces of Japan at war with the Commonwealth of Australia and its Allies unlawfully disregarded and failed to discharge his duty as such commander to control the conduct of members of his command whereby members of his command committed war crimes against two (2) Australian PoWs, namely Flt Lt. A.J. Moody and Sgt. A.G. Aitcheson both of the RAAF.

The court heard that after Flt Lt. Moody and Flt Sgt. Aitcheson had arrived at the 10th Kempeitai HQ at Idore, RYOKAI ordered their interrogation which continued for some three (3) days. KITAMURA Jiichi, then a Capt ((Rikugun-Tai-i) interrogated Flt Lt. Moody and SHIRAKAWA interrogated Sgt. Aitcheson after which KITAMURA Jiichi reported to RYOKAI who ordered a further interrogation of the PoWs.

Approximately two (2) days after the conclusion of the interrogations the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 10th Kempeitai, who at that time was Lt Col. (Rikugun-CHūjō) TANIGUCHI Haruji, instructed KITAMURA Jiichi to hand-carry the interrogation report to RYOKAI and to inform him that, as CO of the 10th Kempeitai, he recommended that the PoWs be executed and also requested that RYOKAI obtain permission from TESHIMA to carry out the executions.

Note: TANIGUCHI Haruji was not indited on the charge because he died of acute pneumonia on 1st June 1947.

RYOKAI thereupon reported to TESHIMA personally and requested permission for the execution. TESHIMA acquiesced by nodding his head, which was his usual manner of signifying his approval, after which RYOKAI returned to his unit and informed KITAMURA that permission had been obtained.

KITAMURA returned to his unit and passed the information to TANIGUCHI, who at that time was confined to his quarters due to illness, who then instructed KITAMURA to release the PoWs to the custody of SHIRAKAWA.

SHIRAKAWA was called in by TANIGUCHI who instructed him to supervise the execution of the PoWs. TANIGUCHI had issued orders independently to Cpl. (Rikugun-Gochō) TSUMURA Tokuho and Cpl. (Rikugun-Gochō) ONUMA Kenichi of the 10th Kempeitai to act as the executioners.

Note: TSUMURA Tokuho and ONUMA Kenichi were not indited on the charge because they died of disease in the Netherlands (Dutch) New Guinea prior to the cessation of hostilities.

Later on the same day TANIGUCHI requested that a Medical Officer be present at the execution of the PoWs. KITAMURA Yoshihiro, at that time a Lt. (Rikugun-Chūi), and TAURA then a WO. (Sōchō) reported to TANIGUCHI. After they had received orders to be present at the execution of two Allied airmen KITAMURA Yoshihiro requested and received permission to dissect the bodies of the executed Allied airmen.

It appeared that this was at the instigation of TANIGUCHI who was suffering from malaria and debility amongst other things and who cherished a belief in the efficiency of a Japanese cure for internal illness. The belief was that the gall-bladder of a Bear was regarded as an infallible specific for internal complaints and in the absence of such a commodity TANIGUCHI resolved to try out a human gall bladder. This remedy is apparently known in the Japanese pharmacopeia as a "Bear's stomach”.

TANIGUCHI then sent for SHIRAKAWA and ordered him to attend the execution and direct the executioners, TSUMURA and ONUMA, to shoot the prisoners in the ear. He informed SHIRAKAWA that two medical officers would be present and would dissect the bodies.

Almost immediately thereafter KITAMURA Jiichi took Flt Lt. Moody and Sgt. Aitcheson from their place of confinement and delivered them to their executioners. Their hands were tied and taken by a party comprising SHIRAKAWA, KITAMURA Yoshihiro, TAURA, TSUMURA and ONUMA to a bomb crater in a Banana plantation a short distance away.

In the crater the two PoWs were made to kneel after which TSUMURA shot Flt Lt. Moody and ONUMA shot Flt Sgt. Aitcheson. After confirming that they were dead KITAMURA Yoshihiro assisted by TAURA, mutilated one or both of the bodies. After they had completed the mutilation their remains were covered over with earth where they lay.

The following morning TANIGUCHI instructed KITAMURA Jiichi to notify RYOKAI that the executions had been completed and RYOKAI in turn informed TESHIMA.

The location of the remains of Flt Lt. Moody and Flt Sgt. Aitcheson discovered on the 24th June 1947 in separate graves, one to the west and the other to the east of Idore suggested that they had been exhumed from the bomb crater and reburied.

It was thought that the date of death was between the 6th and 13th of November 1944, albeit the official date of death was recorded as occurring on or before the 25th January 1945.

The court found:

On the first count of the charge only RYOKAI, KITAMURA Jiichi and SHIRAKAWA were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment of eight (8), five (5) and two (2) years respectively.

On the second count of the charge only KITAMURA Yoshihiro was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for (2) two years.

On the third count of the charge TESHIMA was found not guilty.

The finals disposition of those sentenced is unknown

Burial Details:

Above: Port Moresby War Cemetery (Courtesy of TWGPP)

Above: Grave marker for Flt Lt. Albert J. Moody (Courtesy of TWGPP)

Flt Lt. Albert James Moody. Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery C8.A.7. Grave Inscription: “IN LIFE AND IN DEATH ALWAYS "BON"”. Born on the 28th September 1920 in Cairns, Queensland. Son of Albert Henry and Agnes Doris (née Littleford) Moody of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia.

Above: Grave marker for Flt Sgt. Allan G. Aitcheson (Courtesy of TWGPP)

Flt Sgt. Allan Graham Aitcheson. Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery C8.A.6. Grave Inscription: “LOVED SON OF VERA AND THE LATE LESLIE AITCHESON OF TAMWORTH, N.S.W.”. Born on the 27th January 1922 in Charters Towers, Queensland. Son of Leslie Graham and Vera Ettie Victoria Aitcheson of Royston Park, South Australia.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Jun 2026).

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

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 03 June 2026, 07:44